Triangle
Exit nav
University of Nottingham Malaysia
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Search

Course overview

The Nottingham's Foundation Programme is your first step towards an exciting academic journey at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. This flexible, pre-university programme offers tailored pathways and flexible modules to ensure a smooth transition into your chosen undergraduate degree. Open to both Malaysian and international students, the programme not only builds a strong academic foundation but also equips you with critical thinking, academic literacy, and communication skills.

Why choose this course?

  • Fast-Track Your Success: Complete your pre-university programme in just one year.
  • Seamless progression: Our foundation equips you with the academic skills to progress seamlessly into a wide range of undergraduate degrees.
  • Scholarships Available: High achievers can get up to 10% off their tuition fees.
  • Module Variety: Benefit from our diverse range of optional modules, which you can choose based on your interest and future degree.
  • Extra English Support: Students who do not meet our English requirements can take our free In-Sessional English course simultaneously with NFP.

Modules

Core modules

  • English 1: Writing for Academic Purposes  
  • Critical Thinking and Study Skills 

Optional modules

  • Fundamentals of Mathematics 
  • Mathematics 
  • Biology 1  
  • Chemistry 1  
  • Physics 1   
  • Information Technology   
  • Psychology   
  • Fundamentals of Business   
  • Social Science 1 
  • Humanities 1

Core modules

  • English 2: Oral Communication for Academic Purposes     
  • Sustainability: Local and Global Perspectives 

Optional modules

  • Advanced Mathematics   
  • Biology 2   
  • Chemistry 2 
  • Chemistry 3 
  • Physics 2   
  • Programming  
  • Fundamentals of Economics   
  • Principles of Accounting   
  • Social Science 2   
  • Humanities 2    

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

SPM/GCSE/IGCSE Minimum 5 Cs required (excluding Moral Studies and Religious Studies). Consideration will be given to relevant subjects.   
IB Middle Years Programme  4, 4, 4, 4, 4, excluding the Personal Project. Consideration will be given to relevant subjects.
A Level   DDD, excluding critical thinking and general studies. 
STPM  C+C+C+, excluding Pengajian Am. 
UEC   5 B6s, excluding Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese language. 

 

Foundation Pre-Requisite for Progression to Certain Degree UNM Programmes

Intended/future degree programme you wish
to pursue 		 Pre-requisite to meet before foundation   
Chemical and Environmental Engineering / Civil Engineering / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering  5Cs, including Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, and Physics. Students without Additional Mathematics must have at least a B in Mathematics.  
Computer Science  5Cs, including Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. Students without Additional Mathematics must have at least a B in Mathematics and a C in 1 Science, Technology, or Engineering subject.
Mathematics   5Cs, including Mathematics and Additional Mathematics or 1 Science, Technology, or Engineering subject. Students without Additional Mathematics must have at least a B in Mathematics.
Biomedical Science / Nutrition, Biotechnology / Environmental Science / Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences    5Cs, including Mathematics and 2 science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics).
Pharmacy     5Bs, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics / Additional Mathematics. 
Psychology     Minimum of 5Cs, including Mathematics and 1 science subject. Students without a science subject must take the Psychology* module in foundation and achieve at least 50% for the module to progress. 
Applied Psychology   Minimum of 5Cs, including Mathematics. 
Business     5Cs with at least a B in Mathematics. Students with a C in Mathematics must take and pass the Fundamental Mathematics* module to progress. 
Economics    5Cs with at least an A- in Mathematics. Students with a C in Mathematics must take the Fundamental Mathematics* module and achieve at least 45% to progress.

For the full pre-requisite and progression rule for these certain degree pathways, visit our NFP study page or speak to our programme consultants for more information.  

    Required to pass the In-sessional English module
IELTS (Academic) 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each element)  5.5 (with no less than 5.0 in each element)
TOEFL (iBT) 80 (minimum 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking) 72 (minimum 16 in Writing, 15 in Listening, 14 in Reading and 19 in Speaking)
PTE (Academic) 65 (with no less than 59 in each element)  59 (with no less than 53 in each element)
SPM CEFR level B2 (including B2 in each element) CEFR Level B1 (including B1 in each element) and SPM English Grade B
GCSE O-Level grade C / 4 Not applicable
IGCSE (first language) grade C / 4 Not applicable
IGCSE (second language) grade B / 6 grade B / 5
IB MYP 4 Not applicable
MUET Band 4 Not applicable
UEC grade B3 Not applicable
  • IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE (Academic) results must be less than two years old.
  • MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results.
  • Other acceptable English language qualifications may be considered if they meet both the University of Nottingham (UoN) and Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) requirements.
  • Applicants with IELTS 5.5 (with no less than 5.0 in each element) or equivalent qualifications may be accepted but are required to complete an In-Sessional English module in addition to English 1 and English 2.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
  • Seminars

How you will be assessed

  • Coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Examinations
  • Presentation
  • Poster presentation
  • Essay
  • Reflective review
  • Portfolio (written/digital)

Fees

ResidencyFees
Malaysian studentsRM35,000
International studentsRM38,000

Enjoy peace of mind with our Fixed Tuition Fee policy, pay the same amount each year until you graduate. No annual increases, no hidden charges. Learn more about Fixed Tuition Fees.

*For International Students, a 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) will apply to non-Malaysian citizens from 1 July 2025. For more details, read our Finance FAQ.

Your Global Education Starts Here

Why Join the University of Nottingham Malaysia?

  • Study at Malaysia’s No. 1 UK university*, the first and largest UK institution in the country
  • A founding member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities, we offer a world-class UK education with strong global recognition, impactful research, and academic excellence
  • Our graduates are consistently sought after by the top 100 global brands and earn up to 2x more** than the average graduate salary in Malaysia

*Based on student enrolment data from the Profile Book IPTS (MOHE) 2023.
**Based on the UNM Graduate Destination Survey (June 2023), with a national average salary of RM2,700.

Frequently asked questions

The Nottingham's Foundation Programme will take 1 year (2 semesters) to complete with intakes in April and September each year.   

You will require a minimum of 5 Credits in SPM, O-Level or equivalent (however entry into our Pharmacy programmes requires 5Bs). The minimum English requirement is IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.0 or equivalent. 

Malaysian students will pay RM35,000 and international students will pay RM38,000. 

The Nottingham's Foundation Programme offers students a range of modules with differing ratios of coursework-to-exam from 40% coursework-based to 100% coursework-based. Please refer to the individual modules for more information. 

Yes, students may be eligible for the High Achiever's Scholarship which offers tuition fee reductions based on your SPM, O-Level or equivalent results. Eligible students can receive a 25%, 20%, or 15% reduction on the total tuition fees. 

No, the Nottingham Foundation Programme is only offered on a full-time basis. 

Yes, you can transfer to another university if your application is accepted by the university you’re applying to. Please check with the university in advance before applying for the Nottingham's Foundation Programme. 

Yes, international students are welcome to apply. You can reach out to our counsellors here for more information.  

This content was last updated on 12 December 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.