Foundation Connect (University of Auckland)

Delivered by UP Education, Foundation Connect provides a comprehensive, English-rich curriculum to prepare students for the Certificate in Foundation Studies (Level 3). This six-month extension programme allows students to develop their English skills, confidence and apply these English skills in an academic setting. Foundation Connect includes engagement in Mathematics and optional academic courses to give students a broader foundation for future learning.

While the programme is aimed at providing learners with the skills to study effectively in an academic setting, it also provides a direct pathway to the University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies with students guaranteed entry to Foundation provided they achieve the minimum criteria.
The main aim of Foundation Connect is to provide learners with the skills necessary to study effectively in an academic setting and a clear pathway to further study. Any student who wishes to enter the University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies but does not yet meet the entry requirements based on English language skills would benefit from studying this extension program.

Through engaging lessons and study materials, students will develop their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will explore a wide range of stimulating and current topics; participate in discussions, conversations, and presentations; read a variety of adapted and authentic texts in English; and learn to write for different tasks, purposes, and audiences. Students will also expand their academic and thematic vocabulary, as well as learn instructional words commonly used in academic studies. A strong emphasis is made on teaching grammatical structures and encouraging students to develop skills and strategies for improving their shortcomings in this area of language learning.  

There are two compulsory subjects (English and English for Mathematics) and two academic subjects per term. These academic subjects will be used to prepare students for their future academic studies and contextualise their academic English usage. 

English – 10 hours per week

English for Mathematics – 3 hours per week and 1 Flexible Learning Activity (FLA)

Academic subjects – 3 live lessons and 1 FLA – students do all four academic subjects with two in the first term and two in the second term.

The academic subjects available are: Business; Science; Humanities (Geography) and Media

Each Term:

English – 10 live lessons per week
Maths – 3 live lessons and 1 FLA per week
2 Academic subjects – 3 live lessons – 1 FLA