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University of Nottingham Malaysia

Course overview

The Foundation in Arts and Education is run by the Centre for English Language & Foundation Education (CELFE). It is aimed at both Malaysian and International students who would like a good foundation for Undergraduate study in the University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The course covers a combination of academic skills and content specific modules, providing an introductory grounding within the social sciences discipline. The course also prepares students for challenging work on critical thinking, academic literacy and communication skills that, in turn, develop resilient, self-confident students.

Why choose this course?

  • Once enrolled in the programme you will have set foot in one of the world's most prestigious universities.
  • You will participate in lectures, seminars and workshops, and follow a similar timetable to a typical undergraduate.
  • The three-semester programme is ideal if you have completed a minimum of 11 years of formal education whereas the two-semester programme is suitable if you have completed at least 12 years of formal education (but are required to enhance your skills and knowledge in order to be better prepared for an undergraduate degree).

Modules

Typical core modules:

  • Provide students with a basic understanding of computer technologies.
  • Provide students with a basic understanding of computers and components.
  • Provide students with the opportunity to develop critical understanding of organisations by considering the basic principles of operations management.
  • Introduce students to digital revolutions and its impact on business strategy, operations and management.

Learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate basic understanding of computer technologies and principles of operations management.
  • Demonstrate the ability to identify, describe and organise ideas related to computing technologies and operations decisions.
  • Demonstrate cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, including the ability to identify assumptions, to detect false logic or reasoning, to define terms adequately and to generalise appropriately.
  • Show the ability of self-aware, teamwork, independent learning and leadership skills.
  • To give students a wider perspective on some of the key social and economic issues facing the world today, such as poverty, inequality, economic growth, inflation etc.
  • To understand the inter-relatedness of many social and economic issues, problems and institutions.

Learning outcomes:

  • Ability to critically analyse social and economic situations and problems for the relevant factors and main inherent issues.
  • Application of relevant concepts, theories and techniques in analysing social and economic issues and in evaluating arguments and evidence.
  • Interpret economic information presented in verbal, numerical or graphical form.
  • Provide a basic understanding of the nature of social science.
  • Introduce the field of sociology and its key themes as they relate to the study of management and business and social sciences.
  • Facilitate the development of awareness of the language and methodology associated with the study of social science.

Learning outcome

  • Know and understand the underlying concepts and principles of social science as they relate to the study of business management as well as modern society.
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Typical core modules:

This module will develop the academic writing and study skills needed to tackle coursework assignments, oral presentation and discussion skills in English at undergraduate level. It will also introduce the cultural and academic norms and expectations of study in UK higher education. The module aims to develop the appropriate linguistic and study skills necessary for a more critical approach to academic writing and will, in turn, increase students’ confidence and speaking skills necessary to work in groups and on group projects. The study skills component will foster an independent and self-reliant approach to academic study and encourage students to use academic language accurately and appropriately. 

Learning outcomes:

  • Develop an awareness of one's own cultural identities and an appreciation for others.
  • Describe cultural variations in communication styles and explain how categories of cultural values might underlie different behaviours.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the different types of tasks in written and oral assessment and an understanding of how to approach them.
  • Develop listening strategies and process academic lectures into organised lecture notes and oral seminar presentation skills.
  • Introduce the fundamental components of critical thinking and study skills within the context of academic disciplines that are appropriate for business and economics students.
  • Develop skills in analysing and solving problems in the context of business by focussing on the abilities to problem solve and to present, evaluate and support an academic argument or viewpoint.
  • Develop skills that will enable participants to develop confidence in their own reasoning, tolerance of ambiguity, flexibility and fairness in considering viewpoints
  • Develop the skills required to undertake written examinations and coursework in the foundation and undergraduate programmes taught in the Business School, the School of Economics and the Institute of Work, Health and Organisations.

Learning outcomes:

  • Develop knowledge and understanding of critical thinking skills required to enable students to produce high quality work in their undergraduate courses.
  • Develop and apply the cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, including the ability to identify assumptions, to detect false logic or reasoning, to define terms and to generalise appropriately.
  • Demonstrate skills in essay and report writing and oral presentation.

