Foundation Course

gd1987

I'm thinking about doing the Foundation course for Engineering next year, has anyone done this course or doing it atm?
There is some information on the Nui website but not much. I was talking to the Mature students officer but I'd like to hear from someone who has taken this course also.
I'm wondering what sort of hours are involved, is it tuition based or all lectures and is it worth doing as apposed to a plc course?

the keen edge

I'am currently doing the Eng/Sci foundation course at NUIG.

Information from the college regarding the course probably will not be advertised till late August, early September.

Assuming the course structure remains the same next time round, here's what to expect;

The course starts late September, early October, and runs through till May. We will have our terminal exam's next week.

The subjects covered are;
Maths-Every Tuesday evening 7pm to 10pm.
I'd place the syllabus taught somewhere just below what is taught in 1st Eng/Sci in the college; As a class we used passed 1st Eng/Sci papers as examples of questions.
The maths is pretty intense, and the pace of teaching is fast. Having said that, for my class we have Fanchea Canden as our lecturer, and with her the standard of teaching is excellent.

Science- Every Thursday 7pm to 9pm.
Science is divided into the three main branches of science. The syllabus is not in depth at all here. It is interesting though and you will get to attend four lab sessions over in GMIT as well. Some of the teaching for the Science subjects has been poor in all honesty. We've had a few proper lecturers and a few Phd students who had little, if any, teaching experience. However as I said earlier the course content is quite limited, so you are not so reliant on the quality of teaching.

A 40% in both maths and science will get you a place on undenominated science.
For a place on undenominated engineering you need 60% in maths.
Denominated courses are offered on a candidate by candidate basis, assuming that you satisfy the above criteria.

Overall I have had a excellent experience on the course. If like myself you have been out of a classroom for a couple of years, the course is great at getting you back in to the swing of things, classroom wise. I wouldn't fancy starting in to a degree course next Spetember, not having done it.

Hope this helps you. If you've any other questions just ask.

KittyeeTrix

I would just like to second what the keen edge said about Fanchea Cadden. She is by far one of the most outstanding teachers I have ever come across.

I was incredibly worried about the maths section of the course as I had only attained a D in pass maths almost 20 years. She managed to get me over 60% in maths for the foundation course.

The maths course is definitely fast paced but well within your limits if you work well on projects given to you.

I enjoyed it very much
Actually used to miss the maths with Fanchea on Tuesdays when it was over....

gd1987

Thats very good information, helps clear thing up for me, thanks a lot guys.
I do have another question about assesments, is the course run on continuous assesment with assignments/projects and a final end of year exam?

the keen edge

Yeah, its as you described: 50% of your final marks from final exam, the other 50% from the combined marks achieved from the 3 assessment and 3 assignments given throughout the year.

Go for it, its cheap education at the very least!

steel_spine

I did the course finishing last year and I highly recommend it - get good marks and you're virtually a shoe-in to a lot of the science courses at NUIG/GMIT, esp undenominated.
It's also good for easing you back into 'studying mode' if you've had more than a few years break from formal education.
The tutors are mixed - you get 2 diff tutors - one from NUIG, one from GMIT for all subjects except Maths - maths is Fanchea or Paul from NUIG.
The GMIT ecology tutor is very good, Cell biology is covered by NUIG tutors - one apparently very good and leading in cancer research, I got one of her reseach students who was frankly, bloody bad at teaching though she knew her stuff.
Chemistry was so-so - covered analytical with GMIT tutor and basic chem - atomic structures etc with Niall Geraghty from NUIG
Physics was Mark Laing(NUIG) mechanics & kinematics, and Jim from GMIT did optics and some other things - both absolute legends, esp Jim . I'm a Bio nerd but Physics was by far my fave part of the course. Lab sessions are for physics & chem and take place Sats at GMIT.
The course is entirely doable with a bit of self study even with no prev experience - despite my love of science I'd only formally studied art & design before and i got 70% in Maths and well above 80% in Science. The only real issue I had on the course was a couple of the tutors really weren't used to teaching people with no experience and had trouble simplifying and going back to basics.

EDIT: another point, If you get into a 1st year degree course after Foundation course and still find some of the math concepts difficult, Paul and Fanchea are very accomodating at letting you sit quietly in on their classes again if you feel it'll help you and you ask them nicely/subtly - I know a couple of folk who did that.

ATMW

I did the foundation course several years back and went on to do a degree in engineering afterwards. It really is an excellent course and i would recommend it to anyone. In my dat all the tutors were excellent, i gather that several of the science tutors have changed recently however. Both the maths tutors are brilliant. I had Paul. He has an very relaxed, non-school teacher type approach which suited me, and he really made sure that you understood what was going on, something that was very valuable when i did the degree. I gather that Fanchea is more of the school teacher, but to all accounts she is very good also.

weerosie6

Hi i have been interested in going back to education for some time. However I have been away from formal education for a considerable amount of time. I am considering my options at the moment would like to do speech and language or occupational therapy at Nuig. I have a leaving cert however no science subject, I realise this is probably a long shot but want to give it a go, my question, should I do a science foundation course, or a fetac level 5 major course, which would be my best option for entry to my chosen course. If I successfully get on the foundation course, at what level are
the maths and science subjects.

Rickwellwood

great course and it definitely requires work but that shouldn't put you off. maths is nearly LC hons but not quite and science is almost LC hons not quite - tutors we had were terrific which really really helps and lots of resources throughout the year. In Science degree course now and foundation course was vital in my re-entry to full time 3rd level having made a complete dogs arse of coll. first time round. hope this helps