Your direct pathway to UNSW Sydney

Take the first step with UNSW College and secure your future at UNSW Sydney – Australia's most employable university.

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Progress to second year at UNSW

Missed the ATAR for your dream UNSW degree? Don’t let that stand in your way. A UNSW College Diploma is your seamless pathway to your preferred degree – without losing time.

Start in May 2025 and, in just 12 months, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to step directly into the second year of a UNSW degree in June 2026.

Whether your passion lies in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Media and Communications, or Science, you’ll have access to countless specialisations to shape your future.

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Applications are now open

Offers released

Mid January

Classes start

12 May 2025

Course duration

12 months

Content

First-year equivalent curriculum

Support

Comprehensive academic & wellbeing support

Progression

Second year UNSW bachelor's degree

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Over 90%

of graduates progress to UNSW

Why choose a Diploma with UNSW College?

Direct entry into second year at UNSW

Complete our 12-month Diploma and progress directly into the second year of your preferred degree at UNSW Syndey. Graduate with your dream UNSW degree – no compromises, no delays.

Complete support whenever you need it

Our dedicated support teams are here to help prepare you for a smooth transition to UNSW Sydney, covering everything from academics to well-being. Enjoy individual attention in small classes, weekly tutor consultations, and access to study and social clubs, volunteering opportunities and internships.

Equivalent to first year

Developed with UNSW, our Diplomas mirror the first-year degree curriculum and are fully recognised by UNSW. Taught by expert teachers, many of whom also teach at university – so you meet the same high standards from day one.

Part of the UNSW family

From day one, you’ll experience life as part of the UNSW family. Study on the Kensington campus with access to cutting-edge facilities, including libraries, 3D makerspaces, innovation hubs, design studios and labs. Dive into a vibrant social scene through Arc@UNSW, with over 300+ clubs and societies to help you make lasting connections and explore your passions.

"Completing my diploma at UNSW College prepared me immensely for university life. I thrived in the diverse environment, honed my time management skills, and embraced the higher standard of education and dedication."

Harrison Swift

Diploma in Engineering

Harrison's journey

Our Diploma Programs

Diploma of Business

Shape the future of business. Discover how to lead, adapt, and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Learn to tackle global challenges, seize opportunities, and make meaningful connections. Step into second year of a Bachelor of Commerce at the #1 Business School in Australia. (AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 2022 and 2023)

Diploma of Computer Science

Create the technology of tomorrow. Dive into the principles of hardware and software and discover how to design and build systems that change the world. After this 12-month program, progress to second year of a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) from the #1 in Engineering & Technology faculty in Australia. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024.)

Diploma of Engineering

Revolutionise the way we live. Whether it’s harnessing renewable energy, building robots, or creating life-changing technology, this program equips you with the fundamentals you need to innovate and make an impact. Progress to second year of a Bachelor of Engineering with UNSW Engineering – Australia’s #1 Engineering faculty. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024.)

Images of students and the environment they learn in

Diploma of Media and Communications

Be a voice that shapes the future. Learn to craft compelling stories, challenge the status quo, and communicate across diverse platforms. This program prepares you for a dynamic career in media and beyond. After completing this program, move directly to the second year of your degree at UNSW Sydney, where you can choose from a range of specialisations.

Students in Science Lab with white coat, goggles and microscopes

Diploma of Science

A powerful step towards further study and a career in the sciences. Learn the practical and theoretical skills to move into second year of a Bachelor of Science degree at UNSW Sydney, which has more than 400 staff and 700 researchers. From oceanography to neuroscience, biotech to quantum physics, a science degree unlocks a world of career possibilities.

Key Dates

Orientation	Start of Week One	Census	Finish	Start at UNSW
8-May-25	12-May-25	6-Jun-25	1-May-26	Term 2 - 01 Jun 2026

UNSW College Diploma Policies

View policies

Guide to UNSW College Grades

Diploma programs

Each Diploma program that a student undertakes at UNSW College is assessed using a variety of methods, resulting in a final mark for each course. This result generally takes the form of a mark between 0 and 100 and this mark determines a student’s final grade.