Typical optional modules (choose any two)

This module aims to introduce key areas and concepts of linguistics and literature and develop students’ ability to analyse real-world texts using the concepts learnt. 

Learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate understanding of basic linguistic and literary terminologies and concepts.
  • Apply literary and linguistic approaches to the analysis of different texts.
  • Explain abstract ideas in a clear unambiguous manner in written communication.

This module covers basic principles in spoken communication as it applies in British higher education. It develops skills in academic communication, individual and group presentations and seminar discussions and increase students’ confidence and speaking skills necessary to work in groups. It also aims to provide interactive activities to encourage students to use academic language accurately and appropriately, facilitating the transition into higher education and introducing them to British cultural and academic norms and expectations.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify and apply effective communicative strategies.
  • Demonstrate the ability to present ideas effectively using the common discourse and organisational features of seminar discussions and presentations.
  • Deliver effective presentations using appropriate vocal, verbal and non-verbal delivery techniques

This module aims at improving students' abilities to use grammatically correct English. It will also enable students to discover the important aspects of grammar and apply them in academic writing and academic speech. 

Learning outcomes:

  • To develop an understanding of academic grammar and discourse structures for application in other areas of study.
  • To develop the ability to identify and use key academic grammar, vocabulary and discourse features in writing/speaking activities.
  • To develop an awareness for and the ability to use long and sophisticated structures in academic discourse.
  • To develop the ability to speak and write in more coherent, accurate English.
  • Provide an introduction to the basic legal concepts and rules and the machinery in their introduction, application and enforcement as a foundation for further study in the subject.
  • Encourage the critical assessment of the value of legal rules, processes and institutions.

Learning outcome:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the basic legal concepts and rules and the machinery in their introduction, application and enforcement in the context of business. 
  • To introduce basic economic principles and introductory algebra.

Learning outcomes:

  • Develop an awareness of the language and methodology of economics.
  • Explain and analyse economic issues using relevant economic concepts, theories and information.
  • Operate with numbers and algebra.
  • Form and use mathematical expressions and equations for business and management applications.
  • To develop awareness of the language and basic understanding of the nature of social sustainability.
  • To provide students with the opportunity to develop critical understanding of social sustainability by considering the basic principles of sustainable communities, social change, social innovation, design thinking, and social enterprises.

Learning outcomes:

  • To know and understand the underlying concepts and principles of social sustainability as they relate to modern society and governance.
  • The ability to organise ideas gained from theoretical understanding of social sustainability principles and apply them in social, management,and social enterprise situations.
  • Demonstrate qualitative skills of business problem analysis, research and solution.
  • Demonstrate self-awareness, teamwork and leadership skills.
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Typical core modules

It is designed to help students examine the diverse philosophical views that have affected, and are affecting, educational policy in Malaysia and around the world. Students will explore questions about the purposes, ends, and means of education, and assess their own philosophy through readings, discussions, and lectures.  Students are offered the opportunity to establish a link with their own philosophies of learning and about knowledge by engaging in the discussion of topics relevant to teaching and learning and addressing core educational questions such as “what does it mean to be educated? Or, what are the bases of the knowledge informing teaching?  The module offers an overview of the epistemic and moral dimensions of education and invites students to identify their core values and the bases of personal knowledge.  

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand the philosophical and sociological approaches to the school curriculum.
  • Critically analyse the interrelationship between philosophy/sociology and actual teaching practices in the classroom.
  • Rationally examine the social issues affecting schools, teachers and education in a multicultural society.
  • Self-evaluate and reflect on relevant literature as a means to develop a personal philosophy of education and a personal understanding of areas in education sociology.
  • Enhance students’ ability to engage in discussions of complex and controversial issues central to human life.
  • Develop students’ understanding of how individual choices and evolving social institutions affect human decision making.
  • Develop students’ understanding of the relevance of philosophy in diverse disciplines, in particular, politics.

