If you are an international student and you did not meet the requirements for your chosen course, don’t worry. You may be eligible for a pathway diploma or program. You can then use this qualification to enter a bachelors undergraduate course.
Are international pathways for me?
Our international pathways are open to students who require a visa to study in Australia. These pathway diplomas and programs help develop your skills and make transitioning into university study as easy as possible.
Our pathway courses have lower entry requirements and English proficiency requirements compared to bachelor degrees.
After successfully completing a diploma, you may then be eligible to enter the first or second year of the related bachelor degree. With our Foundation Studies program you can enter the first year of a Diploma or Bachelor’s program.
Take a look at our range of pathway diplomas and programs available to international students and find out how to apply below. Applying is easy and can be done online.
Our international support team is also available to help at any stage.
If you are a domestic student
The pathway courses on this page are for international students. If you do not need an international visa to study in Australia, you are a domestic student.
You can learn more about our domestic student pathways and programs by visiting our pathway certificates and diplomas page.
View our pathway courses for domestic students
Apply for an international pathway
Use this step-by-step guide to learn more about our pathway diploma and programs and see if one could work for you. It is a simple process and takes just four steps.
1. Choose your diploma or pathway
Select from our list of diplomas and pathways available to international students.
If you successfully complete one of these diplomas, you may be able to enter the first or second year of the advanced bachelor degree, with credit given for any units completed during the diploma course.
Example: If you complete the Diploma in Commerce, you can apply for entry into the following bachelor courses:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Marketing
- Bachelor of Human Resource Management.
Pathway diplomas and courses
- Diploma in Biomedical Science
- Diploma in Business
- Diploma in Educational Studies (Tertiary Preparation)
- Diploma in Exercise Science
- Diploma in Information Technology
- Diploma in Liberal Arts
- Diploma in Nutrition Science
- Diploma in Visual Arts
- Diploma in Youth Work
- English for Academic Purposes
- Foundation Studies
- Tertiary Preparation Program (Health Sciences)
2. Check your eligibility
When you have chosen your pathway course, you need to confirm your eligibility. This involves checking you meet our entry and English language proficiency requirements
Entry requirements
Download our list of pathway program entry requirements to find the minimum requirements from your home country.
Download the minimum academic entry requirement by country (PDF)
English language proficiency
You will also need to meet the English proficiency requirements for your course.
You may need to demonstrate your English language proficiency if:
- English is not your first language
- you did not attend university in English and in an approved English-speaking country.
You can prove your English proficiency by providing us with evidence of your previous studies or qualifications, or by achieving a certain score in a relevant English language test (including IELTS, OET and the ACU English Test).
Visit our English proficiency requirements page for more information
If you do not meet the proficiency requirements for your chosen course, you can consider studying an English language course at the ACU English Language Centre.
Learn more about our English courses and apply
3. Prepare your documents
You will need to gather certified copies of all the necessary documents for your application. These documents include:
- academic qualifications (transcripts and completion certificates)
- passport
- evidence of English proficiency
- any other documents which can support your application, such as evidence of work experience, professional registration and reference letters that are relevant to your course
Certified documents
Copies of your official documents will need to be certified. A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been “certified” as a true copy.
Documents can be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP) or an authorised officer such as a public notary who is not related to you.
The officer must include his/her professional registration number (if applicable) when certifying your documents.
4. Apply
When you are ready to apply, visit your chosen course page for application instructions.
Alternatively, visit our online application system to register and get started.
Apply now for an international pathway
Please note: There will be a A$110 application fee unless you apply with the aid of an ACU education agent.
Find an ACU education agent near you
If you need help applying, you can contact a local authorised ACU education agent.
Search our authorised ACU education agents
Next steps
Once you’ve submitted an application with us, you can relax. We will assess your application and get back to you as soon as we can.
If you received an offer
If you receive an offer from us, an exciting future awaits you. Will you join us?
You can respond to your offer by accepting, deferring or declining.
Learn more about responding to an offer
Need help? Contact us
Do not hesitate to reach out to us at AskACU or international student support if you have any questions about choosing or applying for a pathway course.
Contact the friendly team at international student support