Future Students Mature Students Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Do you have the skills, maturity, and commitment needed for successful tertiary study, but not the formal academic qualifications?

Experience gained through life and work can be enough for you to enter one of our JCU Pathway courses, which can lead you into a Bachelor's degree. Whether you want to stay within the same career, or re-train for different opportunities, your previous work experience can help you get there.

Pathway programs

The six-month Tertiary Access Course (TAC) provides you with an understanding of academic practices, develops your ability to analyse and evaluate information, and improves your skills in areas such as communication, computing, and team work.

In addition to these skills, TAC will provide you with the formal pre-requisite academic skills (literacy and numeracy) to enter and succeed in JCU undergraduate studies. Find out more information about TAC and how to enrol.

You have the option to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) via QTAC, which is a two-hour aptitude test and may show you are ready to step straight into an undergraduate course.

JCU offers diploma courses, which consist of a combination of introductory and first-year degree subjects. The JCU Diploma of Higher Education provides you with a formal qualification and credit towards future study if you wish to continue at JCU. It is a one-year course (or two years, part-time) designed to meet the academic requirements for entry into a Bachelor’s degree.

To apply for the Diploma, students need to be 17 years old at the time of application. All students are encouraged to contact a Pathway Programs Student Support Advisor to discuss their options.

Apply for your course

Once you’ve decided which course you wish to study, you can start the application process. Make sure you’ve checked the entry requirements for your course.

Applications for Semester 1 (February intake) open in August of the previous year. Find out more. Many courses accept enrolment in Semester 2 (July intake). Mid-year applications close in July, for immediate start.

If you have any questions along the way the JCU team is here to help. If you’re applying for a JCU Diploma of Higher Education, speak to a Pathway Programs Student Support Advisor and then apply online via QTAC. If you are considering any other pathway course or would like some advice on next steps, you also have the option to book a call with a JCU advisor.

Use the JCU credit calculator and Recognition of Prior Learning form to apply for credit. Once you are accepted into your course, the enrolment team will assess your application.

If you have any questions about applying for credit, book a call with a JCU advisor.

Employment is assessed on the level of skill required for the job and your length of service. A minimum of six-months full-time equivalent paid employment is required and does not need to be related to the course you are applying for.

Congratulations! Once your application is assessed and approved you'll receive an offer via email. For mature students, this can be in less than two weeks for many courses.

Contact us if you have any questions

If you have any questions about applying, or would like to talk to someone about your options the JCU team are here to help.

Check out our FAQ page where you can see common questions, and also speak to the JCU team via live chat or book a call.

Apply now

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