The Tertiary Preparation Pathway (TPP) equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in undergraduate degree studies. TPP provides a pathway to a degree program.
TPP allows you to experience university life before committing to a degree program, and courses completed as part of the TPP program are free-of-charge for Commonwealth-supported students (fees for international students can be found at USC International fees and costs). If you are from a non-English speaking background you will be required to meet English language entry requirements for your chosen USC program.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2024 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
TPP allows you to experience university life before committing to a degree program, and courses completed as part of the TPP program are free-of-charge for Commonwealth-supported students (fees for international students can be found at USC International fees and costs). If you are from a non-English speaking background you will be required to meet English language entry requirements for your chosen USC program.
Upon successful completion of the TPP, you will be able to gain direct entry into most USC degree programs through the standard USC direct entry application process. If selecting to attend another university, you will need to apply through the standard QTAC application process or via the admission procedures as outlined by the institution at which you plan to study. Please note that courses completed through TPP cannot be used as credit towards a degree.
Courses in the TPP are Austudy approved.
Indigenous TPP students may be eligible for an Indigenous Commonwealth scholarship.
Flexible study options
TPP courses are offered in Semesters 1 and 2 and Session 8 (Summer Session) and you can study full-time (four courses over one semester) or part-time. Only a full-time study option at Sippy Downs campus is available to international students on a student visa. Courses are offered at a number of study locations currently including Sippy Downs, Gympie, Noosa, North Lakes, Caboolture and Fraser Coast.
Recommended TPP courses for USC programs
A list of the study plans (recommended TPP courses) for USC programs for 2016 is available to assist with your enrolment. We highly recommend that prior to enrolling, you read the courses synopsis and course outlines by clicking onto the TPP course codes.
Admission requirements
- Entry age: you must be a minimum of 17 years of age at time of entry (international students must be 18 years old).
- TPP is taught in English (both in classes and in written material), therefore students from a non-English speaking background will need to have sufficient English skills to achieve an overall score of 6.0 and a minimum of 5.5 in all subtests of an IELTS test. Upon completion of TPP and prior to being admitted into any USC program, applicants must satisfy the minimum entry English language requirements (eg English Language proficiency and subject prerequisites).
- International applicants academic history will be assessed for entry in to TPP.
Upon completion of TPP
Domestic students (Australian citizens, Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens) who wish to apply for admission into an undergraduate degree program at USC after completing the TPP should visit Apply for an undergraduate program from TPP for instructions to submit an online application.
International students should go to the Application forms for International students page for more information and to download the application form.
More information
Download the Tertiary Preparation Pathway 2016 brochure (PDF 578KB)
For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
Program structure
To assist with your course selection, refer to the list of the study plans (recommended TPP courses) for USC programs. We highly recommend that prior to enroling you read the courses synopsis and course outlines by clicking onto the TPP course codes below.
One (1) required course:
TPP101 Applied Crime Prevention
Plus select three (3) courses from:
TPP102 Justice and the Australian Legal System
TPP103 The English Language
TPP104 Using Data for Learning
TPP105 Soil Mechanics
TPP106 Introduction to Weather and Climate
TPP107 Earth Observation: Remote Sensing and Surveying
TPP108 Plant Growth and Reproduction
TPP109 Climate Change Mitigation
TPP111 Coastal Geomorphology
TPP115 Contexts of Community Care
Available courses Semester 2, 2016
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 Cell Biology | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP103 Human Physiology | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Human Anatomy | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP105 Mathematics Foundations | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP106 Food in Society | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Environment and Health | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP108 Public Health Foundations | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Food Safety: Laws, Regulations and Quality Assurance | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 Concepts of Epidemiology | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP115 Environmental Health Risk Management | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Session 8, 2016/2017
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Health Promotion Settings | Sippy Downs, Gympie, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 Health Promotion Implementation and Evaluation | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP103 Biodiversity and Ecology | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Chemistry | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP105 Science Research Methods | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP106 Environment, Technology and Sustainability | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Introduction to Coaching Science | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP108 Physical Education Studies B | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Financial Accounting | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 Law of Business Associations | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP115 Contemporary Accounting Issues | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Semester 1, 2017
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Auditing and Professional Practice | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 Applied Macroeconomics | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP103 Insurance and Risk Management | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Tax and Estate Planning | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP105 Financial Plan Construction | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP106 Employment and Industrial Law | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Trade and Finance in a Global Economy | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP108 International Business Strategy | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Advanced Network Topics, Management and Security | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 Mobile App Development | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP115 Database Programming | Sippy Downs | Nil |
For further details about locations and semesters that each TPP course is offered refer to the class timetable.
Program requirements and notes
Program notes
- To submit an application, go to the How to apply tab. Please refer to Application dates to apply before cut-off dates
- Program fees:there are no tuition fees for Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or Holders of Humanitarian Visas. Fees for international students can be found at USC International fees and costs
- International students are non-Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian Permanent Residents. Summer Session and part-time options are not available to International students.
- Program details are subject to change
- For important semester dates see Academic Calenders
- Read the Student rules, policies, procedures and guidelines
- Refer to the Student Fees and Charges - Governing Policy for information about administrative fees that may apply