Uni Step-Up

Uni Step-Up is your chance to experience university life by studying two first-year units while you are still in senior secondary school. You'll get a head start at university, develop uni-level study skills, and discover more about your potential degree.

Uni Step-Up is delivered in two formats at Australian Catholic University. An on-campus program is delivered during the winter and summer school holidays, and an online program for regional students. The program runs across four subject areas: business; criminology; nursing, midwifery and paramedicine; and sports and exercise science. Please check the accordions below to see the Uni Step-Up course availability at your nearest campus.

Benefits of Uni Step-Up

  • Pathway to further study: participants who successfully complete two units are eligible to receive an early entry offer to a mapped ACU course.
  • Receive credit for a university degree: get credit for related undergraduate courses at ACU.
  • There is no charge: complete two university units HECS free.
  • Get a head start at university: test out a subject area and develop your skills in academic writing and referencing.
  • Small group size: cohort size is limited to ensure you have regular access to guided mentoring from current university students and staff.
  • All students who complete Uni Step-Up and enroll at ACU are eligible for an accommodation scholarship.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students would also be eligible for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Accommodation Scholarship.

Uni Step-Up is available to Year 11 students through ACU's Widening Participation initiatives. To participate, you must be in Year 11 and meet one of the following criteria:

  • Attend an ACU Widening Participation partner school, (please email your local widening participation team to check if your school is eligible).
  • and / or
  • Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,
  • and / or
  • from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background,
  • and / or
  • living or studying in the Blacktown local government area.

All applications are welcome. Priority for program participation will be given to students who meet multiple eligibility criteria. Please note that meeting one or more of these criteria does not guarantee a place in the program. 

What can I study?

Business

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • A number of dual degrees are also available

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 302KB)

Criminology

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 302KB)

Nursing and midwifery

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 296KB)

Sports and exercise science

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of High Performance Sport/Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 370KB)

When does the program run?

Uni Step-Up Unit 1 commences in the June/July school holidays. Unit 2 commences in the January school holidays.

Each unit consists of five or six days on-campus during school holidays, plus three to five short follow-up online classes scheduled after school.

How do I apply?

To apply for the program you will need to provide a copy of your most recent school report and answer these two questions:

  • Why do you want to study in the Uni Step-Up program? (100-200 words)
  • What skills and qualities do you believe are needed to study at a university level? (100-200 words)

Apply online now

Applications close Thursday 6 June 2024 or when classes are full.

Uni Step-Up is available to students through ACU's Widening Participation initiatives. To participate in Uni Step-Up you must be currently studying Year 11 and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. attend an ACU Widening Participation partner school (please email your local widening participation team to check if your school is eligible)
  2. live in a regional or remote area
  3. identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

What can I study?

Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Paramedicine
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nursing/ Bachelor of Paramedicine

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 296KB)

When does the program run?

Uni Step-Up Unit 1 commences in the June/July school holidays. Unit 2 commences in the January school holidays.

Each unit consists of five or six days on-campus during school holidays, plus three to five short follow-up online classes scheduled after school.

How do I apply?

To apply for the program you will need to provide a copy of your most recent school report and answer these two questions:

  • Why do you want to study in the Uni Step-Up program? (100-200 words)
  • What skills and qualities do you believe are needed to study at a university level? (100-200 words)

Apply online now

Applications close Thursday 6 June 2024 or when classes are full.

Uni Step-Up is available to students through ACU's Widening Participation initiatives. To participate in Uni Step-Up you must be currently studying Year 11 and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. attend an ACU Widening Participation partner school (please email your local widening participation team to check if your school is eligible)
  2. live in a regional or remote area
  3. identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

What can I study?

Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Paramedicine
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 296KB)

Sports and exercise science

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of High Performance Sport
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science/ Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science/ Bachelor of Business Administration

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 370KB)

When does the program run?

Uni Step-Up Unit 1 commences in the June/July school holidays. Unit 2 commences in the January school holidays.

Each unit consists of five or six days on-campus during school holidays, plus three to five short follow-up online classes scheduled after school.

How do I apply?

To apply for the program you will need to provide a copy of your most recent school report and answer these two questions:

  • Why do you want to study in the Uni Step-Up program? (100-200 words)
  • What skills and qualities do you believe are needed to study at a university level? (100-200 words)

Apply online now

Applications close Thursday 6 June 2024 or when classes are full.

Uni Step-Up is available to students through ACU's Widening Participation initiatives. To participate in Uni Step-Up you must be currently studying Year 11 and meet one of the following criteria:

  1. attend an ACU Widening Participation partner school (please email your local widening participation team to check if your school is eligible)
  2. live in a regional or remote area
  3. identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

What can I study?

Business

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • A number of dual degrees are also available

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 302KB)

Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Paramedicine
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 296KB)

Sports and exercise science

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of High Performance Sport
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science/ Bachelor of Business Administration

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 370KB)

When does the program run?

Uni Step-Up Unit 1 commences in the June/July school holidays. Unit 2 commences in the January school holidays.

Each unit consists of five or six days on-campus during school holidays, plus three to five short follow-up online classes scheduled after school.

How do I apply?

To apply for the program you will need to provide a copy of your most recent school report and answer these two questions:

  • Why do you want to study in the Uni Step-Up program? (100-200 words)
  • What skills and qualities do you believe are needed to study at a university level? (100-200 words)

Apply online now

Applications close Thursday 6 June 2024 or when classes are full.

Uni Step-Up Online is available to students through ACU's Widening Participation initiatives. To participate in Uni Step-Up Online you must be currently studying Year 11 and live in a regional, rural or remote area.

Preference will given to students who also:

  • attend an ACU Widening Participation partner school (please email your local widening participation team to check if your school is eligible)
  • identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

What can I study?

Business

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Commerce
  • A number of dual degrees are also available

Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Nursing
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Paramedicine
  • Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nursing/ Bachelor of Paramedicine

Sports and exercise science

Pathway to:

  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of High Performance Sport
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Nutrition Science/ Bachelor of Business Administration

When does the program run?

The program is delivered outside of regular school hours, all accessed online. The first unit commences in March, and the second unit commences in August. Each unit runs for 10-12 weeks in duration.

How do I apply?

Applications for the 2025 intake will open in November 2024. Please check this website later in the year.

Any questions or further information please email usu@acu.edu.au

Download our info sheet for more details (PDF, 369KB)

More information

To access further information including key dates, subject outlines, and frequently asked questions about the program, please download the flyers provided in the table above. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact your state-based Uni Step-Up team at:

Victoria - wp.vic@acu.edu.au
New South Wales - wp.nsw@acu.edu.au
Queensland - wp.qld@acu.edu.au

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