Affordable Top Foundation in Design in Malaysia at Award-Winning First City University College
Students Can Afford to Study the Foundation in Art & Design at First City UC, Malaysia
The one-year Foundation in Art & Design programme at First City University College provides a general art & design education to enable students to gain experience in practical studio work, 2D and 3D designs, research and writing. It develops student’s skills on visual analysis, fundamental drawing, colour studies, research and critical writing skills.
The Foundation programme also equips students with creative, intellectual and critical skills before progressing to the degree programmes as it provides personal diagnostic appraisal which will aid students in a specific design discipline in the degree programmes.
First City University College is acknowledged to be one of the best colleges for design in Malaysia having been the first to offer the degree in Graphic Design and Furniture & Product Design. Furthermore, their students have won many awards as a testament of their strength in design.
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What will You Study in the Foundation in Art & Design Course at the Affordable First City University College in Malaysia

The one-year Foundation in Art & Design programme at First City University College provides a general art & design education to enable students to gain experience in practical studio work, 2D and 3D designs, research and writing. It develops student’s skills on visual analysis, fundamental drawing, colour studies, research and critical writing skills.
The Foundation programme also equips students with creative, intellectual and critical skills before progressing to the degree programmes as it provides personal diagnostic appraisal which will aid students in a specific design discipline in the degree programmes.
- Duration: 3 semesters at First City University College
- Intake: January, April and July
- Entry Requirements: 5 relevant credits in SPM, GCE ‘O’ Level or equivalent qualifications
Learning Outcomes

This programme provides a strong foundation in art & design which equips students with experience in practical studio work such as drawing, experimentation and exploration of media and material, and model making. Students will also develop skills in visual analysis, colour studies, and critical writing, which are crucial for our bachelor’s degree programmes in Design and Fashion.
The Programme objectives are to:
- Equip students with a broad range of art and design fundamental principles
- Identify students’ design strengths
- Produce graduates with the appropriate skills to undertake lifelong learning
Pathway to Top Design Degree Programmes
After the Foundation, you can choose from the following degrees:
What are the Entry Requirements?
- SPM – Minimum 5 credits (including English)
- UEC – Minimum 4Bs (including English)
- GCE O-LEVEL – Minimum 5 credits (including English)
- OTHER QUALIFICATIONS – Equivalent qualifications recognized by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency
AND
Pass Portfolio interview
Programme Structure for the Foundation in Arts & Design at First City University College

Semester 1
Introductory & Diagnostic Projects
- Visual Analysis
- Colour Studies
- Fundamental of 2D and 3D Designs
- Workshops (Printmaking, Photography, and Computer)
Drawing 1
- Basic Skill and Techniques
Critical Studies 1
- Research and Critical Writing
- History and Theory of Art & Design
English 1
- Academic Writing Skills
- Grammar and Mechanics
Semester 2

Pre Specialist Projects
- Applied 2D and 3D Designs
- Applied Drawing and Colour
Drawing 2
- Advanced Skills and Techniques
Critical Studies 2
- Research and Critical Writing
- History and Theory of Art & Design
English 2
- Academic Writing Skills
- Research and Presentation Skills
Semester 3

Specialist Projects
- Final Project – Indication towards choice of degree studies in Graphic Design specialization or Interior Architecture & Design specialization
Drawing 3
- Drawing in Specialised Areas
Awards & Achievements
As evidence that First City UC is the best university college for design in Malaysia, the university and their students have won numerous awards for Interior Design as well as Graphic Design.

