UniSA Foundation Studies
Non Standard
2025
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Non Standard
2025
TAFE/RTO: N/A
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The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
No formal minimum entry requirements apply.
Applicants who have not completed SACE or a Certificate III must be 18 years of age or over before:
Applicants who have previously studied at higher education level or completed a TAFE/VET award at Certificate IV or higher will not be considered for admission to this program.
This fee-free program (excluding SSAF) is also available at Mount Gambier, Whyalla and in external mode.
UniSA Foundation Studies is a six-month program aimed at students with no previous qualifications, or for school leavers without an ATAR, with the added bonus of being fee-free*.
You’ll get a great start to university life by learning the skills needed to study for your degree, including:
As a Foundation Studies student, you will take courses on campus or online and will have access to our full range of support services. Flexible study options are available, such as full-time or part-time and external (online) studies, depending on your course selection.
Upon successful completion, you can progress into an Undergraduate Certificate in University Studies or a Diploma with a chosen specialisation. From there, you can use your competitive grade point average (GPA) to apply for a UniSA bachelor's degree.
* You will be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee as determined by the Australian Government.
You will study core courses to develop your academic writing, communication, numeracy, research, and study skills – including how to write academic assignments, how to reference and effective time management. These skills and experiences will give you the right launchpad to navigate your future at university.
You will be fully supported when choosing courses within your program so that you are confident and ready to transition into either an Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma. You can book one-on-one appointments with the helpful UniSA College staff for enrolment/study support, or access individual Program Director appointments and consultations with academic staff in the UniSA College Common Room. You will also be taught by highly experienced academics from UniSA.
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.
Our campuses have advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll discover that your journey at UniSA is also about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. Depending on your campus, you’ll find student gyms, pools, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you’re keen to explore the social side of university life, there’s movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
I have a strong background in health sciences, with a focus in human health and more specifically human anatomy and physiology. Through teaching, I am passionate about sharing strategies to study effectively. As a program director of Foundation Studies I am grateful to be a part of providing an opportunity for so many students to experience and commence a journey in higher education. Within the role I am conscious of the challenges that students face when attempting to enter university study and to becoming a university student. Because I meet students from all walks of life, I am experienced and proud of the work I and the College do to support students as they navigate this journey and transition to becoming a successful university student.
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying.
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.