Tertiary Preparation Program

Duration
30 weeks full time

Dates

Next Intake

Start Date: 16 February 2026

Applications Close: 1 December 2025

Fees
Enrolments are fully funded by the Federal Government.

There is no cost to students.

Entry criteria
See eligibility criteria

Overview

The Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) is delivered over 30 weeks and enables you to learn the core academic skills required for entry into undergraduate study at The University of Queensland. It is delivered face-to-face at UQ St Lucia.

This program is designed for domestic students turning 18 or older who may or may not have completed high school and are seeking a certain selection rank to enter university. The maximum selection rank that can be achieved from completing the TPP is 93.

With small class sizes, our teachers are able to provide a high level of personal attention, helping you develop the confidence and study structure for academic success. You’ll be able to hit the ground running when you progress to your undergraduate degree.

Before you apply

The Tertiary Preparation Program has a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available. As places are capped, meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee admission to a CSP.

This program is designed to help students attain a selection rank that meets the minimum (ATAR 70) entry requirement to UQ. As an enabling course, the TPP provides a pathway to university for students who would not otherwise be able to enter due to extenuating circumstances. This essentially means that the TPP enables students to enter university via a non-high school option. However, places are limited due to CSP funding restrictions.

There may be other pathways to UQ if you already have:

a current or predicted ATAR/selection rank of 70 or above, or
a Certificate III (competency-based + STAT) or Certificate III (graded) or higher.

You can view your maximum attainable selection rank relative to completed qualifications through the Attainable Selection Rank Information Sheet (PDF, 63.4 KB).

While holding a selection rank of 70 or above, or a Certificate III or higher does not exclude you from the selection process, you may not receive a place in the program due to the limited number of places available.

Please contact our Future Students team to discuss your options before submitting your TPP application. If, after considering this advice, you believe the TPP is the right pathway to UQ, we encourage you to continue with your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Domestic Pathways Guide (PDF, 1.7 MB)

UQC Academic Calendar 2025 Intake 1

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Tertiary Preparation Program, you must be an Australian citizen or a Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen. For international students, please see the Foundation Program.

You must also be at least 18 years old (or will turn 18 in the next twelve months) and meet the following requirements:

Current or recent high school students

(left high school less than five years ago)

Have completed Year 11 with passing grades in an English subject and a Mathematics subject.

Note: Students who don’t have passing grades in English and/or Mathematics may be required to complete an online Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test*

Mature aged students

(left high school more than 5 years ago)

Complete an online Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test* as part of your application. 
Provide a brief statement of any work/study you have completed since high school. A resume and/or certificates of completion should also be submitted.

^{*The purpose of the Language, Literacy and Numeracy test is to assess your current level of competency in English and Mathematics and provide an indication of your ability to thrive within the learning environment of the Tertiary Preparation Program.}

Key dates

	Intake 1 2026	Intake 2 2026*
Applications close:	1 December 2025	17 August 2026
Start date:	16 February 2026	7 September 2026
Completion date:	4 December 2026	9 July 2027
Pathway to The University of Queensland:	Semester 1 2027	Semester 2 2027

^{*Dates subject to change}

Tertiary Preparation Program courses

You will either four or five courses during the Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP). We recommend that you choose courses that will prepare you for your chosen undergraduate degree at UQ. It's important to check the UQ undergraduate program prerequisites when you choose your courses so that you can meet the subject prerequisites when you apply.

Once you're enrolled in the program, you'll have the opportunity to choose your courses. Here is some more information about what you will learn in each course.

Core Course

Elective Courses

Accounting

The aim of this course is to introduce accounting concepts and the role of accounting within business. Students will learn how to use Excel to produce financial reports such as balance sheets and profit and loss statements.

Behavioural Science

As an introduction to the behavioural sciences, you will examine human behaviour through the psychology of the individual, social influence, memory and cognition, and conditioning. The course also explores introductory criminology concepts, including the motivations and measurement of crime, as well as crime reduction strategies.

This course is recommended if you would like to pursue a program in the Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences Faculty.

Biology

Biology provides opportunities for students to develop their understanding of cells and multicellular organisms and how they regulate their internal environment in response to stimuli. You will develop your understanding of DNA, patterns of inheritance and the processes and mechanisms of how life on Earth has changed and diversified over time. Students learn about factors influencing biodiversity and have the opportunity to investigate several local ecosystems by attending a field trip to the UQ Moreton Bay Research Station on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) or Heron Island.

This course is recommended for students wishing to progress into Science, Medicine and Health programs.

Business Management

Covering a broad range of management concepts and business operations, this course helps you develop an appreciation of business principles, planning, marketing, organisational behaviour and human resource management. You will apply the theory learnt in class to plan your own business enterprise in a group.

Chemistry

This course introduces the foundational concepts of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, with a focus on the study of the structure and properties of materials. You will develop valuable skills required for scientific investigation and critical evaluation, and have opportunities to experience laboratory techniques and analysis.

This course is recommended for students wishing to progress into Science, Medicine, Health and Engineering programs.

Design

This course is an introduction to the fundamental processes and methods of design that are applied to the built environment, engineering, and other closely related disciplines. You will learn about the work of designers and how they evaluate problems and generate solutions.

This course is recommended if you wish to progress to programs related to Architecture, Design, and Engineering.

Economics

In this course, you will explore macroeconomic and microeconomic issues and develop an understanding of how decision makers within the economy (consumers, firms, governments) use limited resources to satisfy the level of demand.

Students will also develop an ability to make economic decisions based on an analysis of economic information.

