A Journey to Alternative Medicine

The Foundation in Science IMU is a pre-university programme that prepares students for a variety of health science degrees in IMU, including the Chinese Medicine programme.

Fresh school leavers have varied interests and dreams to pursue. Some may have already decided on the journey and degree programme which they wish to embark on, while there are those who have yet to decide and are still exploring options. Hence, the Foundation in Science in IMU, aims to prepare students academically for the entry requirements for the degree programme of their choice, and at the same time, gives students the much needed exposure of the choices of degree pathways available for them.

For Lee Ket Ching, currently in her third semester of the Chinese Medicine programme, her initial interest was a different degree programme when she first enrolled into Foundation in Science IMU. However, during her second semester of the Foundation in Science, she attended the Chinese Medicine Week, and was intrigued by the programme. There’s no turning back for Ket Ching ever since then and she is now pursuing her degree in Chinese Medicine. Desmond Tee, also was in a similar situation. He first enrolled into Foundation in Science with the intention to pursue a different health science degree programme. However, upon research and communicating with degree seniors from the Chinese Medicine programme, Desmond got interested and is now in his third semester of the Chinese Medicine programme. When asked if he notice any difference between himself, who studied Foundation in Science versus his peers from other pre university programmes, Desmond said “We, from Foundation in Science, adapted better to the teaching style. We are more familiar with university learning.”

Loh Poh Wen, also currently in Semester 3 of the Chinese Medicine programme echoed Desmond. “The Biology and Physics in Health Science curriculum which we learnt in Foundation in Science is applicable to what we are learning now,” said Poh Wen. “it was easier for us to understand what is being taught.”

Another student who became interested in the Chinese Medicine programme mid way through the Foundation in Science programme is Mak Wai Lum. Having scored GPA 3.63 in the first semester of the Chinese Medcine programme, Wai Lum says “Students from Foundation in Science, when compared to my friends from other pre university courses, have better time management skills because we are accustomed to having coursework in FiS.”

All in all, it is a smooth and holistic transition for these Foundation in Science students into the Chinese Medicine programme.