Learning outcomes:

  • Describe the influence and pervasiveness of philosophy in practical, day-to-day living.
  • Explain how individual choices and evolving social institutions affect human decision making.
  • Analyse and describe the relevance of philosophy in diverse disciplines, in particular.

Typical optional modules (Choose any one)

To introduce basic calculus, probability and statistics. 

Learning outcomes:

  • Apply limits, derivatives, and integration to solve problems.
  • Present data in appropriate tabular and graphical forms.
  • Apply sets and probability to solve problems.
  • Identify different types of probability distributions and apply them to solve problems.

To introduce accounting processes, concepts, reports and decision-making.

Learning outcomes:

  • Explain key accounting terms, concepts and principles.
  • Record and present financial information in appropriate formats.
  • Interpret financial reports.
  • Apply accounting techniques in managerial decision-making

OR

Typical optional module (choose any one)

  • Introduce basic concepts of, politics and communication, and how they interrelate.
  • Examine the relationship between society and contemporary media.
  • Through an understanding of media representations of society, gain an insight into aspects of society such as institutions, political ideologies and identities.
  • Develop students’ analytic, critical and interpretative skills.

Learning outcomes:

  • Knowledge and Understanding: knowledge and understanding of some of the basic concepts of, and the relationship between, media and society and thereby gain an insight into aspects of society such as institutions, political ideologies and identities. 
  • Intellectual Skills: analytic, critical and interpretative skills as well as an ability to apply skills and techniques to the analysis of a variety of media texts from varying societies.
  • Professional Practice Skills: IT skills to access media texts and to complete assignments.
  • Transferable Skills: reading, listening, writing, speaking, collaborative learning and critical thinking.

This module aims at improving students' abilities to use grammatically correct English. It will also enable students to discover the important aspects of grammar and apply them in academic writing and academic speech. 

Learning outcomes:

  • To develop an understanding of academic grammar and discourse structures for application in other areas of study.
  • To develop the ability to identify and use key academic grammar, vocabulary and discourse features in writing/speaking activities.
  • To develop an awareness for and the ability to use long and sophisticated structures in academic discourse.
  • To develop the ability to speak and write in more coherent, accurate English.
  • Introduce students to major issues in contemporary and international history from the perspective of economics.
  • Encourage students to explore the themes of international economic development and its effect on the contemporary world.
  • Provide students with an opportunity to study the challenges facing less developed economies and the developed world.
  • Facilitate the development of awareness of the language and methodology associated with the study of economic development.

Learning outcomes:

  • Apply economic reasoning to different topics.
  • Work with abstract concepts and in a content of generality.
  • Justify conclusions using economic arguments with appropriate rigour.
  • Provide an understanding of the principles of microeconomics as they apply in a business context.
  • Develop awareness of the language and methodology of economics

Learning outcomes:

  • Ability to critically analyse economic situations and problems for the relevant factors and main inherent issues.
  • Application of relevant concepts, theories and techniques in analysing economic issues and problems and in evaluating arguments and evidence.
  • Interpret economic information presented in verbal, numerical or graphical form.
  • Communicate ideas, principles and theories in a clear/concise manner through written or oral means, including using additional aids such as statistics and diagrams where appropriate.

This module introduces students to the discipline of Applied Social Psychology by emphasizing research-based psychological principles that influence the dynamics of individual, group and organisational experiences.

Learning outcomes:

  • Knowledge and Understanding: The underlying concepts and principles of applied psychology and appropriate strategies to meet diverse needs in a changing environment. Intellectual skills.
  • The cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis: Competency in all aspects of English Language to a level required for the study of an undergraduate programme. Study skills including critical thinking, argument, essay and report writing and oral presentation.
  • Professional/Practical skills: The use of relevant theory and information for application in every day and organisational environments. Self-awareness, teamwork and leadership skills.
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

