University pathways for international students
Are you an international student wanting to study for a university degree but don’t meet the requirements?
Relax, you can still study the degree of your choice by accessing a range of flexible, fully integrated pathways offered by Western Australia’s education institutions.
With the help of customised bridging programs and student support services, studying a pathway program will help you reach the enrolment criteria required to apply for the university and course of your choice successfully.
What is a pathway course?
Designed for students who don't meet the admission criteria for a university, university pathways are courses that help students prepare for entry into a university degree program.
After completing a pathway course, students may be eligible to pursue a relevant degree at an Australian university. These pathways include English language programs, foundation studies, and courses in specific fields and subjects that lead to bachelor's and master's degrees.
Types of entry pathways available to international students
Haven't decided on your chosen course or university yet? A general foundation course is the perfect pathway as it doesn’t restrict your choice of degree or university. This option is ideal for younger students who haven't settled on a chosen career yet.
Many Western Australian universities offer foundation studies on campus. This means that while you’re studying to meet general course requirements, you can experience real university life and take advantage of all academic resources, recreational facilities and student groups.
Do you already have a course in mind, or have you selected the university where you'd like to study? If so, you can take a subject-specific Certificate or Diploma course at a pathway college affiliated with your chosen university.
When you’ve finished your course, you’re guaranteed entry into a first or second-year undergraduate degree program at that university.
Direct pathways to university in Western Australia
Do you know which university you want to study at, but don't meet the requirements? The below pathway colleges offer direct pathways into their respective universities, providing the foundations you need for a successful university journey.
| University | Pathway College |
| The University of Western Australia | UWA College and UWA Centre for English Language Teaching |
| Curtin University | Curtin College |
| Edith Cowan University | Edith Cowan College |
| Murdoch University | Murdoch College |
Providers offering pathways to university in Western Australia
FAQs
Pathway courses are designed to help you get into university. If you want to study a course at a university but don’t meet the entry requirements, you can undertake a pathway course (called a bridging or foundation course) to help you reach the enrolment criteria successfully.
Each study pathway, institution, and course has its own entry requirements, which depend on several factors, including:
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Previous study (including results)
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Work experience
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English level
Use StudyPerth's Course Search tool to find the course that is right for you, and check the entry requirements on the institution’s website.
A pathway program is a foundation, diploma or English course that leads into a bachelor degree, usually with guaranteed or credited entry. StudyPerth's maps the pathway providers operating in Perth and the Western Australian universities each one articulates into.
A foundation program prepares students whose secondary qualification is not recognised for direct entry to an Australian bachelor degree, and it typically runs for eight to twelve months. StudyPerth's Course Search Tool lists the Perth providers delivering foundation studies and the Western Australian universities each one feeds into.
Often yes. A completed diploma can grant credit equivalent to the first year of a related bachelor degree, depending on the university and course. StudyPerth explains how articulation agreements work between Perth pathway providers and Western Australian universities.
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