College of English, Foundation & Pathways
Our courses are designed for domestic and international students who are preparing to enter university for the first time or need to boost their scores to meet entry requirements.
Here at the College of English, Foundation and Pathways, you can follow a range of pathways into university.
Higher Education diplomas
Our one-year Higher Education (HE) Diploma courses provide guaranteed entry into the second year of a bachelor degree. HE Diplomas are delivered by VU staff on VU’s campuses and designed to prepare you for success in the second and third years of undergraduate study.
The benefits of HE Diplomas include:
- our award-winning 'Block Model', where you study one subject at once
- more focused support with smaller class sizes
- guaranteed entry into the second year of nominated bachelor degrees
- study at a university, with full access to our resources and facilities
- reduced overall tuition fees through cheaper fees (than a bachelor) in the first year of study
- longer semesters with more time to develop your academic skills.
Our student stories
![Eriwati Eriwati.](https://content.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/vu_large_16_9/public/media/images/update-eriwati-eriwati-2020.jpg?h=af2bad03&itok=wcx8Bqvk)
Browse our diplomas
Foundations courses
Our Foundations courses can help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.
Foundations may be a good choice for you if:
- your study scores were lower than you were expecting
- you had a challenging final year of high school
- you are finding your first year at VU challenging and want to revisit the basics
- you are an international student who needs to meet the equivalent of Australian Year 12 standards.
After successfully completing a Foundations course, you will be ready to begin a degree at VU.
Browse our foundations courses
English language courses
VU English, our English-language centre, provides nationally accredited English-language courses.
Taught at our City Campus, these courses are designed to help you achieve the required level of English for direct entry into a VU diploma or degree. Our English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) include:
- General English
- English for Academic Purposes.
VU ELICOS has nine intakes per year, which means VU can ensure you complete your required English study before you begin your academic studies.
Learn more about VU English and our English language courses
Our student stories
![](https://content.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/vu_large_16_9/public/media/images/pierre-english-language-resized.jpg?h=ff5ecfc4&itok=Ajo7zKO2)
Courses delivered internationally
We deliver some of our Higher Education Diplomas and English programs overseas. This means you could begin your VU studies before you even arrive in Australia.
Our current partner universities are:
Campuses, facilities & support
Our courses are taught at our:
- City Campus in the heart of Melbourne's CBD
- Footscray Nicholson campus
- Footscray Park campus.
If you are an international student, there is plenty of support available to help you transition to life in Australia. Living and studying in another country can be challenging, and you can always reach out to international student support services if you have questions or concerns.
Visit international student support for more information
All College of English, Foundation and Pathways students have full access to the University’s facilities. These include the learning commons and library, sports and recreation facilities, and teaching and study spaces. You will also have the opportunity to join the University’s various clubs and societies.
Our people
Our staff are committed to helping you find the right pathway to university.
To discuss any of our courses, programs or partnerships, contact one of our college staff listed below. To make a general international enquiry, get in touch with one of our international contacts.
College leadership
To discuss the academic and delivery models of College of English, Foundation and Pathways courses offered, including those offered with our international delivery partners, contact:
Wayne Butson
Dean, College of English, Foundation and Pathways
+61 3 9919 8756
VU English
To discuss opportunities including establishing a new partnership or developing a tailored study tour, contact:
Netra Dave
Administration Officer
+61 3 9919 1175
Higher Education Diploma
Silvana DiSisto
Program Manager, Diploma of Business (Enterprise)
+61 3 9919 8836
Janusz Dutka
Program Manager, Diploma of Engineering and Diploma of Information Technology
+61 3 9919 8700