The Complete Guide to Studying Foundation in Business in Malaysia
From entry requirements to programme subjects and degree pathways, here's everything you need to know about studying Business in Malaysia.
If you've decided on a Business Degree, it would seem like common sense to take a Foundation in Business instead of slogging away doing pre-university courses like A-Level or Australian Matriculation.
But is a Foundation in Business the right path for you?
This guide will explain everything about a Foundation in Business, as well as some of the most important things that you need to know before making a decision.
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Foundation in Business and Management
✓A multidisciplinary programme that combines academic skills and content-specific modules, such as social sustainability, introduction to law and applied psychology
#1. What is Foundation in Business
A degree in Business covers a wide range of majors, including Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, and International Business, just to name a few.
A Foundation in Business focuses on business-related topics by focusing on specific subjects related to these various majors in Business.
Most Foundation in Business courses are usually about 12 months long, and you can enter this programme directly after SPM. By taking a Foundation in Business, you will be able to move on quickly and smoothly into a Business-related degree at the same university.
#2. How Is Foundation in Business Structured?
Unlike how A-Level and SACEi are administered by a central body (Cambridge administers A-Level and the South Australian education board administers SACEi), a Foundation in Business is administered by the university itself.
Why is this important?
Since the syllabus and learning material at one university may not be the same as another university, most students continue on at the same university (or at partner universities) to pursue their degree.
Subjects offered by Foundation in Business courses are typically business-related to give you a focused route towards your undergraduate degree in business. Course modules usually revolve around topics such as Accounting, Economics, Marketing and Business Maths.
Some universities offer both core and elective subjects (which means you get to choose some of your subjects), while some universities only have fixed subjects.
The assessment structure will vary depending on the programme and university. Typically, you should expect a combination of coursework and final exams.
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Foundation in Business and Management
✓A multidisciplinary programme that combines academic skills and content-specific modules, such as social sustainability, introduction to law and applied psychology
#3. Why Should You Take Foundation in Business?
A Foundation in Business is a structured and straightforward path to a degree in Business. Here are some of the reasons why you should take a Foundation in Business.
(1) Gives you a head start on learning Business-related subjects
By taking a Foundation in Business, you will be exposed to various Business topics, such as Accounting, Finance, Economics and Marketing. This will be extremely helpful once you've completed your Foundation and need to start making important decisions, like choosing your Business major.
With so many various Business Degrees around, from Economics, Finance & Accounting to Marketing, International Business & Human Resource Management, a Foundation in Business will give you a good idea of what you'll be learning during your Degree.
(2) Gives you good preparation for a Degree in Business
Because a Foundation in Business is structured to equip you with all the key knowledge and skills that you need for a Business Degree, you may find that you will be able to transition easily into your Degree programme, especially if you continue on at the same university. In fact, at certain universities, you may also have the benefit of lower entry requirements compared to other pre-university courses.
(3) One of the quickest paths to enter a Business-related Degree
Most Foundation in Business courses are about 12 months long, which is a relatively faster way to enter university compared to taking A-Level or STPM. If you're keen on completing your education quickly, a Foundation in Business is a good choice for you.
(4) Some universities offer better scholarships & more affordable fees
With some universities, you may find that they offer more generous scholarships for Foundation courses, compared to A-Level or Australian Matriculation. With certain universities, you could even get a discount for both Foundation & Degree with your SPM results. Foundation courses are also usually cheaper than pre-university courses at the same college or university.
#4. Who Is Foundation in Business For?
You should consider taking Foundation in Business if:
- You are confident that you want to pursue a Business-related Degree
- You do not plan to pursue your Degree at a university that’s different from where you are studying your Foundation in Business course
- You want to get a head start on learning Business-related subjects
- You are looking for a quick route to enter university
You should NOT take Foundation in Business if:
- You are not sure what Degree you want to study yet
- You plan to switch to another university after your Foundation in Business
- You plan to pursue your Degree overseas at a non-partner university
- You are aiming to apply for government or company scholarships for your Degree
Remember that Foundation in Business courses are usually recognised by selected universities only, so make sure you do your research! For those of you who plan to apply for scholarships or study abroad, we recommend that you take a pre-university course (e.g. A-Level, STPM) instead.
Do note that the minimum entry requirements for a Foundation in Business is 5 credits (1 credit is a C or above) at SPM or equivalent.
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Foundation in Business and Management
✓A multidisciplinary programme that combines academic skills and content-specific modules, such as social sustainability, introduction to law and applied psychology
#5. Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation in Business
Do I need to study for a Business degree at the same university?
Well... yes and no.
Remember that Foundation programmes are administered by the universities themselves, so it is entirely up to the "receiving" university to decide whether to accept your qualification or not.
Local private universities may be more lenient about this, as long as your results are good. However, universities abroad may not even consider your application, especially top universities.
Always choose a college or university that offers both a Foundation in Business AND your chosen Business Degree. This will ensure that you're not stuck studying a Degree that you dislike, just in case you happen to be unsuccessful in switching universities.
PRO TIP
Some universities have links with various partner universities (locally and abroad) for their Foundation programmes, which gives you more options and allows for easy switching.
#6. Where Can You Study Foundation in Business?
There are many colleges in Malaysia that offer Foundation in Business programmes, allowing you to pursue various business pathways.
Here are some of the popular colleges for Foundation in Business in Malaysia.
University of Nottingham Malaysia
Semenyih, Selangor
Foundation in Business and Management
Intake
Apr, Sep
Tuition Fees
RM26,700
A 2.5% discount is available for students who pay the full academic year fee before the tuition fee due date.
Gain a UK degree from a top Russel Group university in Malaysia
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Not sure which college to choose? Check out our Foundation in Business comparison page to compare across all colleges.