- 15th Annual International Design Awards 2020, Los Angeles, USA
- Frankie Ong – BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design – Silver Award
- International Furniture Design Innovation (IFDI) 2020
- Reven Oh Gein Heir – BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design – Gold Award
- Beh Wei Herng – BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design – Gold Award
- International Design Awards 2019 (IDA)
- Teh Wei Jie – BA (Hons) Interior Architecture degree won the GOLD AWARD for the Interior Design Student Category
- 24th Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) Furniture Design Competition 2018 – Champion
- Asia Young Designer Award 2017 – Best Green Innovation And Honorary Mention
- Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID) Reka Awards 2017
- MIJF Jewellery Design Awards 2017 Ring Catergory – Top 5 Finalist
- 16th International CONVR 2016 Best PhD Student Paper Award Dr. Siti Norzaini Bt Zainal Abidin
- ASPaC 2017 Merit Award – Charmaine Wong and Sharon Chai of BA (Hons) Graphic Design
- ASIA PACIFIC INTERIOR DESIGNER AWARD 2016 Silver Winner
- IAI DESIGN AWARD Design Star Award 2015
- National Outstanding Educator Award 2015 (Design Education – College Level) Ms Chua Huwi Huwi
- Nippon Paint Young Designer Awards 2014:
- Gold Winner for Interior Design is Lim Yong An
- Lim Yong An also won the “Best Green Innovation Award”.
- Ernest Loh Yin-Sen won Silver
- Soo Mei Lian won “Best Colour Choice”
- Yii Sii Lin won an Honorary Mention
- Best College for Interior Design also went to KBU International College
- Best Lecturer for Interior Design went to KBU’s Chua Huwi Huwi.
- RSA Genovasi Malaysian Awards 2014
- Social Entrepreneurship Category Winners – Mandy Choong Mun Yee, Lee Man Kit, Kim Eunkyung, Goh Pei Hua and Yong Lee Chee
- Digital Age Category Winner – Daniel Chua Yong Ho
- MIFF 2014 Awards– MIFF 2014 Young Designers Category
- Father’s Day – VIVA Drawing Competition 2014
- Conqueror Happy Design Contest 2013/14
- MIJF Jewellery Design Competition 2014 Award
- Lee Hui Ying, clinched second prize for the MIFF Furniture Design Competition 2014
- Nippon Paint Young Designer 2012 competition, KBU staff and students made a sweep of the awards with:
- Regional Winner – Lim Meng Yeu – Platinum/Malaysia beating Gold winners from Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore & China
- Gold/Malaysia – Lim Meng Yeu
- Silver/Malaysia – Chu Sze Yong
- Honorary Mention/Malaysia – Ee Wil Ken and Lee Xuan Xuan
- Best College/University – KBU International College
- Best Lecturer – Chua Huwi Huwi
- Wil Ken bagging a notable award, 2012 Emerging Designer of the Year – Student category of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers’ (MIID) Malaysian Interior Design Awards (MIDA) 2012
- Lim Meng Yeu, 23, a graduate from KBU International College emerged as the Gold winner of the Student category of MIID’s MIDA Awards 2012
- Lee Jian Ru received the Silver Prize winner of the Student category of 2013 MIID’s MIDA Awards and Foh Vui Siang won the Best Green Innovation Award and also received Honorary Mention
- Philips Lightover Challenge 2013 Winners – Julius Lok Juin Chern and Chiang Siew Leng
- Gan Su Yi and Cheok Yi Chi won 2nd and 3rd prize respectively in the 2013 Bristol Student Design Competition organised by the leading and highly regarded furniture manufacturers in providing office furniture and seating- in collaboration with Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia (MRM)
- Third place in the 2012 Veloster Rev it Up Inter-College Challenge by Hyundai
- Thirteen of KBU’s graduands have bagged the First Class Honours degree awards in the field of Graphic Design, Interior Architecture and Design and Software Engineering, in which the degree programmes are conducted in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, UK. Chu Sze Yong (Interior Architecture & Design) graduate was presented the Student of the Year Award.
- Lee Jin Yin and Lydia Low, Year 2 Graphic Design students, collaborated with IM Magazine to produce their magazine cover for the July 2012 issue.
- Katherine Goh, Year 2 Graphic Design student, won the Consolation Prize under the New Media Category for the Peri-fy Your Art Competition 2012
- Bernadette Quah Paik Choo was named the winner of the Ideation Award 2011 by Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF)
- Phum Boon Eng from KBU International College beat 91 other participants to win the MIECO Designer’s Choice Awards (MDCA) 2009 Student’s Category. The MDCA 2009, was jointly organized by MIECO Sdn Bhd and MIFF Sdn Bhd in conjunction with the Malaysian International Furniture Fair 2009 (MIFF 2009)
What are the Design Facilities at First City UC?
First City University College has everything an art & design student needs to equip him/her with the skill sets required of a professional designer in Malaysia. The university provides ample studio space, up-to-date computer hardware and software, 3D printer, Mac Lab, woodwork workshop, print studios, workshops, photo labs, recording studio, and a range of other equipment to help students in their design projects.
Design Studios & Workshops at First City UC











Hi, im a SPM leaver.Im interested in interior designer. What about the vacancies after persuing degree in interior designer. I want to know the entry requirements. thank you 🙂
Job scope for interior designers are picking up in Malaysia.
I’m a science stream student in secondary school. I’m interested to be enrolled for the Foundation in Design but I didn’t Art subject for SPM. Can I still be enrolled?
Yes, you can because the Foundation in Design teaches you the basics from the beginning. But you should have some drawings that you have done on your own to show.