Students who hope to study at university but fall short of entry requirements now have a new pathway through which they can bring their ambition to life.
Bond University today announced the establishment of Bond College - a year 12 equivalent pathway to university.
Bond College will allow people who do not have a university entrance score, such as an OP score, or who are not direct school leavers, to gain entry to university through a uniquely tailored ‘Foundation Program’.
Open to both domestic and international students, the college will offer a limited number of places in its Foundation Program each semester (January, May and September), with the inaugural intake being in May this year.
Professor Raoul Mortley AO, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Quality) at Bond University, says the program will initially offer pathways to Bond University’s Faculties of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Business, Technology and Sustainable Development, with a Health Sciences and Medicine pathway set to be introduced in 2008.
Professor Mortley said the Foundation Program had been designed in extensive consultation with academic staff and would provide “an excellent foundation for tertiary study”.
"The curriculum features general mathematics, the history of western thought, literature taught with an emphasis on authorial creativity, and world history taught on the understanding that facts and their explanation are important,” he said.
“It emphasises writing, thinking and reasoning ability and is seen by the academic staff as preparing students for university study, rather than replacing it”, Professor Mortley said.
Professor Mortley added that the program may also appeal to year 12 students for whom a high school environment isn’t ideal.
“As well as catering to those students who perhaps need a second chance, we are also providing an alternative for those who are looking to step away from a high school environment.
“With its location on Bond University’s campus, Bond College will offer a completely new environment in which to learn. With all of the university’s facilities at their fingertips, participants in the Foundation Program will be given every opportunity to achieve.
”Bond College will also set a high standard for English-language entry. Unlike many foundation courses, it will seek a strong Australian student enrolment and will require preliminary English training for international students,” he said.
Bond University is currently constructing a new building on campus which will house the new college and students will benefit from full access to the university’s state-of-the-art academic and recreational facilities.
Mr. Rowan Hinton, formerly of the University of Central Queensland, was appointed Director of Bond College on March 5.
Australian students will be eligible to apply for Fee-Help in order to assist with fees for the program, and may also be able to access Youth Allowance.