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.
- 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.
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. You will be required to meet any subject prerequisites for the undergraduate degree you want to study so check these before enrolling in your TPP courses to make sure you choose the right courses. If you are from a non-English speaking background, you will also be required to meet English language entry requirements for your chosen USC program.
TPP will not meet the entry rank required for direct entry into some high-demand degree programs, including the Bachelor of Midwifery and the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics. Your entry rank will depend on how many TPP courses you complete and the grades you achieve in your TPP courses. Your entry rank must be high enough to meet the program cut off in order to gain direct entry.
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.
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. International students may only enrol in TPP if they enrol in full-time mode. Full-time mode is available at Sippy Downs and at Fraser Coast only.
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.
Fees
The 2017 Australian Federal Budget proposes changes to fee arrangements for higher education students. If these changes are passed by the Federal Parliament, domestic students studying TPP courses may incur fees from Semester 1, 2018. We will provide further information on any changes to TPP fees as soon as it is available.
Fees for international students can be found at USC International fees and costs.
Courses in the TPP are Austudy approved.
Indigenous TPP students may be eligible for an Indigenous Commonwealth scholarship.
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.
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 Regions, Change and Sustainability
Plus select three (3) courses from:
TPP102 Landscapes, Place and People
TPP103 Introduction to Weather and Climate
TPP104 Earth Observation: Remote Sensing and Surveying
TPP105 Applied Geospatial Analysis
TPP106 Coastal Geomorphology
TPP107 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
TPP108 Diversity and Inclusion
TPP109 Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
TPP111 Secondary Assessment and Reporting
TPP115 Professional Experience: Individual Learner Needs
| Course | Semester of offer | Units | Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPP101 An Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology | |||
| TPP102 Changing Planet Earth | |||
| TPP103 Hydrology and Geomorphology | |||
| TPP104 Historical Geographies | |||
| TPP105 Animals and Society | |||
| TPP106 Individual Learner Needs | |||
| TPP107 Professional Experience: Managing Learning Environments | |||
| TPP108 Teaching Junior Secondary English | |||
| TPP109 Teaching Junior Secondary Geography | |||
| TPP111 Teaching Senior Secondary English | |||
| TPP115 Teaching Senior Secondary Geography |
Available courses Semester 2, 2016
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 The Psychology of Learning | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP103 Using Data for Learning | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Secondary Professional Learning: The Professional Empowered and Engaged | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP105 Exploring Business Research | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP106 Introduction to the Internet of Things | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Introduction to Systems Design | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP108 Computer Networks | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Discovering Management | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 Introduction to Data Science | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP115 Programming Fundamentals | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Session 8, 2016/2017
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Introduction to Interactive Media | Sippy Downs, Gympie, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 Database Design | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP103 Wireless Communications | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Object-Oriented Programming | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP105 Responsive Design and Technology | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Mobile App Development | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Database Programming | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 ICT Professional Practice | Sippy Downs | Nil |
Available courses Semester 1, 2017
| Course | Locations | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TPP101 Systems Analysis and Design | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP102 ICT Industry Project | Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP103 Project Management | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP104 Full Stack Web Development | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP105 Communication and Thought | Sippy Downs, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP106 Engineering Professional Practice | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP107 Earth's Surface Processes, Materials and Soils | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP108 Physics | Sippy Downs | Nil |
| TPP109 Mathematics Foundations | Sippy Downs, Northlakes, Gympie, Noosa, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP111 Biodiversity and Ecology | Sippy Downs, Fraser Coast | Nil |
| TPP115 Science Research Methods | 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