Finding higher education courses

Find a course

You can find a course that’s right for you by searching and comparing options on the Course Seeker website.

Confirm the entry requirements, like ATAR or indicative fees, by contacting the university or higher education provider directly.

You can compare institutions and study areas based on student experiences on the ComparED website.

Apply for your course

If you’ve just finished year 12

You can apply through the Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) in your state or territory. Some students use their ATAR to gain entry, but this is not the only way.

Find out more about getting into higher education on the Study Assist website.

All other applicants

You can apply for courses directly with the higher education provider. Contact the provider for more information on eligibility and how to apply.

If you need to show proof of your past Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications, you can get your USI VET transcript.

Get a Unique Student Identifier (USI)

To apply to an Australian higher education provider, you need a USI. A USI is a student's personal education identifier. You need it for all nationally recognised study, including university and VET.

Find out how to create your USI on the USI website.

You need a USI to apply for higher education support, such as a Commonwealth supported place (CSPs) or a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan. Find out more about financial and study support on the Study Assist website.

Respond to offers

If you get an offer, you can choose to respond to it in any of these ways:

• Accept, to start the course on the date you applied for.
• Defer, to skip the next study period and start the course at a later time, where possible.
• Reject, to turn down the offer.

Enrol in a course

When you accept an offer, your provider will tell you how to enrol in your course.

There will be fees for your course. To cover the cost of the fees, eligible students may be able to get financial help while studying.

It’s important to complete your enrolment and apply for government fee assistance before the census date. Find out about loan deadlines on the Study Assist website.

Contact your provider for specific information about your enrolment, fees and the census date.

Scholarships

If you’re doing undergraduate or postgraduate study, there are many scholarships and grants for both Australian and international students, which can help with the costs of studying.

Many higher education providers offer scholarships to students. Contact your provider for more information.

You can also learn about Australian Government scholarships on the Study Assist website.