Over 550 Foundation in Science (FIS) and Foundation in Arts (FIA) students participated in the Degree Discovery Xperience (DDX) 2026, held across three IMU campuses on 14 January 2026. The event, jointly organised by the Centre for Pre-University Studies (CPU) and the Undergraduate Faculty, offered students an invaluable opportunity to explore the diverse range of degree programmes available at IMU University.

Over 550 Foundation in Science (FIS) and Foundation in Arts (FIA) students participated in the Degree Discovery Xperience (DDX) 2026, held across three IMU campuses on 14 January 2026. The event, jointly organised by the Centre for Pre-University Studies (CPU) and the Undergraduate Faculty, offered students an invaluable opportunity to explore the diverse range of degree programmes available at IMU University.

One of the key advantages of being a Foundation student at IMU is the opportunity to experience university life before committing to a specific degree pathway. DDX 2026 exemplified this benefit, providing students with direct access to undergraduate faculty members and current degree students through interactive workshops and hands-on activities.

“This event allows our Foundation students to make informed decisions about their future,” said Ms Chow Kit May, the main organiser of DDX 2026, who is also a Senior Lecturer with CPU.

“They get to experience what studying in different programmes actually feels like, not just read about it in a brochure.”

Students from FIS and FIA rotated through various workshop sessions where they engaged in practical activities designed to simulate actual undergraduate coursework.

The hands-on nature of the sessions proved particularly impactful, with students experiencing everything from laboratory experiments to clinical simulations.

The diverse range of workshops offered students genuine insights into their potential career paths. Student A found the Biomedical Science (BM) session particularly enlightening: “The most useful session I’d say is Biomedical Science because I’ve been debating if I should do it or not, and after that session it made me REALLY want to do BM as my undergraduate programme.”

For Student B, the Dentistry workshop stood out: “I found the dentistry session the most useful and enjoyable. We were able to mix alginate and try the VR.”

The Pharmaceutical Chemistry session captured Student C’s imagination through a creative activity: “Making lip balm in pharmaceutical chemistry DDX—it was fun and most engaging. I felt like I’m a professional making lip balm.”

Student D appreciated the practical approach of the Pharmacy session: “I like the Pharmacy session because I got to learn how to make cough syrup, giving me a more actual idea of the job of a pharmacist.”

Meanwhile, Student E valued the comprehensive structure of the Medicine workshop: “Medicine—it was carefully divided into different sections to ensure we students understood how the study of medicine can be branched.”

In addition to exploring IMU’s own undergraduate programmes, students had the unique opportunity to interact with representatives from ten prestigious partner universities from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. These institutions set up enquiry booths across the LiT, BJ1, and BJ2 campuses, allowing students to explore international study opportunities and alternative pathways.

The participating universities included:

• University of Otago, New Zealand
• University of Tasmania, Australia
• Deakin University, Australia
• University of Newcastle, Australia
• University of Glasgow, UK
• University of South Wales, UK
• Macquarie University, Australia
• University of Dundee, UK
• CQUniversity, Australia
• The University of Western Australia, Australia

The success of DDX 2026 underscores IMU’s commitment to providing Foundation students with comprehensive support in their educational journey. By offering early exposure to undergraduate pathways and facilitating meaningful interactions with faculty, students, and international partners, IMU ensures that its Foundation students are well-equipped to make confident, informed decisions about their academic futures.

For these 550 students, the Degree Discover Xperience was more than just an event—it was a glimpse into the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in their pursuit of higher education.