What alternative pathways can I take into university? Your guide to starting small
If you’re the first in your family to attempt uni study, or it’s been a long time since you’ve hit the books, reading degree entry requirements might just send your head into a spin. This is your guide to starting small.
Through Open Universities Australia, there are more ways than one to get into university – even when you don’t meet the entry requirements staring back at you.
In this blog, we’re going to make it easy for you to navigate them. Remember, there’s no wrong way to start learning.
Start small with: Open Access
A clever way to get into university while building up confidence is by starting with Open Access. It’s exclusive to Open Universities Australia, and is designed to remove the barriers that may be causing you to think twice about getting started.
With Open Access – also known as entry through single subjects – you don’t need to worry about having the right ATAR to gain entry. You’ll start with a handful of open enrolment subjects instead.
These are available to anyone, no matter their study history (and you can even access FEE-HELP for them if you’re eligible!).
In other words, Open Access removes the pressure of meeting entry requirements - and there’s less financial pressure while you’re studying, too.
It also gives you the chance to road test the topic you’re interested in by trying single subjects first, without committing to a full degree straight up. Once you’re sure you like the topic at hand, you can then commit to a degree. Your completed subjects become your avenue for meeting entry requirements, and even shave time off a longer qualification. How cool is that?
You’ll find thousands of subjects available that are open enrolment, so there’s plenty to browse if you’re after some Open Access inspiration.
Why not try your taste for the human mind with Introduction to Psychology with Curtin University? Or perhaps you're interested in caring for mental health instead? You could opt for Introduction to Mental Health. There are a range of topics at your fingertips, with many courses starting soon.Start small with: Undergraduate certificates
If you’d like to start small but would also like a certificate to show for your hard work within a short time frame, an undergraduate certificate might be for you.
Undergraduate certificates offer the shortest path to a university qualification. You can become certified in just six months. It’s a way to get noticed by employers – fast!
This qualification also has little to no entry requirements compared to bachelor degrees, which can make it a more appealing starting point.
Not sure where to start? An Undergraduate Certificate in Architecture with Curtin University will provide an outlet for your creativity, and teach you about sustainability and how we interact with the buildings around us.
An Undergraduate Certificate in Business with the University of South Australia on the other hand will provide essential skills in areas such as marketing, accounting, and management. An ideal place to kick things off for a career in business.
Should you feel inspired to continue learning, you can use your completed certificate as credit towards a degree. That’s right, you’ll be part-way through without even realising it!
Start small with: Open Degree Pathways
Open Degree Pathways is one of the newest pathway options available through Open Universities Australia. With this path, you’ll follow a pre-determined set of four subjects that provide fast-tracked entry towards numerous degrees from a range of Participating Universities in your desired interest area.
If you know you’d like to study a degree in a specific field (such as IT, mental health or business), but aren’t sure which degree just yet, this might be for you.
The Information Technology Open Degree Pathway is offered through La Trobe University, and it gives you entry into a range of degrees in IT and cybersecurity.
Alternatively, you could choose the Mental Health Open Degree Pathway to open the door to a range of mental health degrees by studying just four subjects in the field to begin – fast-tracking your degree application once you get there.
Or you might choose the Business Open Degree Pathway, allowing you to access a set of subjects in the field without entry requirements. Once completed successfully, it can set you on the path for a variety of qualifications in business.
As you can see, through Open Universities Australia there are multiple pathways, with endless possibilities.
Book a consultation with our student advisors to discuss which alternative pathway into university feels like the right fit for you. Together, we’ve got this.
Browse thousands of courses from leading Australian universities.
Or complete the form on this page to chat to an advisor about study options.
