CFS IIUM- Law Foundation Life & Tips (Part I)

Assalamualaikum and hello peeps.

So today I decided to share some information about law foundation in Centre for Foundation Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia or also known as CFS IIUM. I just finished my foundation studies last May and currently am spending time home with my family before degree life hewhew. Well here’s the catch, when I was to begin my studies, it was quite hard for me to find latest info or sharing on the studies there which was very sad for me. I believe this info is important to help after SPM students or future students of CFS IIUM to see the overview and different perspectives of what are they’re going to study and the life there so they can make the right choice for their studies and carrier path.

*Fast reflection: Did I ever regret taking law foundation in CFS IIUM eventhough that's not my first choice and I was a science stream student?

Never!
 I believe Allah has the best plan and I enjoy every bit of fun and obstacles I endure during my one-year studies. I know I'm not going to further my studies in science anyway as my love towards it is not deep enough to make it a lifetime carrier and doing law seems a good option and it is!
Optimistic is always a key to a better life and remember not to get caught with what others expect you to do. ;)

First of all, you can apply the course through UPU (for local students), usually in the first quarter of the year after you finished your SPM. Don’t worry if you’re not from Arts stream, me myself was a Science Religious Stream student and most of my classmates in CFS were from Science Stream background. You can always apply straightly from CFS IIIUM if you don't get the offer because sometimes they will open the application if there are still vacancies.

Tests During Ta'aruf Week

Basically if you manage to pursue your studies there (Amin, InsyaAllah), during the Ta’aruf Week, you’ll have to go through four important tests including the two most scared tests (hahah) which are English Placement Test (EPT) and Arabic Placement Test (APT). So, what are the purpose of these test? Basically they are to test your proffiency in both languages and it is also very important to determine the duration of your studies there and whether you are eligible or not to take Syariah Law (LL.B.S) as Double Degree. If I'm not mistaken, IIUM is the only university in Malaysia that offers this type of double degree and you sure don’t want to miss the chance. 

The other two assessments are Tilawah Placement Test and Fundamental Knowledge Test (FKT). Basically both of these are used to determine whether you must take Tilawah Class or Fardhu Ai'n Class or straightly join the Study Circle (Similar to Usrah but with syllabus). For Tilawah Placement Test, you just have to read a few lines of Holy Quran text in front of the examiner and they will assess you. For FKT, it will test you on your fundamental knowledge or Fardhu Ai'n. Personally, I believe if you are raised and educated in Islamic environment, the questions are pretty simple and basics. My tips are get to know the english terms of the arab terms we use daily. For example like the terms congregational prayer and pilgrimage.

Oh my I feel there is a lot to talk about this so bear with me people, bear with me….

EPT

Okay, so for law students, it is compulsory to pass level 6 for English Placement Test. During my time, there are numbers of law student who were straightly exempted after the EPT, but most of us were stuck in level 6 and level 5, and some in level 4. However, don’t worry if you happen to get level 4, it is not necessary to go through every level for every semester. You can just do your best, then you can skip level or even exempted for the next semester. The bright sides are as you can brush up your English language skills and learn more new things. :)

APT

Haaa, for Arabic Placement Test... I know a lot of you are scared as you might have no basics in Arabic language, but don’t worry, you don’t have to answer the paper but you’ll have to learn Arabic until you pass level 2, which is for me are not that hard, just basics and I believe we all can do it if we put our hearts in it. I realllyyy hope eventhough you don’t like Arabic, just take this opportunity positively to learn more knowledge and hopefully Allah bless your journey in learning the lughatul Jannah (language of Heaven). For those who are not intending to pursue for Shariah Double Degree, you only have to pass level 2. 

Okay for you who want to take Double Degree Civil Laws (LL.B) and Shariah Laws (LL.B.S)… you’ll have to pass at least level 2 during the first APT, which means you must be in level 3/4, 5 or 6 to at least qualify to take Shariah degree. You can go through each level until you’re exempted, skip level or exempted right away after your first semester. This is as for the year 2016/2017 format, the years before us they have different formats so maybe in your time it might have change too.. so don't give up and just give your best shot.

