How do you find out what courses are available and where?
And how do you choose from the thousands of courses and qualifications offered in Queensland and interstate?
Deciding on a course and provider
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Choosing what and where to study is a big decision and there are lots of things to consider:
- Fees: The course cost may influence what and where you study. You can get an estimate of a course's first year study costs by using QTAC's Course Search.
- Requirements: Each course and institution has its own entry requirements. Your ability to meet these may determine where you study.
- Reputation: A course's reputation is another important factor. To find out how well a course is regarded, you could talk to current students and staff at a careers expo or open day.
- campus location: It's a good idea to know how far you'll have to travel and whether studying at a particular institution will mean a move out of home.
Useful websites
- Good Universities Guide helps you find courses, explore careers, and search for scholarships at Australian universities, TAFEs and training colleges.
- myfuture lets you search for courses and training opportunities at universities, TAFEs and private providers across Australia.
- myskills provides information about VET and connects students and employers with training organisations across Australia.
- QTAC lets you search for courses in Queensland, northern New South Wales and Tasmania and shortlist courses of interest.
- TAFE Queensland lets you search for TAFE Queensland courses by study area or region.
Applying for a course
Depending on where you study, there may be different methods to apply:
You need to apply to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for the majority of undergraduate courses offered by Queensland universities, TAFE Queensland, the Australian Maritime College, some courses at universities in northern New South Wales and some private tertiary education providers.
For all other further education and training courses in Queensland, you need to apply directly to the relevant education and training provider.
If the tertiary course you are interested in is offered by an interstate provider affiliated with a tertiary admission centre, you will need to apply through that centre. For all other interstate courses, you should apply directly to the relevant provider.
Interstate tertiary admission centres:
- University Admission Centre (UAC) for courses in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.
- Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) courses in Victoria.
- South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) for courses in South Australia and Northern Territory.
- Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) for courses in Western Australia.
If you are interested in studying overseas, visit our gap year and international study page.
Tertiary institutions select applicants for courses based on a range of requirements. These include prerequisites such as school subjects, auditions, portfolios and interviews as well as your ATAR. Make sure you take note of any extra entry requirements and their due dates to ensure you don't miss out on a place in your preferred course.
Paying for your studies
Further education and training can be expensive.
Study costs include course fees, and textbooks and other course materials. And if you're moving out of home, you may also have accommodation and travel costs to consider.
The good news is that there is financial assistance available:
The Australian Government administers the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), which consists of five loans schemes to assist students with the cost of their fees.
These include:
- HECS-HELP
- FEE-HELP
- OS-HELP
- SA-HELP
- VET FEE-HELP.
The right loan for you will depend on your circumstances, eligibility and where you want to study. For example, if you are studying at university or at an approved private higher education provider you will be offered either a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or a fee-paying place. If you are studying at an approved VET provider you will be enrolled as either a state-subsidised student or fee-paying student. For more information, visit the Study Assist website.
The Australian Government provides financial support to help students with the costs of further education and training:
- ABSTUDY provides financial help to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who are studying or undertaking an Australian apprenticeship.
- Austudy provides financial help to full-time students and Australian apprentices who are 25 years or older.
- Youth Allowance provides financial help for people 16 to 24 years of age who are studying full time, undertaking a full-time Australian apprenticeship, training, looking for work or sick.
- The Education Entry Payment helps students or trainees who get specific income support payments with the cost of study.
- Relocation Scholarships help certain students in higher education who are required to live away from their family home while studying.
- Student Start-up Loan help eligible higher education students with the upfront cost of study.
There are also payments available to help with travel and living expenses:
- The Fares Allowance assists with a trip between your university and home if you are a student and you have to live away from home to study.
- Rent Assistance gives extra financial help to people who pay rent and receive an income support payment.
- Low Income Health Care Cards give low-income earners access to cheaper prescription medicines and various concessions from government and private organisations.
You can search for payments that may best suit your circumstances using the Payment finder on the Department of Human Services website. You may also find the online estimator useful. It lets you estimate or compare payments on your current or proposed circumstances.
To support Year 12 graduates into work, the Queensland Government offers free training in high priority areas.
School leavers can kick start their careers by learning skills employers want, without the financial burden of student contribution fees.
Eligible Year 12 graduates must enrol and start training in a high priority qualification within the calendar year after leaving school to take advantage of this great opportunity.
Most universities, TAFE Queensland, and some private businesses, government organisations, professional associations and industry groups offer scholarships to help students pay for study costs.
A scholarship can help with your course fees, text books, accommodation costs and living expenses.
Scholarships are not just for high academic achievers. Scholarship categories include:
- scholarships for women
- scholarships for Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students
- scholarships for specific fields of study
- scholarships for students experiencing financial hardship or relocating for study
- sporting scholarships.
The following websites contain information about scholarships at Queensland universities and TAFE Queensland.
- Australian Catholic University
- Bond University
- CQUniversity
- Griffith University
- James Cook University
- Queensland University of Technology
- The University of Queensland
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Sunshine Coast
- TAFE Queensland
You can also search for scholarships on the myfuture website or contact tertiary providers directly.