Pathways to Study

JCU Winter School

Discover university life and gain skills for success

Want to know what it's like to be a uni student? Then our residential preparatory program for high school students may be the program for you.

The JCU Winter School for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students offers students in Year 10, 11 and 12 the chance to experience university life during the school holidays.

Over five days, students live on campus and take part in academic lectures and team-building activities in an interactive program that provides opportunities to meet University staff and students and form bonds with other students in the program.

On-campus accommodation allows for a complete university experience. Accommodation is in the residential colleges on campus and catering is provided for all participants while students are on campus. JCU covers the cost of return travel, including flights, bus or train, for students outside of the Townsville region, within Australia.

View 2019 Winter School Image Gallery

Summer Pre-Program

The JCU Summer Pre-program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is an initiative of the Indigenous Education and Research Centre (IERC), in partnership with the JCU academic Colleges.

The Summer Pre-Program is an intensive preparation program for prospective Indigenous students.

Students participating in the program will take part in academic lectures, tutorials and team-building activities in an interactive program that provides opportunities to connect with University staff and students as well as form lasting bonds with other students in the program.

On-campus accommodation allows for a complete university experience. Students are housed in the residential colleges on campus and catering is provided for all participants while on campus.

The IERC covers all travel and accommodation costs related to participating in this program.

Diploma of Higher Education

The Diploma of Higher Education is a one-year course (or two years, part-time) designed to help people who may not meet the academic requirements for entry into a Bachelor degree. The Diploma consists of a combination of introductory and first-year degree subjects, designed to help students develop the necessary skills to be successful university students.

Successful completion of the Diploma will give you a recognised qualification in its own right. Graduating with the Diploma will also allow you to enter many JCU Bachelor degree programs and may give you advanced standing, or credit, for some of the subjects you successfully completed.

Students in the Diploma course will enrol in specific study plans mapped to a target degree. You can choose from a variety of majors including:

• Business
• Business Studies
• Education
• Engineering and Applied Science
• General Studies
• Health
• Information Technology
• Psychological Science
• Science
• Social Work
• Society and Culture

Tertiary Access Course

The Tertiary Access Course (TAC) is a pathway course for mature-age students or school leavers who do not have an ATAR Score or recognised experience (must be at least 18 years old at time of application). Note this course is only available to Australian citizens and permanent residents.

There are no subject fees with TAC but there is a Student Services and Amenities Fee for each subject. Eligible students can defer this fee. Please go to Student Services and Amenities Fee for more details.

TAC can be completed full time or part time. TAC is available for internal study only on the Cairns and Townsville campuses.