Nishara (St. Bridget's Convent) has always hoped to enter into a career in the Biomedical field. She joined the MUFY programme after A/Ls. Nishara felt that the Sri Lankan A/L examination was too competitive as it was designed for the selection of students into local universities. While she performed well in her A/Ls, she knew that she would not be able to find the degree that she wanted in a local university."The MUFY syllabus is designed for university study and I found the course structure to be a more effective way of learning and overall, I enjoyed my studies at Monash College" says Nishara who leaves Sri Lanka this week to pursue her degree in Medical Bioscience at Monash University Malaysia.

After 2 years of hard work leading up to a highly competitive examination, the results of the Sri Lankan A/L examinations have now been released. While a small number of students celebrate their success in securing a place in local university, there are still many thousands of students who have been unsuccessful at the A/Ls, or in some cases, who are unable to follow their desired university course due to an insufficient Z-score. For those students who haven't given up on their dreams, Monash University now offers a pathway into the most sought after degrees in the world.

The Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) programme offered by Monash College Sri Lanka is designed as an academic bridge between a student's highest secondary qualification and their preferred destination degree at Monash University. Successful completion of the MUFY programme with the required grades ensures that the student will enter into their Monash degree of choice.

From a young age, Palinda (D.S. Senanayake College) has loved the environment and had nurtured a life long passion for conservation. He discovered the Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management) offered by Monash University. "I knew that this was exactly the degree I was searching for to make a career for myself as a researcher and conservationist," he says "But my A/L results were not sufficient to enter into this degree." Instead of giving up, Palinda enrolled in the MUFY programme and has embarked on his mission to get into his desired degree. "I appreciate that I had this opportunity to make my dreams a reality. The preparation that I am receiving now through MUFY is of a really high standard - after all it's Monash!"

As a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight universities and recognized internationally as being amongst the Top 50 universities in the world*, Monash University has made its mark as a university of high standards for quality and a degree from Monash is a student's first step towards career success. Offering nearly 800 programmes from 10 specialized Faculties, with campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa a student is provided a range of opportunities with Monash.

Students further have the option to commence most degrees locally at Monash College Sri Lanka thereby making a substantial cost-saving and allowing certain degrees to be completed for as low at US$ 25,000.

The MUFY programme offers subjects tailored to take the student to his or her degree of choice. What makes MUFY different from Sri Lankan A/Ls is that while A/Ls are based on a syllabus spread over 2 years and one final examination, the MUFY syllabus is divided into 2 semesters with examinations at the end of the semester and a student's overall grade determined by the cumulative average of performance in both semesters. Focus is also placed on the teaching of academic style English bringing students up to the expected standards in international universities.

The interactive course structure which emphasizes both internal and exam-based assessment mirrors the university-style system of learning so that the student not just progresses to a desired degree but is also equipped with the necessary skills to cope with university education.

* Times Higher Education Supplement - World University Rankings, 2009. Applicable to some degrees in Monash University - Sunway Campus