Program Overview

Foundation Studies prepares you for a successful transition to degree-level study, providing a pathway to the first year of study of a bachelor’s degree at Murdoch University.

This course is suited to you if you:

• Need an entrance qualification for Murdoch University
• Want to accelerate your university preparation after Year 11, or equivalent
• Want to change your degree stream after Year 11, or equivalent

Course Structure
For Foundation Studies you will complete eight units over two study periods, studying a combination of core and elective units. The units you will undertake will be determined by your chosen degree. All students must complete the two English units and at least one unit from each Discipline Group.

Each unit of study builds concepts from an introductory level through to university entrance level. The units are designed to develop your learning techniques as well as bridging gaps in your unit knowledge.

• English
  • Essential Australian Studies
  • Introduction to Academic Communication
• Mathematics
  • Introductory Mathematics
  • Mathematics for Science
• Science and Technology
  • Information Technology for Academic Studies
  • Computer Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• The Arts
  • Introduction to Media
  • Media Production
• Business and Legal Studies
  • Accounting
  • Management
  • Economics

Leading to: Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts
At Murdoch University you can combine a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with a Bachelor of Arts.

Adding an arts degree to your law qualification will help you hone your communication and problem-solving skills to give you a competitive edge in your career.

The combination of a Law and Arts degree means you'll gain valuable additional skills to use in your future career, including presentation skills, media liaison, language skills or knowledge of polices and international relations.

Major: Politics and International Studies
Organisations, businesses, and entire nations are run by a combination of systems, decisions and activities known as governance. In this course, you’ll examine political power, public policy, political institutions, ideas and processes, and their transformations at national and global levels. You’ll learn how organisations, including government bodies, can benefit from high-performing leaders and strong internal systems.

This is the only course of its kind in WA, exploring both political and economic forces to help you develop new ways of thinking about what shapes the world.

You can expand your career opportunities through a range of programs at our Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs, or explore the social, political, historical, environmental and economic forces at play in Asia through our Asia Research Centre.

3 reasons to study Politics and International Studies at Murdoch

• Explore a unique combination of global politics and economics to build knowledge and skills which will be in demand from a range of employers.
• Build your network of contacts through our industry connections and strong links with the Asian region through our Asia Research Centre.
• Have the opportunity to get work experience through working closely with politicians and senior administrators from the WA Public Sector and parliament. You’ll take on a project and work together on different issues. You’ll also get to spend time in and around the government offices giving you real exposure to the inner workings of government and the public sector.

What you’ll learn
Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. In this course you will:

• Develop a variety of approaches to analysing local and global forces that affect political institutions and the policies they produce.
• Examine issues and theories of global politics and public policy-making.
• Clearly and persuasively communicate concepts, problems and arguments in the disciplines of Political Science and Public Policy.