Pathway Diplomas at UniSQ

• 2–4 free foundational study skills courses (no tuition fees or HECS-HELP debt).
• First-year courses aligned to the discipline of your diploma that can count towards your future degree.
• Access to drop-in support sessions during your first-year studies.

You’ll need to successfully complete 2–4 foundational courses before moving onto your first-year courses. 

To provide the foundational courses at no charge, they are offered as part of Foundation Studies for Pathway Diplomas (FSPD) enabling program. Following the acceptance of your Diploma, you will be active in two programs:

• your diploma program, and
• the Foundation Studies for Pathways Diplomas (FSPD) enabling program. 

Pathway Diploma structure

FSPD will allow you to enrol in your free courses with a TPP code. The TPP courses in your recommended enrolment pattern will match equivalent MDS courses in your diploma. All students complete the following in the FSPD: 

In addition, students in the Diploma of Business and Management Studies, Diploma of Engineering and Technologies, Diploma of Education and Teaching Studies, and Diploma of Agriculture and Environmental Science Studies complete:

Students in the Diploma of Engineering and Technologies and the Diploma of Agriculture and Environmental Science Studies also complete:

There are no pre-requisites required for the TPP courses in the FSPD. Once you have accepted an offer for a Pathway Diploma you will be enrolled in your TPP courses.

Upon successful completion of your TPP courses, you will be awarded credit for the corresponding MDS course in your diploma program. If you’ve completed courses in UniSQ Ready, UniPrep, or the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP), you may be eligible for credit towards foundational courses.

You will start with your free foundational courses. Your foundational courses are designed to give you the academic skills to successfully transition into university. 

Your foundational courses are offered in Block study periods. Blocks are intensive six-week study periods designed to help you quickly build the foundational skills to succeed at university. You will normally study over a minimum of two Blocks to complete your foundation courses. 

Once you successfully complete your Block-based foundational courses, you will then transition into your first-year courses. First-year courses are normally offered in Trimester study periods taught across 13 weeks. 

While you complete your first-year courses, you will be able to attend drop-in sessions to get support for your subject area. These sessions are designed to help you succeed with your first-year studies.

To provide the foundational courses with a TPP-code for free, you are required to complete a FEE-FREE Uni Ready Commonwealth Assistance Form when you enrol into your Foundation Studies for Pathways Diplomas (FSPD) program.

Once you have successfully completed your TPP courses, you will then be eligible to enrol in your Pathway Diploma to study your first-year courses. You will need to complete a new Commonwealth Assistance Form (CAF) in your Diploma program. 

Find more information about the forms on the Study Assist website or contact UniSQ if you have questions about the application or enrolment process.

You can fast-track your diploma by applying for credit for your previous studies in UniSQ Ready, UniPrep, or the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP). 

If you have completed any of the following courses previously you may be eligible for credit. You will need to submit an application for credit alongside your application for the program. This will help us know that you are wanting credit for your previous studies. Students who study the TPP courses as part of the FSPD will have their credit automatically applied to their Pathway Diploma. 

Students will only receive credit for the equivalent courses that are offered in their Diploma. This credit only applies to the Pathway Diplomas.