Description:

Foundation courses are non-degree study courses completed before you start a degree, and they are usually for students who finish high school or some university but have not finished university and do not have a degree yet. Students often take English Foundation Courses which specialize in preparing students for standardized or internationally recognized English exams such as the TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Students may be assessed in various ways such as:

• written assignments
• essays, reports, and case study analyses
• oral and written presentations
• project work
• homework
• tutorial participation
• class participation and quizzes
• work experience or training
• examinations

Duration:

Courses in this section range from several days to two years. Foundation courses tend to vary widely in length because some cover specific topics or specific objectives only.

Eligibility:

Foundation courses are usually cost-based. Students usually study at the university they where they want to continue.

Costs:

Foundation courses are often the cheapest as they are the shortest. However, if they are in the West, they are often expensive because food and accommodation costs are very high and remember you have to pay for airfare and visas as well. Many separate scholarship organizations do not support short term foundation courses, but the courses often have their own scholarship options. You should inquire with the school what financial assistance they have available. Generally, costs can range from totally free to thousands of US dollars depending mostly on duration, location, and availability of scholarships.

After Completion:

People take foundation courses to improve themselves in a certain subject or to gain a qualification or certificate usually because they want to go on to study a degree later. Foundation courses may be suggested by your university if your educational background is insufficient or unclearly documented. You should choose a foundation course carefully according to the subject you plan on studying later at university or according to an objective that you need to fulfill for university entrance (i.e. take a GED exam related course if you need to have a GED certificate or take a political science course to increase your chances of getting accepted onto a political science degree later). Most foundation courses have the goal of making you eligible to apply to university