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Program focus

The Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) is a bridging program designed to enable prospective higher education students to master the essential prerequisite knowledge and skills required to ensure they succeed with their undergraduate studies. It is designed to cater for a range of groups including past school leavers who need to update or improve their ranking to qualify for tertiary entrance, and other adults who may not have completed secondary school and are seeking a second chance to enter tertiary study.

Program aims

The TPP has two general aims. One of these is to assist people to adequately prepare themselves to successfully undertake undergraduate study. The other general aim is to enable people who, for social, economic, personal or cultural reasons, have unable to achieve equitable access to tertiary studies to gain entry to an undergraduate program. Achievement of this second general aim is supported by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app’s policy under which people who successfully complete the TPP are admitted to specified undergraduate award programs of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. Both general aims are served through achievement of the more specific program aim of enabling students to achieve mastery of the generic skills and knowledge that are widely regarded by the academic community as being essential for the successful undertaking of studies in any undergraduate program.

Program objectives

The general objectives of the program are as follows:

• to increase access to higher education for people who wish to pursue their education beyond its current level in order to be eligible for acceptance into study programs at universities, colleges or TAFE.

• to increase participation in higher education by members from groups who are under-represented in higher education

• to increase equitable opportunities for people to undertake higher education

• to increase the numeracy, literacy and study-management skills of people who want to gain entry to tertiary education

• to increase the progression rates and to reduce the attrition rates of students who gain entry to tertiary education programs

• to to increase the probability that people make an adequately informed career choice when contemplating undertaking a career that involves undertaking study in a tertiary education program

• toincrease the levels of self esteem and of self-confidence in the ability to successfully undertake formal study of people who aspire to undertake study in a tertiary education program

Specific content objectives are found in the relevant course specifications (see Appendix).

Admission requirements

There is no specified minimum educational entrance standard.

Normally, to be eligible for enrolment in the program a person will have attained an age of at least 18 years in the year of the proposed enrolment.

The approved application form for entry to the TPP is required to be completed in full. All applicants are required to complete placement achievement tests in mathematics and English communication skills. In the remainder of this document the term ‘communication skills’ refers to English communication skills.

Four levels of mathematics courses are provided in the program. Individual advice is provided by TPP mathematics lecturers to applicants as to the most appropriate mathematics learning pathway to undertake in the program to enable them to achieve their career aspirations. The advice is based on the individual applicant’s performance on the mathematics placement test. The mathematics courses are tailored to meet individual student needs and career requirements.

Two pathways to developing academic communication skills are provided in the program, each by a particular course. Individual advice is provided to applicants by TPP communication skills lecturers as to the most appropriate pathway to undertake to enable them to achieve the standard of academic communication skills required for successful completion of the program. The advice is based on the individual applicant’s performance on the communication skills placement test.

How to apply

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Domestic students

To apply for the , complete the TPP Application Form. If you would like to be considered for a fee-free place, also complete the TPP Fee-free Application Form and attach any required documentation. If you have any questions or need any assistance in applying, call us on 1800 269 500.

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Fee exempt places

All domestic students are offered a fee-free place provided they meet the citizenship and residency requirements as follows:

• Australian citizens

• holders of a Permanent Humanitarian Visa (and resident in Australia)

• holders of a Permanent Resident Visa (and resident in Australia)

• New Zealand citizens (resident in Australia).

Program structure

The Program consists of a common compulsory core component of specified courses and several optional courses of specialisation. Successful completion of the Program equates to successful completion of the core component of studies. The Program is designed to enable students to complete it over one full (2-semester) academic year of part-time study. However, in addition to completion of the program, some Faculties require successful completion of particular courses of specialisation as a condition for entry to particular undergraduate programs. Courses of study offered by the program are listed below.

Core component

• (two units)* and one of four possible mathematics courses ;; ; (one unit).

Courses of specialisation

The course is designed to enable students to increase their proficiency in study-management skills and academic communication skills. Courses and are designed to enable students to increase their proficiency in basic mathematical skills. However, the course includes more advanced skills than in order to meet the undergraduate entry requirements of some Faculties.

The course is designed to enable students to improve their communication skills before attempting the course . Students who successfully complete the course are granted exemption from 50 per cent of the assessment items in the course .

Students can commence the program in any of the three semesters of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app. The total number of courses which students are required to complete will depend upon their choice of undergraduate program. Students are advised to limit their enrolment in a semester to no more than the equivalent of three unit points. Students who enter the program for the first time in semester two or semester three are advised that it may not be possible for them to complete all requirements for entry to some undergraduate programs until the following year.

Individual students are advised to enrol in a set of TPP courses which is commensurate with their intended career direction. Students are required to complete career management assignments in courses and , which include career planning exercises. Feedback from these assignments is provided by a qualified career counsellor, who also offers career counselling to TPP students. Advice on enrolment patterns that enable students to acquire appropriate entry skills for specialised degrees and diplomas is published annually on the USQ website and in the marketing materials for the program on the advice of the Faculties of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app.

Requirements to complete the Program

Students are not required to enrol in the whole Program. However, the attainment of an acceptable tertiary entrance rank for entry to USQ undergraduate programs is dependent on completion of the core component of the Program and any other TPP courses that are specified by the Faculty for the particular undergraduate program to which the students wants to gain entry. Students whose program code is ACEQ are directed to enrol in all TPP courses that are deemed essential for entry to the undergraduate program in which they aspire to enrol. The courses in which these students are directed to enrol are also determined by the entry level communication skills and mathematical skills as assessed by the placement achievement tests that all applicants are required to attempt.

Program map

There are many programs offered by USQ. To be eligible for direct entry to these programs, you need to successfully complete the appropriate compulsory courses. The following program map provides a sample of undergraduate courses offered at USQ and the minimum requirements for direct entry to the program.

Recommended enrolment pattern

The recommended enrolment pattern for an individual student is dependent upon his/her choice of undergraduate studies. The preceding table outlines typical study paths for entry to the specific undergraduate programs of USQ.