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Undergraduate

Associate Degree of Surveying

Domestic students International students
Associate Degree of Surveying (ADSS)
Entry requirements
ATAR 62.70
View full details
Study mode
  • On-campus
  • External
Campus
  • Springfield
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, Sep
Intakes
Note: Students enrolled in the external mode must be able to attend mandatory on-campus residential schools at a UniSQ campus.

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Overview

  • Begin your career in surveying with UniSQ's Associate Degree of Surveying and study with Australia’s leading surveying education provider.
  • Gain insight into the technical and analytical skills required within the profession and develop practical specialist skills and knowledge in global navigation satellite systems, surveying, and project management.
  • Explore fundamental metrology, terrestrial mapping, photogrammetry and drone mapping, and develop your knowledge of construction and mining surveying
  • You will learn to collect, store, adapt and manipulate spatial data to communicate effectively with audiences, including professionals, para-professionals, clients and the wider community.
  • Our flexible study options allow you to speed up or slow down your study by choosing how many courses to enrol in each study period and if you want to study on-campus online to work around your life commitments.

Further study

The Associate Degree of Surveying is the perfect stepping stone into the Bachelor of Surveying Technology and the Bachelor of Surveying (Honours).

Professional accreditation

When you graduate, you will be eligible to apply for membership with the Geospatial Council of Australia.

Career outcomes

  • With the knowledge you’ll gain from your Associate Degree, you will have the opportunity to begin your career as a surveying technician or associate.
  • Surveyors work in a variety of settings including property and land development organisations, surveying companies, construction companies, government institutions, mining companies and private consultancy, among many others.

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 62.70 62.20

To study this degree we assume you have sound knowledge in: English (Units 3 & 4, C) and General Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C).

Further admission information

Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.

UniSQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average Ranks for this degrees' student cohort for Semester 1 from the previous year.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subscore. UniSQ also accepts other English language proficiency tests.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can apply to study with our English language partner, the Union Institute of Language (UIL), or if you're a domestic student you can apply to study UniSQ Ready courses TPP0122 and TPP0123.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP).

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units.

Courses to be studied Units
Core course 13
Elective course 3
Total 16

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Practical experience

As part of this degree, you will need to complete practical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of practical experience within this degree.

Residential schools

This degree has a mandatory attendance requirement for some of the residential school courses. All students will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials to gain practical experience, use facilities and specialist equipment, and meet staff and other students.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 9312
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 33040

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Apply via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you:

  • have never studied with UniSQ before, or
  • are a Year 12 student, or
  • want to transfer to UniSQ from another university.
Mode QTAC Codes
External 907065
Springfield 927061
Toowoomba 907061

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check our application closing dates.

Apply directly to UniSQ

You may be able to apply directly to UniSQ if you:

  • are a current or previous UniSQ student returning to study with complete or incomplete qualifications (excluding Head Start students), or
  • have recently graduated from TAFE.
Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

Select to start your degree in one of the following intakes:

Study period  Application closing date Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2025  Monday 10 February Monday 3 February  Monday 10 February  Friday 9 May
Trimester 3, 2025 Monday 8 September Monday 1 September Monday 8 September Friday 5 December 

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

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Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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What is a surveying degree?

The study of surveying focuses on measuring , mapping and recording features of land and surrounding environments using mathematics in conjunction with specialised surveying technology and equipment. During your Associate Degree of Surveying, you will develop practical specialist skills and knowledge in global navigation satellite systems, surveying, drone mapping and project management.

Become confident in your understanding of the underlying principles and concepts fundamental to spatial science and use these newly found skills to undertake further study such as a Bachelor of Surveying Technology, or Bachelor of Surveying (Honours).

How long does the program take to complete?

The duration of a surveying course will vary, depending on the uni you choose to study with.

At UniSQ an Associate Degree of Surveying will take you approximately two years to complete. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to finish the required courses.

What are the career opportunities for graduates of the program?

After you successfully complete an Associate Degree of Surveying, you can explore career opportunities as a:

  • transport planner
  • social planner
  • environmental planner
  • regional and rural planner
  • surveying technician
  • surveying associate.

A surveying course from UniSQ can open up many opportunities for employment in a variety of settings, including:

  • local, state and federal government agencies
  • private enterprise/consultancy
  • property and land development
  • surveying
  • construction
  • mining
  • transportation
  • insurance
  • utility companies
  • emergency services.
Can I study the course part-time?

Yes you can! The benefit of flexible study is you can study an Associate Degree of Surveying on your own terms, in your own time. Balance your life and family commitments with part-time or full-time study. Immerse yourself on-campus or study your subject theory online while honing your skills on-campus with residential schools. Take one subject at a time, study over summer, or take extra subjects when life allows it. The choice is yours!

Discover the different ways you can study at UniSQ.

What are the entry requirements for this surveying course?

The entry requirements to study an Associate Degree of Surveying will vary depending on the education provider you choose.

At UniSQ you must meet a minimum ATAR, pre-requisites and assumed knowledge to enter our Associate Degree of Surveying. ‘Assumed knowledge’ is the term we use to explain the minimum level of knowledge we presume you have in some subject areas before you start your degree.

Did you know you may qualify for additional points to improve your Rank? Our Adjustment Factor Pathways can increase your Selection Rank, through the allocation of points in certain circumstances, such as, where you live and the subjects you’ve passed.

For further information on ATAR, pre-requisites and assumed knowledge, please view the entry requirements section of this degree.

Is there an entry pathway if I don’t meet the entry requirements?

University pathway programs provide students with an entry point to their chosen uni degree without an ATAR score. At UniSQ, our pathway programs will help you reach your individual study goals. Whether you haven’t studied for some time, have completed a TAFE or VET qualification, have not completed high school, or your goals have changed, we have a program to suit your needs.

We understand everyone’s journey to university is different. That’s why we offer UniSQ Ready to help you gain entry into our Associate Degree of Surveying.

Would you like to talk through your study options? Get in touch and we can provide you with the personalised support and advice you need.