Year 12 Uni Toolkit
Finishing high school is an exciting time, and we are here to help you plan your next steps and explore your study options.
Our Year 12 Uni Toolkit is the essential guide to what you need to know about going to uni and how to prepare.
NOT SURE WHAT TO STUDY?
Not everyone knows exactly what to study after finishing school, so we have put together some tips to help you work out what is best for you.
CAREER INSIGHTS
We understand knowing what you want to study is not always an easy decision and sometimes it's easier to start your search by looking at what motivates you. Check out our Career Insights page to explore motivations from CQUni's current students and what courses they went on to study.
BOOK A CONVERSATION
Book an one-on-one conversation via videoconference, phone, or Facebook messenger, and we will be in touch at a time that suits you to talk through your options.
COURSES
Ready to explore? View the wide range of courses available to study.
GETTING INTO UNIVERSITY
At CQUniversity, we believe higher education should be for everyone and offer a range of entry pathways to our courses.
Many courses have entry requirements that may include a minimum entry score such as an ATAR or selection rank to be considered for a place, prerequisites or other additional requirements like English language proficiency.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for your course of interest, you might like to consider an alternative entry pathway such as
- Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS), an ideal option if you need to meet prerequisites or would like additional support to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully undertake further study.
- Principal's Recommendation Scheme, allows you to apply for most CQUni courses and receive an unconditional offer, based on the recommendation of your school Principal, rather than an ATAR.
- Entry Pathways CQUniversity offers several entry pathway options for high school students. This document explains each pathway option so you can decide which might be best suited to you.
ALTERNATE ENTRY PATHWAYS
WHAT IS AN ATAR?
FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
A large part of the costs involved with university study will be your course fees, and if you are studying a university course and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your course fees are referred to as a student contribution.
Other study costs include the Student Services and Amenities Fee, and depending on the course you are studying, you may need to pay for textbooks, clinical placement fees or material like lab coats or safety equipment.
Wondering about your options to pay for your study?
If you are applying for a university course, HECS-HELP is a loan scheme provided by the Australian Government to help eligible Commonwealth supported students pay their student contributions through a loan and can be used to pay for all or some of your student contribution amount.
Scholarships are also a great way to help offset some of the costs of study. With a wide range of scholarships available now is a great time to explore and get started on a scholarship application.
SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HECS-HELP
THE CQUNI EXPERIENCE
Your time at CQUniversity is not just about classes, assignments and exams. As a CQUni student, you will have a variety of opportunities designed to enhance and individualise your student experience.
If you are interested in living on campus, check out our student accommodation options in Mackay and Rockhampton. You can also explore exchange programs, and the range of student clubs, groups and societies.
EXPERIENCE CQUNI
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can find all of CQUniversity’s course options using our course finder. The search tool also allows you to filter by location, study area and study mode.
At university the friendships and connections that you make will be lifelong, and joining a club is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people who share similar interests and goals. Check out our Clubs, Groups and Societies to see what you could be a part of.
At CQUni, many of our courses include practical placements and work-integrated-learning components to ensure you graduate work ready. This will vary from course to course.
If your course incorporates a placement, these are great opportunities that allow you put into practice what you have learnt in class in a real-life setting. Placement times vary depending on the course.
Work integrated learning comprises of work placements, internships, professional experience, voluntary community work, simulated workplace experiences or university-based projects in your field of study. Depending on the course you are studying, you may have opportunities to participate in work-integrated-learning activities allowing you to gain practical skills and enhance your employability.
CQUGlobal Outbound allows CQUni students to study abroad in over 30 countries. Experience a different lifestyle, culture and environment while earning credit toward your degree without lengthening the duration of your study. We have global outbound programs to suit everyone. You could spend two to four weeks abroad or even one to two terms
Our Outbound program will give you the opportunity to learn a new language, improve self-confidence, travel and make lifelong friends. You can also apply for travel subsidies through CQUni; so studying overseas is more affordable than you may think.
