Foundation in Arts
Southern University College · Skudai, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Foundation in Arts is one of the foundation programmes offered by the School of Foundation Studies in Southern University College. It is designed to prepare qualified undergraduates with basic knowledge for pathways related to business management, accountancy, marketing, information technology, economics, and other necessary disciplines.
The programme is delivered through a structured curriculum that includes compulsory subjects, core subjects, a compulsory elective, and elective subjects where students choose from track options. It is offered with the course duration of 1 year and is intended to help you progress into relevant degree programmes after completion.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Communicative English
- Office Application
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Introduction to Malaysian Culture
- Fundamental of Mathematics
- Economics for Business
- Introduction to Business Management
- Introduction to Sociology
- Study Skills
- Public Speaking
- Foundation in Statistics
- Introduction to Information Technology
- General English
Curriculum
Foundation in Arts is a 1-year programme with total graduation credit hours of 50.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | College compulsory courses and core subjects (Year 1 Semester 1) | Introduction to Islamic A'Qidah | 2 | 16 |
| Malaysian Studies 1/Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi 1 | 2 | |||
| Study Skills/Bahasa Kebangsaan A | 2 | |||
| Islamic Studies/Moral Studies | 2 | |||
| English Reading and Writing | 2 | |||
| Mathematics 1 | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Social Sciences | 3 | |||
| Accounting 1 | 4 | |||
| Fundamental of Statistics | 4 | |||
| Principles of Economics | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Business | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Psychology | 4 | |||
| Semester 2 | College compulsory courses and core subjects (Year 1 Semester 2) | General Studies | 2 | 16 |
| Islamic Studies/Moral Studies | 2 | |||
| English Listening and Speaking | 2 | |||
| Study Skills/Bahasa Kebangsaan A | 2 | |||
| Fundamental of Statistics | 4 | |||
| Accounting 2 | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Law | 3 | |||
| Introduction to Business | 4 | |||
| Principles of Management | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Human Development | 4 | |||
| Computer Application | 4 | |||
| Principles of Economics | 4 | |||
| Semester 3 | Remaining core subjects to reach total graduation credit hours | Mathematics 2 | 4 | 18 |
| Introduction to Counseling | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 4 | |||
| Programming Logic and Design | 4 | |||
| Introduction to Information Technology and Computer Application | 4 | |||
| Total | All subjects in the Foundation in Arts programme (Year 1) | 50 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You build job-ready foundations in business, economics, information technology, communication skills, and study capabilities that support progression into relevant bachelor pathways.
- You gain structured learning in key applied subjects like Introduction to Business Management, Economics for Business, and Foundation in Statistics, helping you start undergraduate study with confidence.
- You strengthen practical communication skills through Communicative English and Public Speaking, which supports future presentations, team work, and workplace professionalism.
- You develop digital and office-readiness through Office Application and Introduction to Information Technology, supporting early career readiness in many office and entry-level roles.
- You can shape your study direction by selecting elective subjects that align with pathways such as accounting, mass communication, design, and computing-related areas.
- By completing this foundation year, you position yourself for smoother entry into higher-level programs in your chosen career pathway.
Employability rate
Employability rates for graduates of this type of arts foundation pathway vary by the bachelor degree you progress into, because the foundation itself is designed for academic progression rather than direct job entry.
Overall, students typically experience better career stability when they continue into a relevant bachelor degree, gaining stronger specialist skills aligned to Malaysia’s hiring needs.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School-leaving qualifications | International applicants may be admitted with SPM or O-Level by meeting the stated credit/grade requirement, or with UEC by meeting the stated grade requirement, or with other recognised equivalent qualifications. |
| If you are applying with SPM | If you apply using SPM, the programme page notes that you must have at least a pass in Bahasa Melayu, and for SPM holders from Year 2013 onwards you must have at least a pass in Sejarah. |
| Minimum academic readiness | Admission is based on whether your foreign qualifications are accepted as equivalent and whether you meet the programme’s minimum entry requirement stated on the official Foundation in Arts page. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | Conditional match | The programme includes tracks and elective subjects (including Computing, Art & Design), so applicants with prior study background in arts and related subjects may find the electives more aligned, subject to Southern University College’s assessment of your foreign qualifications. |
Language requirements
International applicants are required to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to study on the Foundation in Arts programme. If you do not meet the minimum English requirement, Southern University College may require you to attend an English support/bridging option before you progress.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 14000 / total program | From Southern University College document for 2022 international student programme fees: Foundation in Arts (minimum duration 12 months) tuition and Micls. total shown as RM 21,500; tuition & Micls. include tuition plus Micls. in the table. |
Proof of financial resources
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | May - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | May - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | May - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your documents and check equivalency
Review the Foundation in Arts entry requirements on the official programme page and confirm your school-leaving qualification is accepted as an equivalent. Prepare your high school results/transcripts and your school leaving or graduation certificate. If you are applying with SPM, ensure you also meet the programme’s Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah pass notes.
Submit the completed online application
Complete the online application form on Southern University College’s admission channel during the published intake period. Upload or prepare your academic documents for submission and ensure your passport information is accurate. Pay attention to any document formatting requirements if stated during the online submission process.
Wait for assessment and follow-up checks
After submission, the university will review your supporting documents to determine eligibility for the Foundation in Arts programme. Be ready to provide clarifications if requested, especially for equivalency of foreign qualifications. If the university requires additional steps for international applicants, follow the instructions provided during processing.