International Foundation Studies + College Diploma - Design (Extended) + Bachelor of the Built Environment - Architecture

The International Foundation Studies Program is a one year pathway program for international students seeking entry into the first year of the majority of undergraduate degrees at the University of Canberra. It is a non-award program designed to equip international students with the skills and capabilities for successful undergraduate study.

It is a pre-university year and the curriculum is equivalent to the Australian Year 12. The curriculum has a strong focus on the development of both English language skills and tertiary preparation skills. The curriculum is also focused on developing those preparation skills for study in the Australian tertiary environment. The course can be delivered both onshore and offshore.

The program is designed as a generalist (multi-field) program. This provides international students with the opportunity to seek admission to a broad range of degrees. The unit offerings span a range of disciplines and include the following key learning areas:

Whilst the current program consists of 12 core units of study, it has also been structured to ensure that as future opportunities arise there is capacity to introduce specialisations (streams). Possible examples include business, information technology and communication. This would be achieved through the introduction of electives.

The teaching calendar consists of 3 terms of study. Each term consists of 12 weeks of teaching, a one week mid term break and 1 week of assessment. Typically there are three recess weeks for students between each term.

The Diploma of Design develops students' knowledge and skills in creative thinking, visual communication, technology, 2D and 3D design and will focus on the investigation and development of design projects in a studio environment. This diploma enables students with to study a generic design program which provides a clear pathway to a variety of bachelor degrees in the field of design.

The Bachelor of the Built Environment (Architecture) will provide you with a liberal understanding of what it means to be an architect in a globalised and dynamic world. Contextually informed by its location in the designed capital city of Canberra, the architecture program focuses on architecture and the city; exploring the ways in which architecture studio, history and theory, technology and sustainability, and digital production and communication methods come together in the analysis and production of urban built form.

If your career goal is to become an architect, this is the first of two degrees needed to achieve professional registration, with the second being the Master of Architecture. This course has been specifically designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to ultimately practice in the architectural profession, and to be a future leader in the design of the built environment.

Study a Bachelor of the Built Environment (Architecture) at UC and you will: