Dear Students,
We would like to inform you about the new ASC courses that will be introduced this Fall semester. Details about the Academic Success Center itself will follow soon.
For incoming students
If you entered the university with an IELTS score below 6.5, you will be required to take ASC 100 (Advanced English for Academic Purposes). This requirement also applies to students who completed NUFYP. Your IELTS score at the time of enrollment in the NUFYP will be used for course placement.
If your IELTS score is 6.5 or above, you will be required to take ASC 200 (Academic Writing, Science Communication, and Media Literacy). This course counts toward your new Core Curriculum requirements (we will post more about it later!). It includes academic writing, communication, presentation skills, and visual projects.
For continuing students who have not yet passed WCS 150, you will be offered the ASC 100/WCS 150 course. Its content will be identical to that of ASC 100 and will satisfy your handbook requirements.
For continuing students who have not yet passed WCS 2x0 but have passed WCS 150, you will be offered the ASC 200/WCS 210 course. Its content will be identical to that of ASC 200. WCS 210 is used as the second code, as it completes the handbook requirement for all students.
Overall, continuing students will not experience major changes to their handbooks.
If you have already taken any WCS 2x0 course, you will not be able to take ASC 200.
We were warned that there will most likely be a shortage of seats for ASC 200 this year. ASC is doing its best to enroll as many students as possible, but some majors will be prioritized in Fall, others in Spring, and some may even have to wait until next year. We will continue to communicate with ASC to ensure that no student’s academic progress is at risk.
Revised tutoring courses
This Fall, the Academic Success Center will introduce two new courses that are similar to Writing Fellows programme: ASC 300 and ASC 301. If you have already taken any Writing Fellows course (WCS 39x), you will be eligible to take this course. In later semesters, enrollment will require a very high grade in ASC 200 (A-/A) and a high CGPA, as applicants will be screened.
Other notes
This academic year, ASC will not offer any electives. Next year, two electives may be introduced: Public Speaking and Writing for Digital Media. It is likely that only students who have passed ASC 200 will be able to take them (students who passed old WCS 2x0 courses will not), and you will need a very good grade in ASC 200 to enroll.
All courses will appear soon in the Registrar system, along with the faculty of the new center.
Best,
Ministry of Education
