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Bridging Course

The Bridging Course is designed as a preparatory program for entry into science courses at La Trobe University. It is intended for people who have not recently completed Year 12. It is also an ideal refresher course for people keen to return to science study after pursuing other interests.

Held over a period of four months, the course gives students time to absorb the material and reinforce concepts. The sessions are held two evenings per week for 12 weeks, late October to early February. Maturity and self-motivation are needed to practise skills between class sessions.

"As a mature age student I hadn't done maths for eight years but after my first year of maths studies I have realised how valuable the bridging course was in preparing me for university level maths."

Bachelor of Computer Science in Games Technology, Second Year Student.

How to apply?

Applications for places in the Bridging Course for 2011-2012 closed on 27 September 2011. Please note: applications received before then are now being assessed. Get notified about the Bridging Course for 2012-2013 or please visit again soon for updates about the Bridging Course in Mathematics. Thank you.

About the Bridging Course

The Mathematics Bridging Course covers material included in VCE Mathematical Methods, apart from statistics and probability. All topics will be taught starting at about Year 10 level, making it possible for students who have neither Year 11 nor 12 to succeed, provided they are prepared to put in sufficient effort. Instead of a textbook there are purpose-written printed notes, the cost of which is included in the course fee.

Location

La Trobe University, Melbourne (Bundoora) campus.

Course Dates

Part 1

7 Weeks - Tuesday 25 October to Thursday 8 December 2011.
Class times: 6:00pm - 8:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday.

Part 2

5 Weeks - Tuesday 3 January to Thursday 2 February 2012.
Class times: 6:00pm - 8:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday.

Completion of the Bridging Course

Successful completion of this course will satisfy the entry mathematics requirement for courses in the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering at La Trobe University for which the prerequisite is VCE Mathematical Methods 3 and 4. However, as selection into courses that require mathematical methods as a prerequisite are competitive, successful completion of this program does not guarantee automatic selection.

Topics

The course has two parts; the first part of the course consists of 12 sessions on pre-calculus skills, the second part of the course consists of 12 sessions on calculus skills.

Tests and assignments are conducted during and at the end of Part 1 & Part 2.

Sessions

Bridging Course sessions involve a lecture and a practice class where students have the opportunity to work through problems and ask questions. In addition, each week there are units of work to be completed at home (the time required for completing these tasks would depend on a student’s background). Extra work sheets will be provided for additional practice for those who need it. Constant revision of skills is emphasised. It is expected that students actively participate in classroom and home learning activities.

Course Fees

There are two categories of fee assessment:

1. To enable individuals to commence an award course for the first time, this course does not require payment from individuals in any of the following exemption categories including; being from a lower socioeconomic group, coming from an outer metropolitan or non-metropolitan area, a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, having an immigrant background or living with a disability.
   Please note: If you are currently enrolled or have previously been enrolled in a tertiary course you will not be eligible for fee exemption.
2. If you are not in one of the exemption categories above, there is a fee of $650 for the course payable before commencement of the course. Upon receipt of your application, an invoice will be sent to you.
   Please note: Fee paying students who successfully complete this program and enrol in a science course within the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering at La Trobe University will be eligible for a $100 refund following the semester one enrolment census date.

Withdrawing from the Bridging Course

Withdrawal in the week preceding commencement will incur a fee of $75 (prior to this $30). No refund is available for withdrawal once the course has commenced.

Course Viability

Running of the Bridging Course is subject to a pre-determined minimum enrolment. If the target enrolment is not achieved, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics reserves the right not to run the course. If the course does not run you will be notified in writing one week before the course commencement date and you will receive a full refund of fees. The maximum class size is 20 students.

Additional Information

Applicants seeking entry into other Universities based on this bridging program are advised to seek clarification as to whether this program is accepted by the institution as meeting their entry requirements prior to enrolling in this program.

Current VCE students must satisfy the normal tertiary entrance requirements for courses and may not substitute this bridging program for prerequisite studies.

Want to know more?

Contact us for further information about the Bridging Course.