Getting into a UC degree
To study at UC, you’ll need to fulfil several entry requirements. All students need to meet our academic and English language requirements, and a set of inherent requirements which are specific to each course.
If you’re an international student, you’ll also need to satisfy the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement as part of your student visa application.
Entry requirements differ from course to course, but there are a few minimum conditions you should be aware of that apply to all courses.
Explore information on UC’s entry requirements below.
Academic requirements
All students studying at any level need to meet the minimum academic requirements for their UC course.
Before you apply, it’s a good idea to understand how we’ll assess your application and what minimum qualifications you might need, so you can increase your chance of receiving an offer to study at UC.
Learn more
English language requirements
Both local and international students also need to meet UC’s English language requirements.
Depending on your background and the study you’ve previously completed, you may meet our English language requirements already. If you don’t, you can take an English language test, like IELTS, to meet the required English level.
View English requirements for graduate research students
Learn more
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to achieve the learning outcomes of your degree. All students need to meet the minimum inherent requirements.
It’s important you review the requirements related to your course or study area before you apply, so you can consider whether you’ll be able to meet them or if you’ll need to make some adjustments.
Learn more
Genuine student requirements
If you’re an international student, you’ll need to apply for a student visa and meet the visa conditions that allow you to stay in Australia to study. One of these conditions is to satisfy the Genuine Student (GS) requirements as part of your application.
Learn more
Get to know the University of Canberra
Dynamic and vibrant, the University of Canberra (UC) is embedded deep in the soul of Canberra, the Australian capital. Canberra is a place where ideas are born, creativity is explored and opportunity is created.
Our home in Canberra and connection with our neighbouring communities shapes our purpose as a university. Whether it’s fostering innovation, meeting health-care needs, solving environmental challenges or equipping our future leaders, our University is an embodiment of our distinctive city. Canberra is a wonderful place to live, study and work – a safe, connected, multicultural city which boasts great scenery, excellent entertainment and sports venues, a buzzing food scene and a glittering galaxy of cultural institutions.
UC is a university for the professions, dedicated to providing immersive student experiences focussed on employability outcomes. As of November 2024, more than 18,000 students (11,800+ in undergraduate & 6,300+ in postgraduate) from across Australia and 100 countries study in our diverse community and vibrant campus.
We have been ranked in the top 7 universities in the world for reducing inequalities (THE Impact Rankings 2024), and 15th in Australia in the worldwide Times Higher Education Young Universities Rankings 2024. We are number one in Canberra for fulltime employment, skills development and student support (GUG, 2025). The University of Canberra is also ranked in the top 24% of universities worldwide, placing in the 401-500 band of the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. These are remarkable achievements for a young university only three decades in operation.
This success is in part due to our two-pronged focus, encompassing progressive teaching and learning, as well as strong ties to industry. The latter means that students enjoy real-world work experience, internships and clinical placements meaning UC students get a taste for their future careers, even before graduation.
The university is also devoted to trail-blazing innovation and research with practical impact, and home to leading research institute like the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE).
There are five faculties at UC, offering undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree by research (HDR) options.
As new developments continue to expand the campus one thing the University has maintained for over 30 years is its indomitable, distinctive character. Our location in Australia’s capital city has shaped the University as progressive and dynamic – dedicated to public service and building a sustainable and prosperous future. As a hub of learning, practical courses, innovative research and new opportunities, it will always be the University in, of and for Canberra
Our mission
As a university anchored in Australia’s capital, we work with government, business and industry to serve our communities and nation, and to be the capital’s educational window to the world. From this vantage point, we challenge the status quo in a relentless pursuit of original and better ways to teach, learn, research and add value – locally and internationally.
Our vision
Our long-standing excellence in mission-oriented research will be fostered and, together with a renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship, will be woven inextricably into the University’s educational experience.
Through a transformative campus development plan, the University will evolve into a distinctive community for lifelong learning, and serve as a beacon of sustainable, smart and connected living.
We will lead the sector nationally in equity, diversity, inclusion and access.
Our commitment
Connected is a decadal strategy that sets out the long-term ambitions and objectives for the University of Canberra. At its core is an explicit commitment to our staff and students, to our place in Canberra and the region.