3 Semester Entry

SPM/GCSE/IGCSE

5 Bs, excluding moral studies and religious studies. Consideration to be made based on relevant subjects.

IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) 5,5,5,5,5 excluding Personal Project. Consideration to be made based on relevant subjects.
2 Semester Entry
A Level CCC, excluding critical thinking and general studies
AS Level BBB, excluding critical thinking and general studies
STPM C+C+C+, excluding Pengajian Am
UEC 4 B3s and 1 B4 in relevant academic subjects, excluding Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese language.
IB Diploma 24 points with 4,4,4 at Higher Level
SAM or other Australian Matriculations ATAR 74 (consideration to be made based on relevant subjects)

Canadian Ontario Grade 12 Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

70% average based on 6 subjects (consideration to be made based on relevant subjects)

Canadian Secondary School Diplomas from other provinces are acceptable and to be assessed based on the University's requirements

High School Diploma (US Style Curriculum) Minimum final GPA of 3.0 (out of 4)

 

Applicants who are planning to progress to undergraduate programmes offered by Nottingham University Business School must have at least grade B in Mathematics at SPM/ GCSE/ IGCSE/ High School Diploma or equivalent.

Applicants who have successfully completed 12 years of education (definitions will vary according to school system) and meet the entry requirements for the programme, may be eligible to apply for the 2-semester programme. Acceptance is at the discretion of the University.

We strongly encourage all interested students to apply. Our students come to us with a diverse range of qualifications and we also consider applicants' personal statement, references and interview performance (if you have one) when making a decision. The only way for us to fully determine eligibility is through the submission of a completed application.

Entry requirements in the prospectus and website may not always apply and individual offers may vary.

IELTS (Academic): 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in each element)
TOEFL (iBT): 80 (minimum 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking)
PTE (Academic): 65 (with no less than 59 in each element)
SPM: CEFR level B2
GCSE O-Level: grade C / 4
IGCSE (first language): grade C / 4
IGCSE (second language): grade B / 6
IB MYP: 4
MUET: Band 4
UEC: grade B3

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old and all IELTS must be the academic version of the test. MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Field trips

How you will be assessed

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

Fees

ResidencyFees
Malaysian studentsRM8,900 per semester
International studentsRM10,900 per semester

Where you will learn

Malaysia Campus

Semenyih Campus is 48km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and just 45 minutes’ drive from the famous city centre with its iconic Petronas Twin Towers. On arrival, you are immersed in the green jungle backdrop that Malaysia provides with wildlife, sunshine and campus lake.

The campus is home to our business, education, science and engineering schools, which sit alongside a sports centre, library and student accommodation. The University has everything a modern day student could wish for with the added bonus of being located in central Asia allowing you to travel further afield in your free time.

Public transport is plentiful with free shuttle services operating on some routes. Taxi/Grab services in Malaysia are very reasonable and used widely by the student community.

Frequently asked questions

This is a pre-university programme that prepares students for degree programmes in the arts, humanities and education. Example of courses that you can pursue with this foundation include:

  • BA (Hons) English Language and Literature
  • BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing
  • BA (Hons) International Communications Studies
  • BA (Hons) International Relations
  • BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology and Management
  • BA (Hons) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

This programme is designed to provide students with all the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed at the undergraduate level.

The minimum entry requirement for this programme is 5Bs in SPM, or equivalent. Students who intend to enter into Nottingham University Business School upon completion of their foundation year must have a minimum of grade B in their Mathematics. There are also English language requirements as all classes are taught in English.

A main benefit of this course is that students will be equipped with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to succeed in degree programmes pertaining to the arts, humanities and education. Students will also develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, all of which are essential for success in any and every field of work.

Graduates of this foundation course can pursue a variety of career opportunities, such as teaching, research, public service, and other professions in the arts and humanities sector. However, it is likely that you’ll have to start with an entry-level position without an undergraduate degree.

Upon completion of this foundation course, students can pursue degree programmes in a variety of fields. At UNM, students can also choose to progress to courses offered by

Yes, there are scholarships and financial aid for both Malaysian and international deserving students.

This content was last updated on 18 March 2024. 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.