Tertiary Preparation Program FAQs

You apply directly here. 

For recent school leavers  

• Have completed Year 11 and at least started Year 12 

• Demonstrated a pass in a Year 11 English and Mathematics subject  

• Be 18 years old or turning 18 during the program 

No High School Certificate or over 5 years since completed high school 

• Complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy assessment as part of your application. The purpose of the LLN is to assess your current level of competency in English and Mathematics, alongside providing an indication of your ability to flourish within the learning environment of the Tertiary Preparation Program.  

• Submit a statement of what study/work you have completed since high school. (e.g. a resume and/or certificates of completion)  

If it has been over five years since you have been at high school, you will need to complete a Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment. This will help us understand how we can support you in the program.  We ask that you complete the LLN within one week of being given the link so that we can process your application as soon as possible.  Without the LLN results we cannot make you an Offer into the program. 

We advise that you take your time completing the assessment.  It will take approximately 90 minutes to complete the three sections.  We recommend that you find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted and use either a desktop or laptop computer.  It cannot be completed on a mobile phone.  

If you did not reach the required level, UQ College will contact you to offer advice and potentially ask you to retake the assessment. 

The Offer Letter will be sent by the UQ College Admissions team once all the required documents are submitted and reviewed. 

If you take five courses in the Tertiary Preparation Program and pathway onto The University of Queensland, you will be given five bonus ranking points and potentially score a maximum Selection Rank of 93. If you choose to study at a different university, you will potentially score a maximum Selection Rank of 88.  

Please refer to the table below. 

A Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average result of all grades achieved by a student during a course of study at a tertiary level. UQ College uses a 7-point GPA score. 

To find out what ATAR/Rank you require to study at UQ, please visit study.uq.edu.au.

There is currently no option to study part time. The minimum number of courses you can take is four.  

A course is like a subject at school. You will study between four or five courses within the Tertiary Preparation Program.   You will generally study two core courses and three elective courses. Elective courses are selected to meet the prerequisite requirements for your chosen undergraduate program.  

A Humanities stream is also recommended for students who intend to study in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. 

When you accept your Offer, the Admissions team will send you an enrolment confirmation along with subject selection details. Subject selection must be done before the start of the program For more information about the courses you can choose click here . If assistance is needed, you can contact timetable@uqcollege.uq.edu.au for help with subject selection. 

Classes are 50 minutes long and most are conducted in a workshop or seminar style, with classwork completed individually, in pairs, or in small groups. Generally, there are between 15 to 20 students per class. 

Courses such as Biology, Behavioural Science, Humanities, and Social Science include research tasks that must be completed.  There is also a course you can choose called Research which gives you the opportunity to research an agreed topic of your own choice within a chosen discipline.  You will develop practical skills and apply key terminology and principles that will be able to utilise throughout your tertiary studies.  

Yes, you will have multiple exams across the courses in the program.  

You will be studying at The University of Queensland St Lucia campus, so you will feel like a UQ student. 

All UQ College students have access to over 200 student clubs and programs and are welcome to participate in all UQ student activities. 

No, you won’t receive credits towards an undergraduate degree. The program is designed to provide you a University Selection Rank.  It will also help you meet the program prerequisites at UQ.   

Generally, you will need to be at the UQ St Lucia campus five days a week where you will spend approximately 20 hours in class.  In addition, there will also be homework and assignments to complete.  At the end of each semester, you will have exams.  

UQ College as a Learning Centre located in Building 39a. You can book one on one tutoring with our Learning Advisors as well as your teachers.  The Learning advisers also run weekly study workshops on topics such as Study Skills, Exam Preparation Skills, and Time Management Skills.  

UQ College has dedicated counsellors who are available free of charge for all UQ College students to make appointments. 

You will need to apply for your desired UQ Undergraduate degree through QTAC. Advice on how to do this will be provided by UQ College Student Services when it is time to put in your QTAC preferences. As you have completed the Tertiary Preparation Program with UQC, you will receive five bonus Selection Rank points.  

The Tertiary Preparation Program is fully funded by the Australian Federal Government and therefore there is no cost to yourself.  All study materials will be provided.  You just need to bring your own device. 

If you are a currently enrolled student, you can access UQ's wireless network .