Higher education is the single most important contributor to success in life. Students are investing more and more to get qualified from an international university, but few of them get the opportunity to enter to an international University. Students can obtain Australian University degrees in Four years after ‘O’ Level.

G. Bajwa | Director Operations ATMC Sri Lanka	Brayan D.Cole | Director of Studies ATMC

The dream of every student and Parent is to study directly in a Degree program but, due to a number of constraints they are unable to fulfill the dream. University of Ballarat Sri Lanka study centre (UBSL) will offer a chance to enroll directly into the University Foundation, Degree and Post Graduate Programmes. The University of Ballarat is the only University in the state of Victoria in Australia to be awarded 5 stars for “Teaching quality” by the Good Universities guide in 2010 and 2011 for two consecutive years.

Foundation programs are designed to equip International students with skills and capabilities to become eligible for entry to the higher education programs in Australia. The students can gain a direct entry path way to first year degree study or equivalent.

The Australian Foundation program must comply with the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and the Providers of Education and Training to overseas students 2007 (the National code) and Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.

The Australian approved Foundation program must meet the following ten standards: Source (Details available on http://www.aei.gov.au/AEI/ESOS/FP_Standards_pdf.pdf)

Standard 01
The program must be based on a curriculum which prepares the students for further study in higher education program.
Standard 02
The program must reflect the minimum entry requirement for Academic & English language standards.
Standard 03
The program must contain a number of discipline based subjects.
Standard 04
The program must contain dedicated English studies to develop English. Language proficiency required for entry to higher education.
Standard 05
The program must offer pedagogies and learning opportunities that maximize student engagement and provide opportunities for regular feedback on student progress.
Standard 06
It must have compulsory assessment procedures for determining end reporting to students on academic progress.
Standard 07
The standard foundation program must contain a minimum of 720 scheduled course contact hours over not less than 26 weeks of fulltime study, and must include scheduled holiday breaks.
Standard 08
The Program must offer students one or more demonstrated higher Education path ways, as evidence by a formal current agreement with higher education partner.
Standard 09
Teacher qualifications.
Standard 10
Marketing of Foundation program.

The advantages of the University of Ballarat Foundation Program are:
1. It is CRICOS registered and complies with the National Code (2007) and ESOS act (2000)
2. It is already accredited by Australian government and is on the University's scope
3. Its core units and electives (exceeding 400 nominal hours) are designed for students going on to Further Study
4. The core units and prescribed electives would satisfy the requirements of the EAP (English) component of International Foundation Programs (and even exceed the minimum standards on a range of levels).
5. The Training Packaging Rules allowed room for this program to be streamed to pathway students into Business and IT first year undergraduate study from year 11 by including a number of units (subjects) from other suitable training packages - units that would be co-delivered with the core units. These additional units would comprise the remaining subject areas of ICT, Mathematics, Business, Marketing, Management and Economics.
6. The total number of weekly scheduled course contact hours (EAP hours combined with the streamed subjects) would equate to 25 hours/week (or 990 nominal hours over the year), well above the minimum 720 hours for International Foundation Programs, but not excessive from a pedagogical perspective.
7. The program would run for up to 40 weeks a year. It would also have the required scheduled term/semester breaks as per the National Foundation Standards.
8. The units (ICT, Maths, Business, Marketing, Management, Economics) were identified and approved by the experts in the Higher Education destination Schools (Heads) and the TAFE Business & IT Services School Heads, as comparable in standard to an Australian year 12 subject curriculum, thereby qualifying students for entry into first year undergraduate study in the Bachelor of Business and/or Bachelor of IT.
9. The Program would be delivered by suitably qualified teachers as per the National Foundation Standards and as stipulated in University Agreements with ATMC, that is, appropriately qualified TESOL teachers (for the EAP/ESL core units) and TAA qualified teachers for the co-delivered units (ICT, Mathematics, Business, Management, Marketing and Economics).
10. There would be minimum standards for entry to the program, including minimum standards around English language proficiency and academic requirements around Australian year 11 or overseas equivalent (including specific to Sri Lankan students).

The foundation course to be offered by University of Ballarat at its Sri Lanka study centre complies with the requirements of the Foundation courses envisaged by the relevant Australian authorities. It is the most economical Australian University Foundation program being delivered in Sri Lanka. It is the best value for the Money spent. It offers direct entry to the University degree program. The student can save precious time of almost one year as compared to going through the regular “A” level studies.