It can be hard to know what career is right for you if you haven’t yet experienced working in your desired field. Some things you can do is to talk to people who work in the field you’re interested in to get a clear understanding of the type of work that they do and what they enjoy about their work. Alternatively, you could contact some organisations in that field and ask to volunteer to gain work experience – this is a great way to assess whether you see yourself in that role in the future.
It’s also a good idea to research as much as you can about your desired field of work - there’s lots of information online that you may find helpful. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our CQUni Careers Prospective Student info.
You might also consider talking with someone from your school such as school career counsellor or guidance officer for their input on career options. Or, connect with our CQUni team at an upcoming event or career expo – view our school activities.
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a score used to assess and compare the results of graduating high school students. An ATAR will be the new standard pathway used to meet entry requirements for tertiary study. An ATAR score is a measure of your overall position (your rank position) relative to all other students and is represented by numbers ranging from 0 (lowest) to 99.95 (highest). ATARs less than 30.00 will be noted as ’30 and below.’
Along with your ATAR, you will receive a Certificate of Education, provided you meet certificate requirements. Your Certificate of Education certifies that you have completed your senior secondary schooling.
If you are graduating year 12 in 2020, you will receive an ATAR. If you are applying to study a university course, your ATAR will be used to meet entry requirements. You will also need to meet any required course thresholds, pre-requisites and any other entry requirements as required for your course of interest.
The Higher Education Contribution Scheme or HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that helps eligible Commonwealth supported students pay their student contributions while they study at uni. Eligible students receive a subsidy from the Government which allows them to pay for student contributions instead of Tuition Fees. Visit our Fees and Charges page for more information.
To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place and be either an Australian citizen, New Zealand special category visa holder or a permanent humanitarian visa holder who will undertake studies in Australia. Find out if you’re eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
HECS-HELP covers your student contributions for the duration of your studies. HECS-HELP does not cover things like textbooks, uniforms, accommodation etc. If you need assistance in covering these additional costs, check out our range of scholarships.
HECS-HELP loan repayments start once you’re earning $45,881* and over. To find out more information about repaying a HECS-HELP loan including the current compulsory repayment threshold and how much your repayments would be, visit the Australian Government Study Assist website.
* This is the compulsory repayment threshold for the 2019-20 income year. The HECS-HELP compulsory repayment threshold is subject to change each year.
Yes, if you don’t want to wait or would like to reduce the balance of your debt before earning over the income threshold, you can make voluntary repayments to the Australian Taxation Office.
For 2020, the combined HELP loan limit will be $106,319* for most courses and certain aviation course are also eligible for a higher limit. For more information visit the Australian Government Study Assist website.
*The HELP loan limit is subject to change.
A common misconception is that only high achieving students are awarded scholarships. This is not the case. CQUniversity offers a range of scholarships and bursaries tailored to meet the diverse needs and circumstances of our students.
Everyone!
CQUniversity offers a range of scholarships and bursaries tailored to meet the diverse needs and circumstances of our students.
Students enrolled in courses that require the purchase of specific equipment, require periods of unpaid compulsory industry/field placements or students studying by distance who are required to travel to attend residential schools are strongly encouraged to apply for a scholarship to assist with these costs.
Scholarships can also assist students to balance their employment/family responsibilities/study loads, taking some pressure off the finances and allowing more time to focus on their studies.
Visit our CQUniversity Scholarship Website to explore all offered scholarships. Each scholarship contains detail on how to apply.
You are encouraged to apply for scholarships at least twice per year – prior to both Term 1 and 2. If previous applications have been unsuccessful, have another go!
Term 1 Scholarships generally begin opening in October of the year prior and close in January.
Term 2 Scholarships have a considerably shorter application period, generally opening in early May and closing in early June.
For future prospective students, closing dates may occur before you have been offered a place of study with CQUniversity. These students can apply online as soon as scholarship applications open using the prospect application form.
Visit our CQUniversity Scholarship Website for all scholarship open and close dates.
You are only required to complete one generic online scholarship application form. CQUniversity will assess your eligibility for any CQUniversity scholarships available in the upcoming term.
Students do not need to apply for specific CQUniversity scholarships separately.