Ambition
We are the university for Australia’s capital region. We will be the most accessible university in Australian and a global leader in driving equality of opportunity.
Our ambition to be the most accessible university in Australia is strongly connected to our values and reason for being. We have enabled a diverse range of students to overcome their first hurdle of entering university, and we will continue to prioritise this ambition. With two in five of our undergraduate students being first in their family to attend university, we are not only raising ambitions, we are transforming lives. We have a strong track record in graduate employability and our leadership in work integrated learning demonstrates our ongoing commitment to building career pathways.
Approach
We have rejuvenated our approach to defining and realising the bold ambitions of UC. With renewed energy and clarity, we are embracing agility and responsiveness – adapting to evolving stakeholder needs and a dynamic external landscape – while remaining steadfast in our commitment to equality of opportunity.
Campus locations
UC is far reaching
In addition to our Bruce campus in Canberra, a University of Canberra degree can be studied in Sydney, and in multiple locations in Queensland or internationally in China, Vietnam, India and Bhutan. Our courses are designed to combine theoretical knowledge, industry needs, work-readiness and practical learning to ensure our graduates are equipped with the skills employers demand.
Domestically, the University of Canberra has established a network of locations through our partners across Eastern Australia. The network is designed to bring the best of vocational and higher education study together to provide students with access to select courses in a variety of locations.
Discover UC beyond Canberra:
- Queensland
- TAFE Queensland Brisbane (South Bank)
- TAFE Queensland Brisbane (Mount Gravatt)
- Sydney
- University of Canberra Sydney Hills campus (Castle Hill)
- TAFE NSW Northern Sydney (RTO)
- International
- The University of Canberra works with our overseas partners to provide degrees and qualifications that are respected and recognised internationally
International tuition fees
If you’re an international student, you’re required to pay your tuition fees upfront and in full at the beginning of each semester.
The amount you pay depends on the degree you’re studying and, as stated in your offer to study, is subject to annual indexation and review. You also need to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and cover your living costs while studying in Canberra.
How course costs add up
Tuition fees for international students are reviewed each year. The fees are based on a full-time study load.
If you’re an international student wishing to study a higher degree by research, please explore our research course fees.
How unit costs add up
As an international student, you pay for your course annually. If you want to see how much an individual unit costs, you can break down the fees.
Each unit’s credit point value varies in terms of what it contributes to your degree, and so too does its cost. Units with higher credit point values equate to a higher percentage of your overall study load, amounting to higher tuition fees.
Working out the Equivalent Full-Time Study Load (EFTSL) a particular unit contributes towards your degree helps to determine its cost.
Follow this step-by-step guide to work out the approximate costs of individual units.
Step 1: Search for the course you want to study, taking note of the international annual tuition fee.
Step 2: Search for the unit you want to study, taking note of the EFTSL. You can also find units relevant to a particular course by looking at the study pattern on the course details page.
Step 3: Multiply the EFTSL by the annual tuition fee to get the approximate cost of a unit – for example, 0.125 x $8,400 AUD = $1,050 AUD.
Search for your course to determine the full-time length of study and the credit point value of each unit.
Find a course now
Cross-institutional, non-award and study abroad fees
If you study a unit at UC but aren’t enrolled in a degree – as is the case with non-award, cross-institutional study and study abroad programs – you’ll need to pay your fees upfront and in full.
Follow this step-by-step guide to work out the approximate costs of individual units as a non-award student.
Step 1: Search for the unit you want to study, taking note of the EFTSL.
Step 2: Calculate the approximate unit cost by multiplying the EFTSL by the relevant annual international non-award fee below – for example, 0.125 x $17,000 AUD = $2,125 AUD.
The 2026 annual international non-award fees are:
- $23,500 for standard non-award programs for international students
- $21,500 for a non-award program for study abroad students.
These fees are reviewed each year.
Diplomats and dependents
The Australian Government requires diplomats and their dependants living in Australia to pay international student tuition fees when enrolling at university. The University of Canberra values the presence of the diplomatic community among its students and acknowledges that some may find the full international student tuition fees unaffordable. Therefore, the University offers a tuition fee concession for students on a Diplomatic (Temporary) Visa – Visa Class 995.