General Mathematics

Covering basic algebra, regression analysis, geometry, measurement, financial mathematics, statistics, graphs and network analysis. This course gives you the everyday maths skills needed for a non-mathematically based tertiary program.

Health and Nutrition

This course introduces the multidimensional nature of health and wellbeing, and how it is influenced by diet and exercise. You will gain an understanding of the function of nutrients in the body, the challenges facing the food system and how the body responds to exercise. Students will also apply this knowledge to develop a personal diet and exercise plan to improve or maintain their own health and fitness.

Humanities and Social Sciences

This course examines topics such as global strategies and perspectives, and creative arts and history to develop skills in critical and creative thinking, research and evaluation, argument mapping, problem solving and reflective learning.

This course is recommended if you wish to progress to programs within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Information Technology

In this course, you will develop foundational knowledge of computer systems and practical programming skills using Python, SQL, and HTML/CSS. You will apply these skills to design and develop an information management application for a small business.

This course is recommended if you wish to progress to programs related to Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science or Data Science.

Mathematical Methods

In this course, you will develop your understanding of the mathematical concepts of algebra, calculus and statistics that will equip you with the necessary skills to solve real-life mathematical problems. Topics include linear equations, computation, sequences and series, logarithmic functions, trigonometry, differential and integral calculus, statistics and probability.

To meet prerequisite entry requirements, this course is recommended for students wishing to progress into Commerce, Science, Biomedical Science, Information Technology and Engineering programs.

Physics

This course provides the theoretical and experimental basis to engage in classical and modern understandings of the universe. You will study force and motion, thermodynamics, electricity, gravitational and electromagnetic fields, waves, radioactivity and modern physics. The practical work in the course will give you experience in laboratory techniques and analysis.

This course is recommended if you wish to progress to Engineering or Science programs.

Research

This course provides students with the research skills needed for success as an undergraduate student. Research helps students develop specific techniques and methods for good assignment writing at university. In this course, you will investigate a topic of your own choice by selecting and analysing relevant literature. This will help you develop critical thinking skills, which will benefit any undergraduate program of your choice.

This course offers students a high degree of autonomy over their chosen area of investigation, while following a prescribed research pathway.

Tertiary Preparation Program streams

A Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) stream acts as a guideline to help you choose courses (subjects) that will be relevant to what you want to study at UQ.

You will have the option to choose your electives before orientation. Electives can also be changed any time prior to the end of Week 1.

See below for details of the TPP streams.

*This course may be a prerequisite for certain undergraduate programs. Make sure to check the requirements of your desired undergraduate program before selecting your courses.

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (BEL)

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and IT (EAIT)

For students wishing to progress to undergraduate degrees in the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and IT (EAIT):

Academic English

Three or four electives chosen from:

Behavioural Science
Business Management
Chemistry*
Design
Information Technology
Physics*
Research
General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods*

^{Note: For students wishing to progress to the Bachelor of Engineering, electives such as Physics and Chemistry are set prerequisites. Students wishing to progress to degrees in Computer Science, IT, Design or Urban Planning are advised not to study Physics or Chemistry and are recommended to study non-science electives such as Behavioural Science, Business Management, Design, IT, or Research.}

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Science (HMBS)

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)

Faculty of Science

Gaining a selection rank from the TPP

The table below shows the selection ranks you can achieve based on your GPA from completing the full UQ College Tertiary Preparation Program.

Please contact UQ Admissions for advice regarding selection ranks from the incomplete TPP.

GPA to Selection Rank Table

	Selection Rank
Grade Point Average (seven-point-scale)	4 Courses	5 Courses (Non-UQ Degree Programs)	5 courses (UQ Degree Programs)
6.75 - 7.00	86	88	93
6.50 - 6.74	86	88	91
6.25 - 6.49	85	87	89
6.00 - 6.24	84	86	87
5.75 - 5.99	83	86	86
5.50 - 5.74	82	85	85
5.25 - 5.49	81	84	84
5.00 - 5.24	80	83	83
4.75 - 4.99	79	82	82
4.50 - 4.74	78	81	81
4.25-4.49	77	79	79
4.00 - 4.24	75	76	76
3.75 - 3.99	70	71	71
3.50 - 3.74	66	67	67
3.25 - 3.49	62	63	63
3.00 - 3.24	58	59	59
2.75-2.99	54	55	55
2.50 - 2.74	50	51	51
2.25 - 2.49	45	46	46
2.00 - 2.24	45	45	45
<2.00	45	45	45

Assessment items may include exams, individual and group assignments, research projects, laboratory practicals, and seminar presentations. Your final result in a course will be based on all assessment items. All courses are graded on the UQ 7–point scale:

SCALE	GRADE	RANGE
7	High distinction	85 – 100%
6	Distinction	75 – 84%
5	Credit	65 – 74%
4	Pass	50 – 64%
3	Marginal Fail	47 – 49%
2	Fail	25 – 46%
1	Low fail	0 – 24%

Your teachers will monitor your academic progress throughout the program and provide you with regular feedback and guidance. Students also have access to dedicated Learning Advisors for UQ College who support students with assessment preparation, study skills and time management strategies.

The TPP allowed me to get into UQ. Without the TPP and the support I had from UQ College, I wouldn’t have achieved the results that I did.
UQ College offered so much support both academically and emotionally through learning advisors, counsellors and the teachers that it made balancing study, work and personal life way more manageable.
I will forever advocate for the Tertiary Preparation Program and hold a special place in my heart for UQC.