- 2 years (or part-time equivalent)
- Ipswich
- Feb
- View dates
- AUD 33,600
- (Indicative annual fee)
- 111902E
Overview
- Amidst a growing global emphasis on health, embark on your allied health career with UniSQ’s Associate Degree of Allied Health.
- Study courses with a strong focus on rural and regional health. You’ll gain foundational knowledge in evidence-based practice, human communication, anatomy, physiology, culture, health, illness, and working with diverse populations.
- Have the opportunity to choose a study stream in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, or speech pathology.
- Build a strong foundation - an associate degree is a great way to begin your first degree at university or a good first step for a career change. It’s not only a qualification in its own right, but also a pathway to a bachelor degree. This means that up to 12 courses that you study can count towards a bachelor degree.
- Graduate with a uni qualification as well as a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (assessed and awarded externally by Rural Medical Health Australia).
- Benefit from UniSQ’s flexible delivery and have the option to study full-time or part-time to suit your career goals and life commitments.
Intimate learning experience
If you enjoy helping others, would like a small cohort, intimate learning experience, and would appreciate being educated by incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, and fun academics, UniSQ is perfect for you.
Casey - Health
Career outcomes
- You’ll graduate with a uni qualification as well as a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (assessed and awarded externally by Rural Medical Health Australia).
- Graduates can find work as an advanced allied health assistant in various health and wellbeing settings, including disability and aged care, rehabilitation, palliative care, community health and early learning settings.
Professional accreditation
A Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance is embedded in this degree and assessed and awarded externally by Rural Medical Health Australia to eligible graduates.
What you'll study
To graduate from the Associate Degree of Allied Health, you must successfully complete 16 units of study.
Degree structure
An undergraduate university degree typically consists of a combination of core, major and elective courses designed to provide you with foundational knowledge and opportunities for an in-depth deeper dive into your chosen field.
Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for detailed recommended enrolment patterns and course availability.
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previous studies or relevant work experience. This could reduce the number of courses you need to study to complete your degree.
Degree requirements
To obtain the Certificate IV, you'll undertake 120 hours of vocational placements in an approved setting to gain hands-on industry experience. Applicants must be prepared to submit the requirements of the University of Southern Queensland for practical placement, including the purchase of a clinical uniform.
All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of practical placements within this degree.
Other study options
Successful completion of the Associate Degree will provide a further study pathway into the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Honours), Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours). Based on your selected study stream, you can apply for the relevant Bachelor Honours degree at QTAC and receive credit for your studies in the Associate Degree of Allied Health.
Please note that entry into the different Bachelor Honours degrees may be dependent on quotas and students who meet the entry requirements are not guaranteed a place in that degree.
Entry requirements
You need to satisfy the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
Use our International qualification converter to check country-specific grades (that are equivalent to Australian Year 12) you will need to apply for this degree.
Subject pre-requisites
- English (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent
- One of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent.
Please note: Meeting entry requirements does not guarantee admission. Places within this degree are limited by quota. Quota size is determined by the availability of placements. Where the quota is filled, no further places will be offered.
You'll need to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires:
- IELTS (Academic) - Minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components - listening, reading, writing, and speaking
Alternative English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.
During your study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet these requirements throughout your studies.
Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities, and knowledge that you must be able to demonstrate to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree.
If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to an Accessibility Support Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. Any reasonable adjustments made must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.
Review the inherent requirements and make sure this degree is right for you.
Applicants must be willing to adhere to the requirements of the University of Southern Queensland for practical placement. Please refer to the applicable Clinical Placement Handbook for your specific stream’s requirements.
You will need to provide the following documents prior to commencing any clinical placement:
- Blue Card or Working with Children Check
- Yellow Card (if working with people with disabilities)
- Australian Federal Police Check certificate
- Current CPR and First Aid certification
- UniSQ Student Declaration.
Plus evidence of the following immunisations:
- Hepatitis B immunisation evidence
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence
- Varicella immunisation evidence
- Pertussis immunisation evidence
- Influenza immunisation evidence
- Tuberculosis Risk Assessment
- COVID-19 vaccinations as directed by health services
- Mask FIT testing
- Evidence of other relevant vaccinations for infectious diseases that may emerge.