The Tuition Fee Concession for Diplomats and Their Dependents Policy applies to all eligible diplomats studying at the University of Canberra (UC) or at the University of Canberra College (UCC).
Students not eligible for a diplomatic tuition fee concession are required to pay the standard international student tuition fee rates.
To be eligible for a tuition fee concession, a student must meet all the following:
- Be enrolled in a University of Canberra College course or University of Canberra award course
- Live in the Australian Capital Territory or its immediate surrounds
- Be the holder of a Diplomatic (subclass995) visa
- Not already hold an award recognised by the Australian Government as the equivalent of, or higher AQF level than the award being sought from the University of Canberra (international qualifications will be assessed for Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalency using the Australian Government Country Education Profiles database)
- Not be a citizen of New Zealand.
View our diplomat tuition fees
International scholarship for Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam students
WELCOME TO UCC SCHOLARSHIP
Accept your offer to commence studying UCC International Foundation Studies or Diploma programs in Trimester 2 or Semester 2 of 2025, Trimester 3 of 2025 and Trimester 1 or Semester 1 of 2026, you will be eligible for the Welcome to UCC scholarship:
- International Foundations Studies – 15% off the tuition fee
- Diploma Programs – 15% off the tuition fee
- Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations (GCAF) – $2,000 off the tuition fee
UCC PROGRESSION SCHOLARSHIP UP TO 30%
This scholarship will only be awarded to students who have not received a scholarship for the UC component of a UCC-UC packaged offer (International Foundation/Diploma to Bachelor or GCAF to Master) already:
- University of Canberra Merit Scholarship – 10% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 - University of Canberra Excellence Scholarship – 30% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.5/7.0
International scholarship for China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Korea and Mongolia students
WELCOME TO UCC SCHOLARSHIP
Accept your offer to commence studying UCC International Foundation Studies or Diploma programs in Trimester 2 or Semester 2 of 2025, Trimester 3 of 2025 and Trimester 1 or Semester 1 of 2026, you will be eligible for the Welcome to UCC scholarship:
- International Foundations Studies – $4,000 off the tuition fee
- Diploma Programs – $4,000 off the tuition fee
- Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations – $2,500 off the tuition fee
UCC PROGRESSION SCHOLARSHIP UP TO 30%
This scholarship will only be awarded to students who have not received a scholarship for the UC component of a UCC-UC packaged offer (International Foundation/Diploma to Bachelor or GCAF to Master) already:
- University of Canberra Merit Scholarship – 10% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 - University of Canberra Excellence Scholarship – 30% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.5/7.0
International Scholarship for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines students
WELCOME TO UCC SCHOLARSHIP
Accept your offer to commence studying UCC International Foundation Studies or Diploma programs in Trimester 2 or Semester 2 of 2025, Trimester 3 of 2025 and Trimester 1 or Semester 1 of 2026, you will be eligible for the Welcome to UCC scholarship:
- International Foundations Studies – 15% off the tuition fee
- Diploma Programs – 15% off the tuition fee
UCC PROGRESSION SCHOLARSHIP – UP TO 30% OFF THE TUITION FEE
This scholarship will only be awarded to students who have not received a scholarship for the UC component of a UCC-UC packaged offer (International Foundation/Diploma to Bachelor or GCAF to Master) already:
- University of Canberra Merit Scholarship – 10% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 - University of Canberra Excellence Scholarship – 30% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.5
International scholarship for South Aisa students
For international students who are citizens of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, the scholarship package includes:
WELCOME TO UCC SCHOLARSHIP
Accept your offer to commence studying UCC International Foundation Studies or Diploma programs in Trimester 2 or Semester 2 of 2025, Trimester 3 of 2025 and Trimester 1 or Semester 1 of 2026, you will be eligible for the Welcome to UCC scholarship:
- International Foundations Studies – 15% off the tuition fee
- Diploma Programs – 15% off the tuition fee
- Graduate Certificate in Academic Foundations (GCAF) – $2,000 off the tuition fee
UCC PROGRESSION SCHOLARSHIP UP TO 30%
This scholarship will only be awarded to students who have not received a scholarship for the UC component of a UCC-UC packaged offer (International Foundation/Diploma to Bachelor or GCAF to Master) already:
- University of Canberra Merit Scholarship – 10% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.0/7.0 - University of Canberra Excellence Scholarship – 30% off annual tuition fees:
Successful completion of UCC International Foundation Studies, Diplomas, or GCAF program with a GPA of 5.5/7.0
ELICOS scholarship
15% scholarship on ELICOS weekly rate for international students when packaged with a UC Colleges and/or University of Canberra academic programs.
