Frequently Asked Questions for Foundation :

What is HMC?

HMC stands for HELP Matriculation Centre and HMC runs both the Foundation in Science and Foundation in Arts pre-university programs.

What does HMC has to offer SPM school leavers?

HMC offers both the Foundation in Science and Arts pre-university program for SPM school leavers to gain entrance to the degree program of their choice.

Is Foundation an accredited program?

Yes, the Foundation program is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifying Agency (MQA).

What is the structure of the Foundation program?

The Foundation program runs in the semester based structure, where each semester is 14 weeks long. Students are required to complete 11 subjects and are required to complete at least 3 to 4 subjects per semester.

How do I choose which Foundation program to take? What are my degree options upon completion of the Foundation program?

The Foundation in Science is catered for students who are interested in pursuing a science degree; for instance, Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Electrical & Electronic, Mechanical), Science (Biotechnology, Applied Science, Biology, Food Science, Medical Biotechnology, Nutrition & Dietetics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry), Medicine and Pharmacy. Students who complete a Foundation in Science also have the option to pursue any degree in arts, commerce or social sciences.

On the other hand, the Foundations in Arts is catered for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in arts, commerce or social sciences; for instance, Business (Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Hospitality & Tourism, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Economics, and Banking), Psychology, Communication, and Information Technology (IT).

Who can enter the Foundation program?

Students need to achieve at least 5 Credits from his/her SPM/O Level/UEC Senior Middle 2 results (any subjects). A minimum of Pass for BM and Credit for English is also compulsory (for SPM). Students who fail to achieve a Credit for English are required to complete the English Immersion Program (EIP) before entering the Foundation program.

What is the duration of the Foundation course?

Students will take 1 year consisting of 3 semesters to complete the Foundation program; however, students may extend the duration by taking fewer subjects per semester.

What is the timetable like?

Students will be able to plan and select their timetable according to the slots available. There will be 4½ hours of teaching per subject per week.  However, subjects that require laboratories will have 5 hours of teaching per subject per week; for instance, the computing and science subjects.

What about the class sizes?

Classes are designed to accommodate a maximum of 25 students to encourage active class participation and promote interactions between students and lecturers.

Will I be assessed based on examinations only?

No, students will be assessed continuously through the 40% of coursework and assignments and 60% of examination (20% for midterm examination and 40% for the final examination).

Will the assignments be individual or group based?

Students will be exposed to both individual and group assignments throughout the duration of the Foundation program.

Do I have to do all 11 subjects? What other subjects do I have to be concerned about?

Yes, students are required to successfully pass 11 subjects in order to complete the Foundation program. Malaysian students are required to take compulsory MQA (Malaysian Qualification Agency) subjects on top of the 11 Foundation subjects. Students who fail to attain a credit in Bahasa Malaysia for their SPM/ O-Level are required to do three (3) MQA subjects; Bahasa Kebangsaan, Pengajian Malaysia and Pengajian Islam/ Moral. Students with a credit in Bahasa Malaysia will have to do two (2) MQA subjects; Pengajian Malaysia and Pengajian Islam/ Moral.

And what happens if I fail any of the subjects?

Students who fail a core subject must retake the subject. For elective subjects, students have the option to take another elective instead of the failed one.

What if I change my mind after I have chosen the Foundation in Science? Is it possible to switch to the Foundation in Arts?

Yes, it is possible for students to switch from the Foundation in Science to the Foundations in Arts. However, it is better for students to make the switch after the first semester for less subject matter complications. If students were to switch after two semesters, they may have to take extra subjects and thus prolong the duration of their Foundation program.

How many different electives are offered? How many and what electives should I take?

There are a total of 23 different electives offered in the Foundation program.  Students enrolling for the Foundation in Arts needs to complete 7 core subjects and choose 4 subjects from the list of Arts electives and students enrolling for the Foundation in Science needs to complete 6 core subjects and pick 5 subjects from the list of Science electives and Arts electives (at least one set of Sciences). 

What about opportunities outside the classroom? How can I be involved in student activities?

HMC is one of the most dynamic department organizing student activities all year round. Students are very much encouraged to join the organizing committees or volunteer as helpers or participate in the events, and to work with different people for each event. Lecturers and staffs will be guiding and advising as to support students in planning, implementing and further improving in organizing more events to accommodate the demands of student activities.

Do I have to join a club or society?  Is it compulsory?

No, it is not compulsory for students to join a club or society; however, we strongly encourage students to be active outside the classroom to enhance soft skills development (communication, organizing and planning, team work, and time management).

What is the difference between a Diploma and the Foundation program?

The Diploma program offers more specifically tailored specializations like Business and IT, making the program less flexible compared to the Foundation program. Also, entry to the Diploma program is slightly easier compared to the Foundation program (3 SPM credits instead of 5 SPM credits); however, it takes slightly longer for students to acquire a degree.

What is the difference between the A-levels and the Foundation program?

The A-Levels is a more academic oriented program suited for degree courses like Law, Medicine and the Specialised Sciences. The Foundation programme better prepares students who wish to take practical oriented degree courses like Business, Communication, Psychology, and IT. Both are good programs but the whole purpose of a pre-university education is to prepare students before entering into their degree program. Therefore, student’s choice of degree pathway determines which program will be best suited for them.

So, why choose the Foundation program?

The Foundation program is known for its flexibility because it allows students to explore and expose themselves to the different areas in choosing their electives (Arts: 4 electives & Science: 5 electives). Also, the Foundation program is designed to prepare students to familiarize themselves with the university structure; where courses are semester based and assessed continuously through coursework, assignments and examinations. We also pride ourselves in preparing students academically and providing soft skills training as part of a holistic learning opportunity for students. Students will be required to work in groups and individually; which expose them to teamwork environment and written communication, presenting their reports; which enhances their verbal communication and public speaking confidence, and overall encourages better planning and time management within the classroom.

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