The Foundation Studies Program prepares students for the challenging expectations of university degree programs, and also develops the high-level English language skills necessary to take on major employment positions in Afghanistan or abroad.
The Foundation Studies Program currently offers instruction in English as a Second Language at four levels. They are identified as: Elementary, Threshold, Intermediate, and Bridge. Students are placed in the appropriate level after taking a English Proficiency Test administered at the University.
Each course consists of sixteen weeks of instruction, taught by qualified and experienced native speakers of English. Evening students meet for 3-hour classes, five days a week; day students meet for 5-hour classes, 5 days a week. The classes are taught using the latest textbooks and lively methodologies, so that students develop the confidence to participate in class activities and group learning. All students receive individual attention and support.
At the conclusion of each course level, any participant with a final mark of 73% or more will receive an official certificate of completion, which can be valuable in proving English proficiency in job applications, requests for promotion, or applications to other universities.
Upon completion of Level Four (Bridge), each student is urged to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. If the student’s score is high enough to comply with University policies, that person is granted permission to apply to the Undergraduate Program.
Important Notice to all applicants and current students of the Foundation Studies Program:
AUAF offers new foundation studies program for daytime students
AUAF will offer a new daytime foundation studies program in the spring semester, beginning on 1 February 2009. This program, modeled on intensive campus-based programs in the US, maximizes classroom time, combines ESL with academic foundation studies in math and computer literacy, and optimizes access to all the learning resources of AUAF, such as the new library, multimedia computer labs, and academic advising. But most importantly, this new program is conducted entirely during standard daytime hours, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, the hours university classes are traditionally offered.
Curriculum will include 18-20 hours of classroom instruction in English for academic purposes, 5 hours of math and computer literacy, and 5 hours of supervised homework, freeform language building activities, or language laboratory practice. ESL instructors will provide the academic English components, and Math and Computer instructors will be employed to teach those portions of the curriculum, while faculty and staff will team up to present academic skills training and orientation to American college culture. The program will include the following components:
- Participation in academic discussions
- Listening to academic lectures
- Taking lecture notes
- Developing research skills
- Writing academic English
- Reading academic texts
- Orientation to American college culture
- Acquiring personal computer skills
- Mastering basic quantitative reasoning (math) skills
This unprecedented daytime opportunity for Afghan students to prepare for academic admissibility to fulltime degree studies is designed to steer both current and future FSP students into daytime study programs, and to better acclimatize them to the educational culture and academic demands of a traditional American university environment.
The tuition cost for this program is 125,000 AFS per semester. The University will provide need-based scholarships based on financial need. A scholarship application must be submitted to the Financial Assistance Office.
This new program will offer two levels of instruction: University Foundations I and University Foundations II. Up to 20 students will be accepted into each of these two levels.
AUAF's Admissions Office is now accepting applications. Applicants are encouraged to apply early because space is limited.
