Undergraduate Certificate of Design (Pathway)

That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.

There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.

As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.

If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.

If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.

If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.

Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.

You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.

Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.

You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.

We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.

We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.

Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.

Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements

  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.

• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.

• You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.

• We'll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

Enrolling online through Open Universities Australia is simple. Here's how it works:

1. Select 'Start studying now' on your chosen course
2. Create an account

   Or sign in if you already have an account.

3. Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment

   We'll ask you questions to help determine your eligibility or match you with alternative entry pathways. We'll also help you choose your ideal study load, start date and funding option.

   You'll need to provide supporting documents along the way, such as:

   • Proof of identity
   • Your tax file number
   • A Unique Student Identifier (USI)
4. Wait for confirmation

   Once you're done, we'll submit everything to your chosen university on your behalf. They will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course page.

If you get stuck at any time, you can book a consultation with a student advisor and they will happily guide you through it.