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Key facts

Domestic students course information. This course is currently not available to international students.

Entry requirements

Entry is based on school principal recommendation if enrolled in a registered secondary school, or registration for secondary home schooling. If aged under 17, parent/guardian consent is required.

View full entry requirements
Duration
  • 1 trimester part-time
  • 1 year part-time
Fees
  • Commonwealth Supported Place
View more fees information
Start Dates and Campus
Trimester 1 – February 2027Trimester 2 – June 2027Trimester 3 – October 2027
Online OfferedOfferedOffered
Armidale Campus Not OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered
Sydney Campus Not OfferedNot OfferedNot Offered

View 2026 course information

Course information

Download course brochure
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Prepare for your future with the HSC University Pathways course, a unique study opportunity designed specifically for high-achieving New South Wales high school students. Starting university study early not only supplements your HSC education, but also provides advanced standing into a university course of your choice.

At UNE, the HSC University Pathways course is uniquely offered as a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), meaning that if your student or child is an eligible domestic student, they may defer tuition through HECS-HELP. Taking this step into early university study at UNE is a fantastic academic opportunity that we are proud to make more accessible.

Why study the HSC University Pathways course with UNE?
This course is designed with an emphasis on real-world learning that prepares high school students to successfully learn and prepare for further university study. You can choose to complete 1-2 units, with the units on offer featuring in a number of the most popular UNE degree courses. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Bachelor of Arts (including Law and Teaching variants)
  • Bachelor of Criminology
  • Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice
  • Bachelor of Languages
  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Bachelor of Media and Communication
  • Bachelor of Music
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science
  • Bachelor of Science (including Law and Teaching variants)
  • Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science have many other associated degrees that also include these units. We recommend that yourself, your parents/caregivers and your school advisors contact our friendly Future Students team to explore which units are appropriate for entry into which degrees.

What makes our course different?
This program is designed with an emphasis on real-world learning that prepares high school students to successfully learn and prepare for further university study. Choose the program to:

  • Undertake 1-2 university unit/s to supplement your HSC education and can provide advanced standing into a university course of your choice.
  • Benefit from the program’s offering as a CSP, meaning that if you are an eligible domestic student you can enjoy a reduced unit cost, and defer your tuition fees through HECS-HELP.
  • Select from a range of individual unit options across a variety of discipline areas.
  • Learn from experienced professionals and internationally regarded researchers.
  • Experience the high level of teaching and support that has earned UNE a consistent five-star rating in the Good Universities Guide.
  • Pace your learning to suit your other high school commitments, with most subjects available to study fully online.

UNE is consistently ranked as one of Australia’s top-rated providers of online education. Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide, so when you choose to study with us, you are in very good hands.

How to apply

  1. Download the HSC University Pathways Entry Form.
  2. Write your Education Standards Authority number and name at the top of each page. Fill in Part A of the form.
  3. Gather together any supporting documentation required for your application.
  4. Deliver your form to your Principal (or whoever is responsible for them at your school, such as your Careers Advisor).
  5. Relax while your school completes Part B of the form and submits it to UNE on your behalf.
  6. You will get an email advising you that your HSC University Pathways application has been received by UNE.
  7. UNE will review the application, and you will be emailed the outcome.
  8. If successful, you can accept your offer of admission directly through UNE.

Entry requirements

You can apply for this course if you meet all of the following entry requirements:

  • You are a student in a registered secondary school or are currently registered for home schooling;
  • If you are aged under 17 years of age you have the consent of your parent/guardian; and
  • If you are enrolled in a registered school, you have been recommended by the school Principal.

If you meet the above entry requirements, you will be eligible for admission into the HSC University Pathways course.

Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.

These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.

English Language Requirements

When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.

Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.

Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:

A completed HSC University Pathways Entry form. Please fill in Part A of this form and deliver it to your Principal (or whoever is responsible for them at your school, such as your Careers Advisor). Your school will fill out Part B and submit this form to UNE on your behalf.

Step by step to applying:

Step One:

Download the HSC University Pathways Entry Form.

Step Two:

Write your NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) number and name at the top of each page. Fill in Part A of the form.

Step Three:

Gather together any additional documentation required for your application.

Step Four:

Deliver your form to your Principal (or whoever is responsible for them at your school, such as your Careers Advisor).

Step Five:

Relax while your school completes Part B of the form and submits it to UNE on your behalf.

Step Six:

You will get an email advising you that your HSC Pathways application has been received by UNE.

Step Seven:

UNE will review the application, and you will be emailed the outcome.

Step Eight:

If successful, you accept your offer of admission directly through UNE.

Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.

Advanced Standing is not applicable for this course.

Course structure

Complete one or two units from the following:
For students interested in pursuing studies in Education and Teaching degrees
For students interesting pursuing studies in the Humanities, Arts and Social Science - these units are available in a wide range of university degrees.
For students interesting pursuing studies in Business and Law these units are available in a wide range of university degrees.
For students interesting pursuing studies in Science and Agriculutre these units are available in a wide range of university degrees.
For students interested in pursuing studies in Health degrees.

See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.

Fees and scholarships

How much will it cost?

The costs will depend on the units you choose to study as the cost of individual units vary each unit has its own costs. For more information, please see fees and costs.

Your career

Career outcomes

Whatever you want to learn, the flexibility of the HSC University Pathways Program gives you a head start on a university degree in areas such as:

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Psychology or Social Science
  • Law
  • Education, and Health
  • Science and Technology
  • Biology and Chemistry
Other career information

You can potentially receive advanced standing for the unit in a UNE course. Advice should be sought from the Career Support team at UNE in consultation with your school Careers Advisor.

Excellence in experience, equity and employability

2026 Overall Experience

Five Stars,
20 Years in a Row

UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 20 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience.

Good Universities Guide 2007-2026
2026 Social Equality

Five Stars for
Social Equity

UNE rates among the top 20% of universities nationally and is #1 in NSW for Social Equity.

Good Universities Guide 2026
2026 Graduate Employment

Five Stars for
Graduate Employment

UNE rates among the top 20% of universities for Graduate Full-Time Employment and Starting Salary.

Good Universities Guide 2026 (Undergraduate)
2026 Diamond-Rated Digital Learning

Diamond-Rated Digital Learning

UNE’s leadership in digital learning earned the highest ‘Diamond’ rating in a peer review.

ASCILITE TELAS 2025
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Studying online

At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.

We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*

*The Good Universities Guide

Find out how online study works

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Why study with us?

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I chose UNE because I had heard from previous cohorts that it is structured well and one of the best for online learning.

Daina Sinozic
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The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.