The Table below explains the course grades applied to Diploma programs:

Grade	Grade Descriptor	Grade Definition	Mark Range
HD	High Distinction	An outstanding performance that indicates the student has demonstrated a high level of understanding across the entire content of the course.	85% - 100%
DN	Distinction	A superior performance that indicates the student has demonstrated the ability to consider the course and its assessment requirements from a number of perspectives and to explore their interrelation.	75% - 84%
CR	Credit	A good performance indicating that the student can think analytically and contextually about the course and its assessment requirements, and to understand / present alternative points of view / perspectives and supporting evidence.	65% - 74%
PS	Pass	An acceptable level of performance indicating that the student has addressed the assessment requirements of the course and has demonstrated an acceptable understanding of the issues entailed.	50% - 64%
FL	Fail	Unsatisfactory performance, below the minimum expected level. This grade characterises work which shows a significant lack of understanding of the topic or its context and is therefore unsatisfactory.	< 50%
SY	Successful	Successful completion of a course for which a graded pass is not awarded. No mark is given so courses with this grade are not included in the calculation of a student’s WAM. However, the units of credit are counted as successfully completed, when calculating a student’s Risk Level.
UF	Unsatisfactory Fail	Unsatisfactory performance in an essential component of the course.
WC	Results not finalised	Result not finalised. The student has submitted a request for Special Consideration, for which the outcome is pending.
WD	Results not finalised	The student has not submitted or completed one or more components of the assessment required.
AW	Academic Withdrawal	Academic Withdrawal. Student discontinued the course after the deadline to drop without academic penalty but before the last day of the teaching period. The AW grade is not included in the calculation of the student’s WAM. However, it is counted as a failed course when calculating Risk Level. The AW grade becomes part of a student’s official academic record, so it is included on their academic transcript.

Grade

Grade Descriptor

Grade Definition

Mark Range

High Distinction

An outstanding performance that indicates the student has demonstrated a high level of understanding across the entire content of the course.

85% - 100%

Distinction

A superior performance that indicates the student has demonstrated the ability to consider the course and its assessment requirements from a number of perspectives and to explore their interrelation.

75% - 84%

Credit

A good performance indicating that the student can think analytically and contextually about the course and its assessment requirements, and to understand / present alternative points of view / perspectives and supporting evidence.

65% - 74%

Pass

An acceptable level of performance indicating that the student has addressed the assessment requirements of the course and has demonstrated an acceptable understanding of the issues entailed.

50% - 64%

Fail

Unsatisfactory performance, below the minimum expected level. This grade characterises work which shows a significant lack of understanding of the topic or its context and is therefore unsatisfactory.

< 50%

Successful

Successful completion of a course for which a graded pass is not awarded. No mark is given so courses with this grade are not included in the calculation of a student’s WAM. However, the units of credit are counted as successfully completed, when calculating a student’s Risk Level.

Unsatisfactory Fail

Unsatisfactory performance in an essential component of the course.

Results not finalised

Result not finalised. The student has submitted a request for Special Consideration, for which the outcome is pending.

Results not finalised

The student has not submitted or completed one or more components of the assessment required.

Academic Withdrawal

Academic Withdrawal. Student discontinued the course after the deadline to drop without academic penalty but before the last day of the teaching period. The AW grade is not included in the calculation of the student’s WAM. However, it is counted as a failed course when calculating Risk Level. The AW grade becomes part of a student’s official academic record, so it is included on their academic transcript.

Weighted Average Mark

WAM, or Weighted Average Mark, is a cumulative average of all term-based subject marks (final term marks) for each diploma subject and for each completed attempt. It is published to two decimal places and appears on your academic record.

WAM is calculated according to the following formula:

M = mark received in a course
U = units of credit for a course
∑ = the sum of

For example, a student receives the following results for their subjects: 80, 81, 82, 83, 84. The first three of these subjects are 6 UOC (Units of Credit) each, and the last two are 3 UOC each. They would calculate their WAM as follows:

[(80 x 6) + (81 x 6) + (82 x 6) + (83 x 3) + (84 x 3)] / (6 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 3) = 81.625

If you have transfer credit for a course or subject(s) completed at another institution, the marks for these will not be included in the calculation of your WAM. This exclusion is due to the fact that different institutions have different grading systems.

A normal full-time Study Load across an Academic Year is 48 Units of Credit (UoC) and at least one Subject Enrolment in each Term. This equates to 1.0 Equivalent Full-time Student Load (EFTSL).

If you are a domestic student looking for information about the UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway, please click here.

UNSW Global Pty Limited ABN 62 086 418 582 trading as UNSW College™.

Diploma & Foundation Studies
UNSW Global Pty Limited ABN 62 086 418 582 trading as UNSW College™ currently delivers Diplomas and Foundation Studies on behalf of UNSW Sydney - CRICOS Provider Code 00098G; UNSW Sydney TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12055 (Australian University).
From 26 August 2024, UNSW College™ will commence delivery of Diplomas under its own CRICOS Provider Code - 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).
From 13 January 2025, UNSW College™ will commence delivery of Foundation Studies under its own CRICOS Provider Code - 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).

Pre-Masters Program & Academic English
UNSW College™ delivers the Pre-Masters Program and Academic English programs under CRICOS Provider Code 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).