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Tertiary Preparation Program (ACEQorPREPorTPPG) - TPP

 On-campusOnline
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus: Toowoomba, Springfield, Ipswich -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration: 1 semester full-time, 2 semesters part-time 

Notes

The Tertiary Preparation Program is a non-award program.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Program aims

The Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) has two general aims. One of these is to enable people to achieve equitable access to tertiary studies to gain entry to an undergraduate program. The other general aim is to assist people to adequately prepare themselves to successfully undertake undergraduate study. Achievement of the first 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 essential for the successful undertaking of studies in undergraduate programs.

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Program objectives

The general objectives of the program are to increase:

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

  • the student’s knowledge of the academic discipline which the student aspires to study at the higher education undergraduate level;

  • the student’s core academic skills to enable the student to meet entry requirements and transition successfully to tertiary education programs;

  • the capacity for people to make an informed choice when contemplating a career requiring study in a tertiary education program; and

  • the individual and social competencies required within an academic environment for students seeking to undertake formal study in a higher education program.


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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

There is no specified minimum educational achievement 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.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to complete Tertiary Preparation Program placement tests in Mathematics and Academic Literacy levels. Applicants will then be directed into the most appropriate courses in the TPP. Students who do not undertake these tests will be enrolled in and/or during their first semester of study. For students who did not complete schooling in Australia these tests are mandatory.

This program normally requires a minimum of IELTS 5.5. English language proficiency or equivalent through study or employment. In exceptional circumstances, based on results of the TPP Academic Literacy Levels (ALL) placement test, alternative entry approval may be given.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

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. Students 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. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The program consists of a compulsory component and a chosen specialisation course.

Upon successful completion of TPP, eligible students will articulate into undergraduate study at USQ.

The compulsory components consists of a minimum of four (4) unit points made up of:

  • ;

  • ;

  • any TPP mathematics course;

  • plus any other TPP course.


It is strongly recommended that all applicants initially enrol in . Applicants will also be directed to enrol initially either in or in on the basis of results of their TPP Academic Literacy Levels placement test.

An applicant's eligibility for initial enrolment in a particular TPP mathematics course will be determined from the results of their TPP placement test in mathematics. A student’s eligibility to enrol in a TPP mathematics course subsequent to the student’s initial enrolment in a TPP mathematics course will be determined by the highest level TPP mathematics course that the student has successfully completed.

The optional additional courses are:

  • Any TPP additional mathematics course selected from:

    • *

    • *

    • *


    *subject to the student’s eligibility to enrol in the course as specified in the previous paragraph.

Students who are directed to enrol in are required to successfully complete this before they will be enrolled in .

Students who are directed to enrol in are required to successfully complete this before they will be enrolled in any other TPP mathematics course.

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Program completion requirements

To successfully complete the core component of the Tertiary Preparation Program students are required to successfully complete the following courses, consisting of a total of four (4) unit points:

  • ;

  • ;

  • any TPP mathematics course in which the student is eligible to enrol, and

  • any other TPP course.


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Required time limits

Students may take a maximum of three (3) semesters in total to complete the compulsory component of the program.

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IT requirements

Students who enrol in the online mode are required to have reliable and ready access to email and the Internet. For information technology requirements, please see the .

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Recommended enrolment pattern

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Recommended enrolment pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Program articulation map

The articulation map which follows provides a guideline for the selection of TPP courses in order to best prepare for each undergraduate program.

To complete TPP, students choose a minimum of four courses and should prioritise the following categories of courses:

  1. Required Core Courses – these must be completed to be eligible to apply for entry into specified undergraduate programs (the prerequisite may be waived depending on the outcome of academic literacy placement test).

  2. Assumed knowledge (A) and Recommended ¾«¶«´«Ã½app (R) – successful completion of these courses is highly recommended as the skills and knowledge gained through these courses is required for successful completion of undergraduate courses in specified undergraduate programs.

  3. Preferred electives - these are courses that will provide valuable preparatory knowledge and skills that will increase success in undergraduate study.

  4. Other electives – these courses provide valuable knowledge and skills that will increase success in undergraduate study.


Students who complete a minimum of four (4) TPP courses as specified in the table below will be considered for direct entry into their undergraduate program based on their successful completion of these courses.
Students who select TPP courses that vary from the table below will be assessed for undergraduate entry based on their performance (GPA) in their selected TPP courses.

