The first leg of the Company Secretary Programme is the Foundation Course. The salient features of this Course are as follows:

Eligibility

• Candidates who have passed their Senior Secondary (10+2) or an equivalent examination can apply for the Foundation Course.
• Provisional admission is allowed to a candidate who has appeared or enrolled for appearing in Senior Secondary (10+2 or equivalent) examination, provided proof of passing the examination is produced within 6 months of making the application.
• The duration of the CS Foundation Course is 8 months, excluding the months of admission and the examination.
• Students are required to pass the Foundation examination within 3 years from the date of their admission with the Institute.
• Registration for the Foundation Course is open throughout the year. Admission may be taken by making an application in the prescribed Form FC-1, together with documentary evidence in support of date of birth and educational qualification.
• The examinations for the Foundation Course are held in December and June.
• To appear for the examination in December, the candidate should apply for the examination before the previous March. Similarly, to appear for the June examination, the candidate should apply before the previous September. Therefore, the Registration for the Foundation examination should be done at least 9 months before the month in which the examination is held.

Subjects to be studied :

There are 4 Papers in CS Foundation Programme

Marks: 100 each | Duration: 3 Hours each | Type: Descriptive

• Paper 1 : English and Business Communication (FC - EBC)
• Paper 2 : Economics and Statistics (FC - E&S)
• Paper 3 : Financial Accounting (FC - F&A)
• Paper 4 : Elements of Business Laws and Management (FC - EBLM)

Important Admission Dates :

• 31^st March - for appearing in December Examination of the same year
• 30^th September - for appearing in June Examination of the next year

Important Examination Enrollment Dates:

• 25^th March (with late fee of Rs. 100, 9th April) for June examination
• 25^th September (with late fee of Rs. 100, 10th October) for December examination

Fees charged by ICSI :

USE OF CALCULATOR IN EXAMINATION

Candidates are allowed to use their own battery operated noiseless and cordless pocket calculators with not more than 6 functions, 12 digits and 2 memories. Use of Mobile Phones is strictly prohibited within the examination premises.

HINDI AS AN OPTIONAL MEDIUM FOR WRITING FOUNDATION PROGRAMME EXAMINATION

Candidates are allowed to use Hindi as an optional medium for writing all papers of the Foundation Programme examination (except 'English and Business Communication' paper).

ISSUE OF MARKSHEET

In accordance with the decision taken by the Institute, from June, 2011 session onwards, the dispatch of Marks-sheets for Foundation Programme Examination in physical form has been discontinued. The details of marks will be available immediately after the declaration of results on the Institute's website: www.icsi.edu. Formal E-Mark Sheets will be uploaded on the student portal www.icsi.in which may be downloaded by the students for reference and records

Exemption from Foundation Examination

A candidate possessing any of the following qualifications or any other qualifications recognised by the Council of the ICSI with the approval of the Central Government as equivalent thereto, is exempted from passing the Foundation Examination:

1. A Degree or Master's Degree in Corporate Secretaryship or Commerce
2. Pass in the Final examination of the Institute of Cost and Works Accounts of India(ICWAI) or the Institute of Chartered Accountants(ICAI) of India or any other Accountancy Institution in India or abroad recognised as equivalent thereto by the Council, or,
3. A Degree or Master's Degree in any discipline other than Fine Arts.

A candidate who is eligible for exemption from the Foundation Examination under clause 3 stated above can seek registration as student. Such a candidate, after registration as a student, is required to undergo satisfactorily a course of postal or oral tuition for those subjects of the Foundation Examination which he had not studied at the graduate or post graduate level before becoming eligible for undergoing coaching for the Executive Programme.