Certificate of Attainment in Foundation Studies
If you are an international student who is not currently in New Zealand, you can start this programme online until you are able to join us on campus in New Zealand. Click here for more information.
The Certificate of Attainment in Foundation Studies is an international pathway programme, offered by the University of Waikato College, for students who have completed high school but have not met the academic entry requirements for entry into degree study.
This Foundation Studies programme is for international students that have not met the academic entry for undergraduate study. Papers in this programme will teach you skills for successful tertiary study within New Zealand.
The programme includes compulsory English language and electives across a range of study areas. Classes include New Zealand students to encourage international students to improve their English and make New Zealand friends.
Why choose the University of Waikato College Foundation Studies programme?
- The programme offers guaranteed entry to most University of Waikato undergraduate degrees upon successful completion
- The programme is recognised by all New Zealand universities
- The curriculum develops subject knowledge and skills as well as leadership and team skills to help equip you for university
- The programme offers flexible intakes, with three points of entry during the year
- Taught on the University of Waikato main campus so you have access to all services and facilities as degree level students
Key information
| Years: | 0.5 to 1 |
|---|---|
| Study Locations: | Hamilton |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March), Trimester B (July) and Summer School (November) |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | Accelerated: $12,740 Standard: $25,480 per trimester(Accelerated course = 1 trimester; Standard course = 2 trimesters) |
| Area of Study: | |
| All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).*Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
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Entry requirements
Students must be 16 years of age or older.
Students must be 16 years of age or older. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
English Language Entry Requirements
Standard Foundation Programme
- IELTS (Academic) overall score of 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in the writing band)
For all other tests that we will accept as part of English language proficiency please visit our Entry Requirements page under the Pathways Options tab.
All other evidence is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Accelerated Foundation Programme
- IELTS (Academic) score of 5.5 (with at least 5.5 in the writing band and no band less than a 5.0)
For all other tests that we will accept as part of English language proficiency please visit our Entry Requirements page under the Pathways Options tab.
All other evidence is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Academic Entry Requirements
- Have completed secondary school study, equivalent to New Zealand Year 12, or
- Have a completed secondary school qualification from your country of origin
Country of origin
| Country | Standard Foundation Programme | Accelerated Foundation Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Título de Bachiller – grade average of 7.0 (lowest passing grade of 6) | Título de Bachiller – grade average of 8.0 (lowest passing grade of 6) |
| Australia | Successful completion of Year 11 | 70% grade average in Year 11 |
| Bangladesh | Higher School Certificate (HSC) with a 50% GPA | Higher School Certificate (HSC) with a 70% GPA |
| Brazil | Certificado de Ensino Médio – grade average of 6.0 (0-10 scale, lowest passing grade of 5) | Certificado de Ensino Médio – grade average of 7.0 (0-10 scale, lowest passing grade of 5) |
| Chile | Licencia de Educación / Enseñanza Media – grade average between 5.0 to 5.6 | Licencia de Educación / Enseñanza Media – grade average of 5.7 or higher |
| China |
Completion of Senior Year 2; or 60% or above in Senior Year 3 |
70% or above in Senior Year 2; or 65% or above in Senior Year 3 in four subjects; or Gaokao Tier 2 score (either stream) |
| Colombia | Bachiller Académico – grade average of 3.5/5 or 70/100 | Bachiller Académico – grade average of 4.0/5 or 80/100 |
| Fiji | Fiji School Leaving Certificate – 65% average over four subjects (must include English) | Fiji School Leaving Certificate – 75% average over four subjects (must include English) |
| Hong Kong | Form 5, pass in three academic subjects | HKDSE – four passes with a minimum of three Level 3 grades |
| India | All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) 50%; Higher Secondary School Examination 50%; Indian School Certificate (ISC) 45% | All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) 65%; Higher Secondary School Examination 65%; Indian School Certificate (ISC) 60% |
| Indonesia | SMA 2 (Year 11) – GPA 7.0 in four academic subjects | SMA 2 (Year 11) – GPA 8.0 in four academic subjects |
| International Qualifications |
IGCSE / O Levels – C grade average in four relevant academic subjects, or equivalent International Baccalaureate – 18 points in six subjects |
IGCSE / O Levels – B grade averages in four relevant academic subjects, or equivalent International Baccalaureate – 20 points in six subjects |
| Iran | Year 11 with 16 out of 20 in academic subjects | Year 11 with 18 out of 20 in academic subjects |
| Japan | Kotogakko / Senior High School Year 2 – minimum of 60% in academic subjects (grade 2-3 on a scale of 1-5); or successful completion of Senior High School Year 3 |
Kotogakko / Senior High School Year 2 – minimum of 70% in academic subjects (grade 4 on a scale of 1-5); or Senior High School Year 3 – minimum of 60% in academic subjects (grade 3 on a scale of 1-5) |
| Kenya | KCSE with 2 C grades and 2 D grades in relevant subjects | KCSE C grades in four relevant subjects |
| Korea | High School Certificate Year 2 – Rank 2-3 | High School Certificate Year 2 – Rank 1 |
| Kuwait | Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama / General Secondary School Certificate with pass | Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama / General Secondary School Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects |
| Macau | Form 5 / Senior Middle 2 – 65% in academic subjects | Form 5 / Senior Middle 2 – 75% in academic subjects |
| Malaysia |
SPM – minimum four passes (Grade C) in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or UEC – minimum Grade C7 in four subjects (forecasted results accepted) |
SPM – Grade B average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or UEC – Grade B4 average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or STPM – at least one C grade |
