Central Coast students planning to attend the University of Newcastle are being offered an alternative pathway to higher education.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky, said the university was introducing seven new diplomas to provide more opportunities for students to begin their higher education journey with a choice of degree destinations.
The new diplomas are focused on the following areas: arts and social science; business; engineering; built environment; science and environmental science; information technology; and education studies.
Upon successful completion, students are guaranteed entry into a selection of Undergraduate degrees with credit for the work they have done in their diploma.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor Mark Hoffman, said students have faced extraordinary challenges since the beginning of last year.
“We want to remind them that there are many pathways into the University of Newcastle and many ways to succeed in their studies outside of traditional entry schemes,” he said.
The new diplomas offer a combination of first-year degree courses and supported pathway courses, providing students with academic credit that can be transferred to their degree of choice as well as academic literacy, research and subject-specific skills that help with the transition to university studies.
Hoffman said the new diplomas would provide a more supported start to university life.
“When you choose to study a diploma, you have the opportunity to be mentored and supported by passionate teachers to set you up for success,” he said.
“You can also access the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, with dedicated academic learning support, counselling and peer support.”
Diplomas can be completed over 12 months of full-time study or up to two years of part-time study.
Students can take a combination of on campus face-to-face, online and blended study options.
While there are entry requirements for the diplomas, the required selection rank is lower in comparison to an Undergraduate degree and if students do not have an ATAR, they can still gain entry based on other criteria like past study, work, or vocational experience.
Since 1974, more than 60,000 people have entered University of Newcastle Undergraduate degrees through one of its alternative pathways and each year make up around 20 per cent of students commencing their degree.
Newcastle is the largest provider of pathways programs in Australia according to the Department of Education Selected Higher Education Statistics, 2019.
Applications for Semester One 2022 are now open via UAC.
For more information, go to newcastle.edu.au/diplomas.
Source:
Media release, Nov 5
University of Newcastle