What if I'm not good in Arabic but still want to take Shariah Laws Degree?
I believe I must share this as it is very important for some people. Not taking Shariah Double Degree doesn't mean you're not going to learn Shariah laws at all. All the Civil Law students will learn about it but what differentiate between them are the Shariah students will learn it in Arabic and will add another year after graduating Civil Laws degree to finish few more subjects before fully graduating with double degree. There are other options if you still want to be more well-versed and have qualification in Shariah law like taking the Diploma in Shariah Law & Legal Practice (DSLP) after finishing your Civil Law degree. You can also be a Shariah lawyer with your Civil Law degree as some states doesn't require the Shariah law qualification to become one and we just have to take some tests. However, I also don't really have the deeper info on this but you can always read and search more. If you are contemplating about this, you can always make an appointment with the lecturers that are more than willing to give you clearer explanation on this.

Duration

Okay what I want to emphasize here about the APT and EPT is how it affects your foundation study duration. Both language classes are 8 hours per week, so if you have to take both of them, you cannot take a lot other compulsory subjects as there will be no enough time… which means it’ll drag your foundation to maybe 1 ½ year or even 2 years (because the ideal foundation is 1 year). So that’s why you have to your best for the Ta’aruf Week’s test. But don’t need to worry if you have to spend more time to complete your foundation studies…go slow but do it right okay? J

Do some practices!

And yeah, my tips for EPT and APT are make sure you make some preparations and discuss it with friends who’ll also join you in CFS.  Here’s the link from where I downloaded and did my practice. Thank you, brother. Jazakallah. :) 

InsyaAllah if Allah give the will and strength, I’ll try to write the tips for answering APT and EPT but can’t promise it soon, so you can just go through other pages by other alumni who gave very good tips and sample answer. :)

Subjects

During my time (16/17), these are the subjects that need to be taken:

a) Core courses:

LSA 0114- Introduction to Law

LSA 0124- Introduction to Islamic Law

LSA 0134- Introduction to Legal Skills

LSA 0144-Law and Society

b) Centre Required Courses:

HSA0364- Writing & Research Skills

HSA0344 – Thinking Skills

HSA0354 – Public Speaking
QSA0294 -Business Studies

c) University Required Courses:

RKA0413 – Islam & Other Religion

RKA0433 – Islamic Revealed Knowledge

ICT0512 – Application of ICT

d) English Language:

LEM0408– English Level 4

LEM0508 – English Level 5

LEM0608 – English Level 6

 e) Arabic Language:

LQM0108 – Quranic Language 1

LQM0208 – Quranic Language 2

For those who intends to pursue Shariah Double Degree
LQM0348- Quranic Language 3&4

LQM0508- Quranic Language 5
LQM0608- Quranic Language 6

So my tips for the beginning of your studies in CFS:

1. Make friends with the second year students. You can make them your reference or mentor to give you more guidance and help with you studies. 

p/s:U know a good one when u find one. ;)

2. As for the books, yes some might be expensive.. But I really suggest for law books, u buy a new one as it can be used later in main campus.

For other non-law related subjects, u can just buy the second-hand book from the seniors or even take the waqaf books left in Surau or anywhere u can find.

 I, however personally prefer to buy a new one as because used one usually full of notes and highlights so it is hard for me to do my own revision. Other reasons are because I really love all the books and I find them very beneficial for future references and readings especially Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Islam & Other Religions books. 

Nevertheless, I did borrow my engineering friend's ICT textbook because the price is very expensive and law students will only use it for one semester, so it's not worth it..

3. Join the clubs and society line-ups! Usually at the beginning of the semester, they will open the societies booths so you can just sign up there. No limits for the club you want to join... but make sure you are active and not just become zombie members. For academic based society, like for law students it is called MELEX, you can join the MELEX Syura Council line-ups to gain more new experiences and guidance on leadership, organization and management and of course make a lot of friends! Hahah.

4.Use the course outline to plan your study smartly from the beginning so you divide your time properly for the societies programmes and sports without jeopardizing your studies. Let's hope whoever read this will not become the person who seems active in all campus activities but then never come to group discussions, skips classes and keep giving excuses for everything. It is important we manage time well since in foundation studies as the degree life will surely be more busy and challenging.

 (Maybe I’ll explain more in another entry on how to manage time properly in CFS)

Hahah, I always feel like makcik2 when I'm giving tips. :3

Okay, I hope it is enough for the introductory part, insyaAllah I’ll continue the Law Foundation- Part II entry soon to tell more about the life during the studies itself. If you have any question to ask me, insyaAllah I’ll try my best to answer it. Hopefully this entry can benefit any of you. :)))

Sorry this entry comes quite late for CFS students 17/18 but I still hope this entry can benefit others. :)

Thank you for reading this entry! <3