International Foundations at VU

VU course code: JQAG | CRICOS: 096078F | Level of study: Non-award

Duration

26 weeks

Delivery mode

Face to Face

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$13,000

Location

City Campus

All start dates

Overview

The International Foundations program at Victoria University (VU) is designed to prepare international students for tertiary studies.

The university-preparation course offers a guaranteed pathway into the first year of select undergraduate degrees and diplomas at VU, providing you meet the course entry requirements.

The International Foundations course is comparable in standard to the Australian Year 12 curriculum, which is the final year of high school in Australia. It provides a supportive learning environment for international students as they adjust to living away from home.

The key learning areas are:

mathematics
science and technology
the arts
business and legal studies.

After succesfully completing the International Foundations program and meeting any course entry requirements, you will be provided guaranteed entry to VU undergraduate degrees and higher education diplomas.

This course will be offered at our City Campus.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Operate with an understanding of the VU University environment, expectations, academic conventions and assessment methods, applying academic literacies, discipline-specific knowledge and both independently and in groups.
Apply cognitive skills to understand, analyse, synthesise, and critically evaluate information, while using information skills to effectively find, retrieve and analyse information for use in academic contexts.
Demonstrate effective communication practices that foster the exchange of knowledge and ideas within an academic context.
Employ academic literacy skills to effectively communicate ideas in writing and conduct critical analysis.
Demonstrate English proficiency that meets the entry requirements for a first-year bachelor program.
Use contemporary digital and learning technologies to effectively succeed in a university environment.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Pathways to further study

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Arts (ABAB)	50%
Bachelor of Applied Music (ABAM)	50%
Bachelor of Community Development (ABCD)	50%
Bachelor of Criminal Justice (ABCJ)	50%
Bachelor of Criminology (LBCR)	50%
Bachelor of Screen Media (ABSN)	50%
Bachelor of Social Work (ABSW)	50%
Bachelor of Youth Work (ABYW)	50%
Bachelor of Youth Work and Criminal Justice (ABYC)	–

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Accounting (BBAQ)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Architectural Design (NBAD)	50%
Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) (NHCM)	60%
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering) (NHEC)	60%
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) (NHEE)	60%
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical Engineering) (NHEM)	60%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Business (BBNS)	60%
Bachelor of Sport Management/Bachelor of Business (SBSB)	50%
Diploma of Business (Enterprise) (VDBE)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Cyber Security (NBCS)	60%
Bachelor of Information Technology (NBIT)	50%
Diploma of Information Technology (VDIT)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (EBEC)	60%
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership (EBCL)	60%
Diploma of Education Studies (EDES)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (HBBS)	50%
Bachelor of Dermal Sciences (HBDS)	50%
Bachelor of Health Science (HBHL)	50%
Bachelor of Human Nutrition (HBNT)	60%
Bachelor of Nursing (HBNB)	70%
Bachelor of Paramedicine (HBPD)	70%
Bachelor of Psychological Studies/Bachelor of Business (ABPB)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Laws (BLAW)	80%
Bachelor of Legal Services (LBLS)	–

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership (SBOL)	50%
Bachelor of Physical Education and Sport Science (SBPH)	60%
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (SBEC)	60%
Bachelor of Sport Science (Human Movement)/Bachelor of Psychological Studies (SBHP)	50%
Bachelor of Sport Science (Human Movement)/Bachelor of Sport Management (SBHS)	50%

Destination course	WAM % required to apply
Bachelor of Sport Management (SBSM)	50%
Bachelor of Sport Management/Bachelor of Business (SBSB)	50%

Course structure

To satisfactorily complete the International Foundations at VU course, students will be required to complete eight units:

Two Core units
Six Specified units

Students will be advised that it may be a requirement to undertake a Mathematics unit in order to satisfy the conditions of entry into some Victoria University undergraduate degrees or higher education diplomas.

The standard program is delivered over 26 weeks - equivalent to 2 x 13 week trimesters.

Progressing to further study

To progress to a diploma or degree, you must achieve the required percentage in your assessments. See 'pathways to further study' above.

Units

Fees

2026 fees: AU$13,000 per semester

2027 fees: AU$13,650 per semester

This International Foundations course is delivered over 26 weeks - equivalent to two 13-week semesters (also known as trimesters*).

*For this course, the teaching year is divided into three semesters, so we refer to 'trimesters'.

Get a discount on your fees!

The VU Block Model® International Scholarship offers eligible international students 10% off foundation-course fees for their entire first year of study. Study well and you’ll have the chance to increase or extend the scholarship for the whole duration of your course.

Find out more

Start dates

Melbourne

On campus – Melbourne City Campus

Course starts 28 September 2026

Course starts 08 February 2027

Course starts 21 June 2027

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on this page, please note that dates are subject to change. Some courses may close early due to an earlier start date or there being limited places available.

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Country of Qualification	Admission Requirements
Bangladesh	Successful completion of Year 11 with GPA 3.0/5.0 Year 12 Higher School Certificate: N/A
Cambodia	Diploma of Upper Secondary Education D average
China	GAO ER (Senior Middle Year 2) 65% in academic subjects GAO SAN (Senior Middle Year 3) 60% in academic subjects
Indonesia	SMA II (grade XI) with an average score of 6.5/10 SMA III (grade XII) with an average score of 5.5/10
Malaysia	SPM - Pass (D or higher) in 5 subjects UEC - Overall pass (C8) average in 5 subjects, or UEC Senior Middle 2 overall pass (C7) from the best 5 academic subjects, exclude Chinese and Malay STPM - 5.0
Myanmar	Basic Education High School Examination (Matriculation Examination): overall score of at least 60%
Nepal	Higher Secondary Certificate average of 55% OR Proficiency/Intermediate Certificate average of 55
Philippines	High School Diploma 80% (overall average of academic subjects only)
Singapore	GCE O Levels - Pass in 5 academic subjects (minimum D grade) GCE A Levels - Pass in 2 subjects (H2 level)
Sri Lanka	Sri Lankan O Levels: 'C' grade in 2 academic subjects and 'S' grade in 3 academic subjects Sri Lankan A Levels: 'S' grade in 3 academic subjects
Vietnam	Successful completion of Year 11 with GPA 6.0/10

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International Foundations at VU

Overview