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 2025 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
Plus select three (3) courses from:
TPP102
TPP103
TPP104 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 1
TPP105 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 2
TPP106 Teaching Junior Secondary Geography
TPP107 Teaching Junior Secondary Mathematics
TPP108 Medicinal Organic Chemistry
TPP109 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 1
TPP111 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 2
TPP115 Teaching Senior Secondary Geography
Available courses Semester 2, 2016
Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
---|---|---|
TPP101 Teaching Senior Secondary Mathematics | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP102 Physical Chemistry | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP103 Biochemistry | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP104 Analytical Sciences | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP105 Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP106 Professional Experience: Individual Learner Needs | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP107 The Psychology of Learning | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP108 Using Data for Learning | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP109 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP111 Professional Experience: The Professional Teacher | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP115 Diversity and Inclusion | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Session 8, 2016/2017
Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
---|---|---|
TPP101 Teacher as Researcher | Sippy Downs, Gympie, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP102 Tax and Estate Planning | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP103 Property Law | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP104 Accounting Principles | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP105 Business Analytics | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP106 Introduction to Economics | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP107 Management and Organisational Behaviour | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP108 Introduction to Informatics | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP109 Communication and Thought | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP111 Financial Accounting | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP115 Business Finance | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Semester 1, 2017
Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
---|---|---|
TPP101 Law of Business Associations | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP102 Company Accounting | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP103 Management Accounting | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP104 Taxation Law and Practice | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP105 Contemporary Accounting Issues | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP106 Auditing and Professional Practice | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP107 Business Law and Ethics | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP108 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility | Sippy Downs | Nil |
TPP109 Introduction to International Relations: An Australian Perspective | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP111 Global Environmental Politics | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
TPP115 Changing Planet Earth | 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