Other requirements:
- Competence in infection control, for example, by completing all modules from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in HealthCare.
- Purchase of a UniSQ clinical uniform.
Entry pathways
There is more than one way to get into university, and if you're not sure about your entry options get in touch to discuss.
Fees and scholarships
- This estimated 2025 annual fee is based on the current average rate for your first year of study (8 units per year) and does not include cost of materials such as textbooks, additional costs or the Student Services and Amenities fee.
- This is an indicative guide only and your fees will vary depending on the courses you select, with the actual rates calculated at enrolment.
- We review our fees annually and they may increase each year.
- Further details are available on the Fees website.
Additional costs
You may be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee as part of your degree cost.
Placement courses may incur some additional costs, including uniform and equipment, transport to and from venues and, in some instances, living expenses, particularly for placements in rural and remote settings
UniSQ Scholarships
We offer scholarships for academic excellence, community leadership, and financial need - you can apply for more than one!
Find out moreHow to apply
The University accepts applications all year. Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.
ApplyThis degree has one intake per year. Start your study in Trimester 1.
| Study period | Orientation | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1, 2026 | Monday 9 February | Monday 16 February |
Preparing to apply
You've made the decision to study at UniSQ - congratulations! Take the next steps:
You can contact one of our approved agents to guide you through the application process. Our agents provide:
- advice on your study plans
- advice on applying to UniSQ
- document certification
- assistance with any pre-departure arrangements
- assistance with your visa requirements.
To support your application, you will need to submit certified copies of:
- identity documents (passport)
- evidence of your English language proficiency
- senior high school (A levels/Year 12) certificate and academic transcripts
- all post-secondary study certificates and academic transcripts (if any)
- evidence of work experience (if required).
Application dates can vary so be sure to check our key dates to get all the details.
It is important to apply early to allow enough time for your application to be assessed and processed to meet study commencement dates and participation in Orientation activities. You should also factor in visa processing requirements and timeframes, where applicable.
After you’ve submitted your application, you will be emailed a reference number. Please allow up to 14 days for assessment. If further assessment is required for course credits or exemptions, this process may take longer.
Once you have received your letter of offer from UniSQ, you will need to return your signed acceptance of offer form. The UniSQ team will contact you at this time with more information regarding next steps.
Find out more
Connect with us - start a conversation, whenever suits you.
Frequently asked questions
- By studying core allied health courses with UniSQ, you’ll have the opportunity to choose a study stream, depending on what your interests and career goals are. Choose from Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy (from 2024), Social Work or Speech Pathology.
- UniSQ’s Associate Degree of Allied Health enables graduates to finish with two qualifications in as little as two years and be prepared for many job opportunities within the expanding Health industry.
- A two-year associate degree is an ideal middle ground between a diploma and a bachelor degree allowing you to delve more into the allied health sector.
What you will learn will vary depending on the stream you choose to specialise in, but you will all develop a solid foundation in allied health assessments, health skills and clinical practice.
With a growing demand in Australia for Nursing and Allied Health professionals, an Associate Degree in Allied Health will prepare you for a role in a variety of clinical settings, including:
- aged care
- community health
- disability support
- early learning settings.
An associate degree is a great way to start your first university degree or explore a new career path. After completing your allied health associate degree you have the opportunity to advance your skills and knowledge by using it as a pathway to a bachelor degree. Up to 12 courses that you study can count towards a bachelor degree.
- Gain real-world experiences with 120 hours of vocational placements, giving you the practical skills needed to prepare you for a career in allied health.
- Graduate with a university qualification as well as a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (assessed and awarded externally by Rural Medical Health Australia).
- Enter the workforce job-ready by learning from industry professionals and developing strong networks with students from other allied health courses.
- Use your Allied Health Associates Degree as a stepping-stone to further study in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work or speech pathology.
- Even if you don’t meet the entry requirements, don’t worry, we’ve got a pathway option to get you into our Associate Degree of Allied Health.
Discover more about the ways you can study at UniSQ.