- Scholarship available for all intakes in 2025.
- Sponsored or diplomatic students are excluded.
Terms and conditions
- Scholarship amounts are shown in Australian Dollars (AUD).
- Welcome to UCC Scholarship will be applied as a credit to the applicant’s account in the second study period.
- Scholarship will be applied to international students applying for the course from onshore and offshore.
- Students must remain enrolled until Friday week 4 of class (after census date) of the second trimester or semester to be eligible. (Diploma and International Foundation Studies). Students must remain enrolled until Friday week 4 of class (after census date) of the first semester to be eligible. (GCAF)
- Limited places available: scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis.
- Sponsored or diplomatic students are not eligible.
- Academic program is either a University of Canberra degree program, UCC International Foundation Studies, UCC Diploma, or UCC GCAF.
- Scholarships are subject to change or may be discontinued without prior notice.
1. Where can I find detailed information about my specific course of interest?
Use our Find a Course page to look up specific courses. If you’re not sure what course you’re looking for, you can expand your search and check out what disciplines or fields of study UC has, before narrowing down your choices.
2. What are the academic and English proficiency prerequisites for admission?
The specific academic requirements vary for each course at UC. The Find a Course tool will help you find the specific entry information for your preferred course.
You must meet the minimum English requirements for your course. To demonstrate your English proficiency, you will need to have completed previous study in Australia or another English-speaking country, prior study at a recognised institution or in a recognised qualification, or an English test.
Find out more about the English requirements of your chosen course in the international tab on the Find a Course page.
3. How do I apply for a course?
Once you have chosen your preferred course and checked that you meet the entry requirements, it’s time to put your application together. It’s easy to organise and then submit your application through our UC application portal.
As part of your application, you may need to provide supporting documents, such as certificates or transcripts from previous study, subject details of previous study, English test results or evidence of professional experience.
As an international student, you may have applied to UC through an agent. They should be your first contact if you have questions about the application process, and they will be able to help you organise your supporting documents.
4. What are important deadlines to know?
Check out our Key Dates page to keep track of the important dates for your application and commencement of your degree.
5. Are there alternative admission pathways?
Yes! UC offers a range of alternative admission pathways for students, including the school recommendation, accelerated pathways, special consideration, portfolio entry and early offer schemes.
If you don’t quite meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, UC College offers a range of pathways programs to help you get to where you want to be.
6. How much will my degree cost?
Tuition fees will vary depending on the specific units of study as well as your overall degree, and also whether you are a domestic student or international student.
As well as course fees, you need to factor in your living costs and additional study costs such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee, on-campus parking, printing and photocopying, textbooks or other reference materials, digital devices and associated software, uniforms or personal safety equipment and any costs associated with training and checks for internships and placements.
As an international student, you’ll also need to consider the costs of obtaining a student visa.
7. Can I get a scholarship?
UC offers a broad range of scholarships to support you as an international student to complete your dream degree. Every year, UC awards over 100 scholarships and bursaries to assist with tuition fees, accommodation, living costs and study equipment.
Many scholarships are awarded to high-achieving students, but we also support disadvantaged students. There are also some subject-specific or course-specific scholarships.
8. Is there on-campus accommodation?
UC offers several accommodation options for our students. One great option is our student housing provided through UniLodge. UC offers over 2,500 beds across 4 different locations. Room rates start at $195.50 (inclusive of utilities) per week for a room in a shared apartment.
As part of your application, you can opt for no-alcohol rooms and apartments, or LGBTQIA+ spaces.
To give you peace of mind at the start of your study journey, UC guarantees accommodation for all new or continuing international students. You can express your interest in this guarantee when you apply for your course.
9. Who do I contact for help?
Absolutely! If you want any further clarification or information about studying at UC, get in touch with us today to find out more.