Program    
1. Required Core Courses  2. Assumed knowledge (A) and
Recommended ¾«¶«´«Ã½app (R)
to complete TPP 
3. Preferred elective  4. Other electives 
Associate Degree of Business  *

 
(A)     
Associate Degree of Criminology and Criminal Justice (All Majors)**  *

 
     
Associate Degree of Construction  *


 
(R)     
Associate Degree of Engineering  *


 
(R)     
Associate Degree of Spatial Science  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Arts**  *

 
     
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business  *

 
(A)     
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science**  *



Some majors require  
(R)     
Bachelor of Aviation (Aviation Management)   *

 
     
Bachelor of Aviation (Flight Operations)   *

 
     
Bachelor of Business (All Majors)**  *

 
(A)     
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences  *

 
(A)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Information Technology (All Majors)**  *


Some majors require  
(R) (Some majors)     
Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Science**  *


Some majors require  
(R)
(R or A for some majors) 
   
Bachelor of Communication and Media  *

 
     
Bachelor of Construction (Honours)  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Creative Arts**  *

 
     
Bachelor of Early Childhood**  *



 
     
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)**  *



 
     
Bachelor of Education (Primary)**  *



 
     
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)**  *


 
Choose a TPP Elective based on selected Secondary teaching area(s)     
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Business  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Information Technology  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Science  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Engineering Science  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of General Studies  *

 
     
Bachelor of Human Services  *

 
     
Bachelor of Information Technology  *

 
     
Bachelor of Information Technology (Applied Computer Science)  *

 
(R)     
Bachelor of Information Technology (Data Analytics)  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Information Technology (Networking and Security)  *

 
(R)     
Bachelor of Laws**  *

 
(R)     
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science  *

 
(A)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Nursing**  *

 
(A)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Paramedicine  *

 
(R)
(R)
 
   
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)  *

 
(R)     
Bachelor of Science (Astronomical and Space Sciences)  *


 
(R)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Science (Biology)**  *


 
(R)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Science (Counselling)  *

 
(A)     
Bachelor of Science (Computing)  *


 
(R)  (R)    
Bachelor of Science (Environment and Sustainability)  *


 
(R)
 
   
Bachelor of Science (Food Science)   *


 
(R)

 
   
Bachelor of Science (Information Technology)   *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Science (Human Physiology)  *


 
(R)
 
   
Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)**  *


 
     
Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Statistics)  *


 
     
Bachelor of Science (Physical Sciences)  *


 

 
   
Bachelor of Science (Plant Agricultural Science)  *


 
(R)
(R) 
   
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)  *

 
(A)     
Bachelor of Science (Wine Science)  *


 
(R)
or

 
   
Bachelor of Spatial Science (Honours)  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Spatial Science Technology  *


 
(R)     
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Applied Sport and Exercise) (Sport and Exercise Science)  *

 
     
Diploma of Arts  *

 
     
Diploma of Human Services and Development  *

 
     
Diploma of ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Studies    *


 
Choose a TPP Elective based on selected Diploma of ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Studies Major   

Footnotes
*Students placed in on the basis of their completed Academic Literacy Level Placement Test (ALL Test) are exempt from completing . Note that completion of TPP still requires completion of a minimum of 4 courses.
**Additional entry requirements or course enrolment requirements apply to this program. Please consult the relevant program Handbook for further details.

Students studying over two semesters

The recommended enrolment patterns for completion of the compulsory components of the TPP within two (2) semesters are as follows:

Students who are directed to initially enrol in TPP7111 Communicating at ¾«¶«´«Ã½app A

First semester of enrolment   Second semester of enrolment   Special enrolment requirements 
and      
TPP mathematics course, as directed 
or

or

or

or

or
a second TPP mathematics course as permitted 
Students enrolling in must enrol in as a pre or co-requisite. 

Students who are eligible to initially enrol in TPP7123 Communicating at ¾«¶«´«Ã½app B

First semester of enrolment   Second semester of enrolment   Special enrolment requirements 
and
 

or

or

or

or

or
a second TPP mathematics course as permitted 
Students enrolling in must enrol in as a pre or co-requisite.

 
TPP mathematics course, as directed     

Students studying over one semester only

Students who are initially directed to enrol in may choose to complete TPP in one (1) semester by undertaking the four (4) required courses during a single semester. The recommended enrolment patterns for completion of the compulsory components of the TPP within one (1) semester are as follows:

First semester of enrolment  Special enrolment requirements 
and    
TPP mathematics course as directed   
One of the following: 
   
   
  Students enrolling in must enrol in as a pre or co-requisite.