| Mexico | Bachillerato General – grade average of 7.0 (lowest passing grade of 6) | Bachillerato General – grade average of 7.5 (lowest passing grade of 6) |
| Myanmar | Successful completion of the Basic Education High School Examination / Matriculation Examination | Successful completion of the Basic Education High School Examination / Matriculation Examination with 75% overall |
| Nepal | Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Year 11) with a grade average of 50% | Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Year 11) with a grade average of 60% |
| New Zealand (international students) | 40 credits at NCEA level 2 with no fewer than 12 credits in each of three university approved subjects, plus numeracy and literacy | NCEA level 2 certificate with no fewer than 12 credits in each of three university approved subjects, plus numeracy and literacy |
| Nigeria | West African School Certificate / NECO – grade C6 or higher in five academic subjects | West African School Certificate / NECO – grade C4 or higher in five academic subjects |
| Oman | General Education Diploma with a 60% average | General Education Diploma with a 70% average |
| Pakistan | Intermediate / Higher Secondary School certificate – average of 50% (Second Division) in academic subjects | Intermediate / Higher Secondary School certificate – average of 60% (First Division) in academic subjects |
| Peru | Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa – grade average of 14 | Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa – grade average of 16 |
| Philippines | Year 11 – C grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system) |
Year 11 – B grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system) Year 12 – C grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system) |
| Russia | Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) – minimum of grade 3 in five subjects (compulsory and optional subjects) | Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) – minimum of grade 3 in three subjects (optional subjects) and a minimum of grade 4 in two subjects (compulsory subjects) |
| Samoa | School Certificate or SPFSC – 65% average | School Certificate or SPFSC – 75% average |
| Saudi Arabia | Tawjihiyah / General Secondary Education Certificate with 60% average in academic subjects | Tawjihiyah / General Secondary Education Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects |
| Singapore | Singapore / Cambridge O Levels – minimum C6 grade in four subjects (forecasted results accepted) |
Singapore / Cambridge O Levels – minimum B4 grade in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or attempted Singapore/Cambridge GCE A Levels with at least one H2 pass at C grade |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lankan / Cambridge O Levels – C grade average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted) | Sri Lankan / Cambridge O Levels – B grade average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted) |
| Taiwan |
70% or above in Senior Year 2; or 65% or above in Senior Year 3 |
80% or above in Senior Year 2; or 75% or above in Senior Year 3 |
| Thailand | Matayom 5 (M5) – GPA 2.5 | Matayom 5 (M5) – GPA 3.0 |
| Turkey | State or Private High School Diploma or the Lise Bitirme Diplomasi or Devlet Lise Diplomasi – 2.5 out of 5 (50%) | State or Private High School Diploma or the Lise Bitirme Diplomasi or Devlet Lise Diplomasi – 3.5 out of 5 (70%) |
| UAE | Tawjihiya / General Secondary School Education Certificate with 65% average in academic subjects | Tawjihiya / General Secondary School Education Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects |
| Vietnam | Year 11 – GPA 7.0 | Year 11 – GPA 8.0 |
Find out more about the entry requirements for this programme or contact the University of Waikato College if you would like to make an online enquiry.
Scholarships and prizes
Selected scholarships for CertAttainFSt students.
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Looking for more scholarships?
Standard Foundation Studies Programme
Duration 8 to 9 months (across two trimesters).
Duration
8 to 9 months (across two trimesters).
Note: you can complete the programme in eight months if you include C/X Trimester (summer school)
2022 Dates and Tuition Fees
A Trimester – 7 March to 1 July 2022
B Trimester – 18 July to 11 November 2022
X Trimester – 14 November 2022 to 13 February 2023
Standard Foundation Studies tuition: $11,780
Programme Details
- You will study a total of eight papers, three compulsory and five electives from the list below.
- All papers are available on campus. Limited papers will be available online. See below for specific details.
- Students can have up to 18 hours of class per week (4 papers) with a further 20 hours to be spent on homework and revision.
- Classes are scheduled between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Compulsory Papers
- FOUND021 - English for Foundation Studies 1
- FOUND022 - English for Foundation Studies 2
- FOUND001 - Academic Essentials
Elective Papers
STEM papers:
- FOUND007 - Foundations of Calculus
- FOUND008 - Foundations of Mathematics and Statistics
- FOUND009 - Foundations of Biology
- FOUND010 - Foundations of Chemistry
- FOUND011 - Foundations of Physics
- FOUND012 - Foundations of Science
- FOUND015 - Foundations of Health
Business papers:
Arts and Humanities papers:
Accelerated Foundation Studies Programme
Duration 5 months (one trimester).
Duration
5 months (one trimester).
2022 Dates and Tuition Fees
A Trimester – 7 March to 1 July 2022
B Trimester – 18 July to 11 November 2022
X Trimester – 14 November 2022 to 13 February 2023
Accelerated Foundation Studies tuition: $23,560
Programme Details
- You will study a total of four papers, two compulsory and two electives from the list below.
- Students can have up to 18 hours of class per week (4 papers) with a further 20 hours to be spent on homework and revision.
- Classes are scheduled between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Compulsory Papers
Elective Papers
STEM papers:
- FOUND007 - Foundations of Calculus
- FOUND008 - Foundations of Mathematics and Statistics
- FOUND009 - Foundations of Biology
- FOUND010 - Foundations of Chemistry
- FOUND011 - Foundations of Physics
- FOUND012 - Foundations of Science
- FOUND015 - Foundations of Health
Business papers:
Arts and Humanities papers:
Contacts
University of Waikato College - Te Kura Huanui
You can find out more about the University of Waikato College, as well as make an online enquiry if you have any questions about the pathway programmes.
University of Waikato College - Te Kura Huanui
You can find out more about the University of Waikato College, as well as make an online enquiry if you have any questions about the pathway programmes.
