FAQ Sheet 15:
What is a university preparation course?
How can a university preparation course help get me into university?
University preparation courses are designed to help students who wish to enter university to learn topics and skills needed to enter university. These courses may be able to be used as an alternative pathway into university. When you have successfully completed a university preparation course you may be able to use your course results and qualification as a basis for an application into the same or a different university. Whilst doing one of these courses does not guarantee your acceptance into university it can help your university application.
What is a university preparation course?
- University preparation courses are run by the universities to help prepare students for university.
- These courses can be known by several other terms that you may be familiar with including 'bridging course' or 'pre-university classes'.
- The content, duration, study modes, costs and scheduling vary between universities.
- The course content can cover the following:
- academic skills needed for university (such as research, writing skills, analysis skills),
- broad areas of study which underpin university courses such as English, Maths, Science and/or
- specific subjects that may be listed as prerequisite knowledge for particular university courses, for example statistics, physics, computer science, English literature.
- The tuition fees for some university preparation courses are covered by the government loan scheme HECS-HELP. This means the student can undertake a government loan to help pay for the university course fees and repay the debt through the tax system, usually after graduating.
- These types of courses can start at various times throughout the year and some universities may have several course intakes per year.
How can a university preparation course help get me into university?
- A student may apply for a university course using their grades and qualification from a university preparation course. This is done through the usual admission processes through the Universities Admissions Centre (NSW & ACT) (UAC) or directly through the university.
- The qualification awarded at the completion of some university preparation courses can earn a student credits for the first year of a degree, or at least some first year units.
- Not all universities accept university preparation course results as a means of entering their courses. Also, even where a university generally accepts university preparation course results they may not do so for all courses at the university.
- Some universities only accept university preparation courses run by that university.
Tips on selecting a university preparation course
- Given the variety of university preparation courses and conditions under which universities will accept this type of qualification as an alternative pathway into university, it is important that you select the university preparation course very carefully.
- If you plan to use the university preparation course to enter university, it is essential that you first check with the university you wish to enter whether they accept this type of qualification for the course you intend to apply for.
- Find out as much information as possible about the course content before enrolling. This will help you to know whether the course is the best type of preparation for you given your individual needs and university goals.
- The cost of uUniversity preparation courses varies greatly. Be sure to get details about the tuition fees, whether any other fees are required and whether the course is covered by the HECS-HELP government student loan scheme.
- It is also highly recommended that you get individual advice before making a decision about a university preparation course. It's important that you get opinions about which type of course (if any) is:
- likely to give you the best chance of entering the university course of your choice. A university course adviser and/or admissions officer may be able to answer these questions and
- best suited to your level of academic skills. Your teachers and/or careers adviser at school may be able to answer this question.
Further information
- For further information about university preparation courses, including the university preparation course accepted by individual universities, see UAC's website.
- For further information about specific university preparation courses available, see specific university websites.