Pre-Masters

Secure guaranteed entry* into your chosen postgraduate degree at UNSW

Personalise

If you don’t qualify for a UNSW master's degree but you have completed a relevant undergraduate degree, enrol in a UNSW College Pre-Masters Program and you can complete your master's degree in the minimum time.

Our Pre-Masters Program is designed to provide you with additional academic support (and English language support if required) to meet the entry requirements needed to progress to a postgraduate degree at UNSW Sydney. It offers an opportunity for you to enhance your critical thinking, academic writing, project management, research, and communication skills to succeed in the future.

Your pathway with a Pre-Masters Program

Completion of undergraduate degree progresses to Pre-Masters Program (15 weeks) progresses to Master's degree at UNSW Sydney

Why choose UNSW College?

Guaranteed entry to a world top 20 university

UNSW Sydney is consistently recognised as a top-ranking university. By securing guaranteed entry, you gain the opportunity to study at a prestigious institution with a strong academic reputation, which can enhance your credentials and open doors to better career prospects.

Education excellence

Your teachers are committed to providing an immersive, high-quality teaching and learning environment.

They possess subject expertise, provide personalised guidance, serve as mentors, and foster critical thinking skills. Their dedication enhances student learning outcomes and contributes to a positive and enriching educational experience.

Supported and ready to succeed

You will have access to world-class UNSW facilities (like libraries, design studios, computer, engineering and science labs), clubs and societies from day one, with the added support of UNSW College behind you. With smaller class sizes, teachers can devote more time and attention to each individual.

Our Specialisations

Pre-Masters (Engineering)

Study at the #1 ranked Engineering school in Australia. This program is developed to help you develop the key skills necessary to conduct effective academic research, improve overall literacy skills, and learn the fundamentals of innovation, entrepreneurship, engineering, and project management.

Pre-Masters (Information Technology)

Expand your career opportunities. This program allows you to focus on core subjects and topics relevant to the field of Information Technology, ensuring a seamless transition to postgraduate studies at UNSW Sydney. On successful completion, you will progress to a master’s degree at the UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering.

Guide to UNSW College Grades

Diploma and Pre-Masters Courses

Each Diploma and Pre-Masters course 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 UNSW College Diploma and Pre-Masters courses:

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.

Equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) is a measure of a student's study load. A full-time student's annual study load is 1.0 EFTSL.

At UNSW College, a full-time enrolment in the 15-week Pre-Masters Program is 18 units of credit. Each subject is typically worth the same number of units of credit and generates the same load (EFTSL) no matter which program it's in or when you take it. Most courses at UNSW College are worth 6 units of credit (6UOC).

Student Guide

Download our Student Guide today for more information on our courses, life at UNSW College and how we help you reach your goals.

Student Life

As a UNSW College student, you are connected to the wider UNSW community: active, vibrant and diverse. Discover more about what that means.

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Accommodation

UNSW Sydney has a variety of student accommodation options to suit your needs. Walk to your classes, make new friends and enjoy the amazing Sydney lifestyle.

Pathway Finder

Choose from multiple pathway options that will help you get into your university degree of choice at UNSW Sydney.

Student Services

We are here to support you while you study with us. Learn more about the many different ways we look after you from your first day to graduation.

Under 18 Care

Many of our students at UNSW College are under 18. If you do not have a parent or guardian to stay with while you are in Sydney, we can help.

Student & Alumni Stories

Hear from the students we have helped along their path to academic success and future careers, as they share their stories about studying with UNSW College.

Scholarships

We have a range of scholarship options available for UNSW College students. Find out how to apply, eligibility criteria and more.

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).