Study After SUN
As a SUN student, you may be eligible to apply for direct entry into a number of our undergraduate courses at the end of your high school studies.
Direct entry means you can apply directly to CQU via an online application system, rather than through a Tertiary Admissions Centre (e.g. QTAC).
Applying via a Tertiary Admissions Centre
You can still apply through the relevant Tertiary Admissions Centre to keep your options open, particularly if you are not 100% sure about the path you want to follow after graduating high school (this is a completely normal feeling by the way!).
You will be prompted to apply for direct entry from mid-year 12. Although you will be required to supply evidence of successful completion of Year 12, you can still receive a conditional offer from our Admissions team subject to final requirements being met.
Direct Entry Process
Direct entry applications are received directly by our Admissions Team and are assessed against the eligibility criteria listed below.
For the majority of courses, your ATAR is not taken into account as part of the direct entry process. See the ‘What courses are not eligible for direct entry’ section below for more information.
If you have any questions regarding the direct entry process, please contact the SUN Team via sun@cqu.edu.au or 13 27 86.
Note: The direct entry process is governed by the Admission to CQUniversity Coursework Courses Policy and Procedure. Entry requirements into individual degree courses apply, including specific course application cut-off dates. Minimum age requirements may also apply as per our undergraduate admissions processes.
Application timelines
If you're applying directly to CQU, applications for courses starting in Term 1, 2025, open on 1 August 2024.
To be eligible for direct entry into your chosen CQUniversity Bachelor course, you must:
- Have received a minimum pass grade in your SUN unit/s to date (units completed must form part of the course structure for your desired course in the academic year you are applying for);
- Provide evidence of completion of Year 12 studies (or equivalent); and
- Receive your State Certificate of Education (e.g. QCE or CQUni approved equivalent qualifications for non-QCE or intrastate students) and Senior Statement at the end of your Year 12 studies.
Students who are ineligible for their State’s Approved Certificate of Education (including but not limited to students who undertake home schooling, IB, ACE or other non-standard curriculum programs) are encouraged to apply for entry into their chosen course via their state’s Tertiary Admissions Centre.
Students will not be eligible for direct entry without meeting the above requirements.
Courses that are excluded and therefore not open for application via SUN direct entry are listed below. If you are interested in applying for entry into any of these degrees, you will be required to do so via your Tertiary Admissions Centre (e.g. QTAC) and your ATAR will be essential.
- Bachelor of Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology/Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography (CV69)
- Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography (CG91)
- Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) (CM17)
- Bachelor of Medical Imaging (CG92)
- Diploma of Nursing (HLT54115)
- Bachelor of Oral Health (CB29)
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (CB85)
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) (CB84)
Graduate Entry Courses
These courses require you to have completed a degree already to gain entry and therefore are not available to study via SUN.
- Bachelor of Science (Honours) (CG84)
- Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (CF59)
- Note: this course is a graduate entry course. Students can still apply for the Bachelor of Psychological Science (CC43) via SUN direct entry.
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (CA44)
- Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) (CM16)
- Bachelor of Emergency Services (CC60)
CL91 - Bachelor of Nursing
If you are applying for the Bachelor of Nursing, you will need to complete an additional declaration in relation to English language requirements and upload with your application.
If you are an international student, you will also need to meet English language proficiency requirements.
CC14 - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood); CC12 - Bachelor of Education (Primary); CC13 - Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
If you are applying for any of our Bachelor of Education degrees, you will also need to meet pre-requisite requirements and non-academic entry requirements. These additional requirements include demonstrating that you have key competencies as outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as those attributes, and motivations common to effective teachers. Due to these additional entry requirements, conditional offers only can be made for these courses.
If you are an international student, you will also need to meet English language proficiency requirements.
CC41 - Diploma of Music; CG51 - Bachelor of Music; CG72 - Bachelor of Theatre
If you are applying for the Diploma of Music, the Bachelor of Music, or the Bachelor of Theatre you will also need to meet non-academic entry requirements and complete an audition. Once you have submitted your application, please register for an audition. Due to these additional entry requirements, conditional offers only can be made for these courses.
CC31 - Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
If you are applying for Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), you will also need to meet pre-requisite requirements. Please visit the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) course page for details regarding pre-requisites for this course.
CG95 Bachelor of Paramedic Science
If you are applying for the Bachelor of Paramedic Science, you will also need to meet pre-requisite requirements. Please visit the Bachelor of Paramedic Science course page for details regarding pre-requisites for this course.
English Language Proficiency for International Students
If you are an international student the following courses require you to meet English language proficiency requirements.
- CL29 - Bachelor of Aviation (Commercial Pilot)
- CC14 - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
- CC12 - Bachelor of Education (Primary)
- CC13 - Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
- CG85 - Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences
- CL91 - Bachelor of Nursing
- CB84 - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
- CB86 - Bachelor of Podiatry Practice (Honours)
- CQ26 - Bachelor of Occupational Health and Safety
- CB77 - Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic)
- CB87 - Bachelor of Speech Pathology
If you are studying, or have studied with CQU via SUN, you will already know about our community, support services, and resources available for students. Our support services and resources remain available to you throughout your studies and are designed to assist you in achieving your academic and personal goals.
We offer you the choice to study what, where, when, and how you like. We have campuses and study locations across the nation, and an extensive range of courses, many of which are available online, you have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your lifestyle and commitments.
And by studying via SUN, you have the opportunity to apply to gain credit for any units you have completed through SUN, towards your degree. This means that you can reduce the number of units you need to study post-high school.
Visit our Why Choose CQU page to read more about some of the amazing feats we have achieved.
- Visit our Student Handbook;
- Type in the name of the course you are applying for into the search bar (i.e. Bachelor of Nursing);
- The course will appear in the search results;
- Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button next to the relevant result;
- Follow the prompts throughout the online application process;
- When you get to the 'Choose your term and location' section, click on the arrow under the relevant campus/term/year of entry; and
- Complete the application process as prompted and supply supporting documentation as requested.
