Bachelor’s options in Australia

Chapter 3 of 10 Last published 26 October 2026 Facts verified 25 October 2026

An Australian bachelor’s usually takes three years (four for engineering and some health degrees). Through MultiPath you can start one directly, or begin with a foundation programme or a diploma at the university’s pathway college and continue into the degree when you reach the required results.

Three ways to start a bachelor’s

  • Direct entry

    You start year 1 of the degree. You need a school certificate the university accepts, the subject prerequisites and the English score (usually IELTS 6.0–6.5).

  • Diploma into year 2

    A diploma at a pathway college is taught as the first year of the degree, with smaller classes and more support. Pass with the required results and you continue into year 2.

  • Foundation

    About two to three terms of academic preparation and English for students whose school certificate is not accepted for direct entry. Passing it leads to year 1 of the degree.

Entry with a school certificate from outside Australia

  • 11-year school systems: most Australian universities do not accept an 11-year school certificate on its own for direct entry. Students usually start with a foundation programme or a diploma, or apply after a year of university study at home. Some colleges accept a twelfth school year, a national test result or a professional college diploma for a higher starting point.
  • 12-year school systems: a school-leaving certificate after 12 years of school (a baccalaureate, for example) is accepted for direct entry by many universities, with a minimum average set for each course.
  • Each profile shows the entry rules the institution publishes; we check how your own certificate is assessed.

Bachelor’s routes available through MultiPath

The overview below is built from the institution profiles and grouped by state. Fees are for the year stated; open a profile for entry requirements, progression results, intakes and scholarships.

New South Wales 11 institutions

Macquarie University

Sydney (Wallumattagal campus and Sydney City Campus), New South Wales

University of Technology Sydney

Sydney (City campus), New South Wales

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)BusinessEconomicsInformation TechnologyComputing Science (Honours)Artificial IntelligenceCybersecurityEngineering (Honours)NursingLength3 years (4 for honours degrees)TuitionAUD 51,015 (business, nursing) to AUD 57,240 (IT, computing, engineering) first-year fee (2027)

UTS College

Sydney (Haymarket and UTS City campus), New South Wales

  • Foundation UTS Foundation Studies (Standard and Extended)LengthStandard 8 months (2 trimesters); Extended 12 months (3 trimesters)TuitionAUD 34,500 (Standard) or AUD 51,500 (Extended) for the programme (2027)
  • Diploma pathway UTS College diplomasBusinessInformation TechnologyEngineeringDesign and ArchitectureCommunicationScienceAnimation ProductionLengthStandard 12 months (3 trimesters) or Accelerated 8 months (2 trimesters)TuitionAUD 40,500 for the diploma (2027)

The University of Sydney

Sydney (Camperdown/Darlington), New South Wales

The University of Newcastle

Newcastle (Callaghan and Newcastle City) and Sydney, New South Wales

Western Sydney University Sydney City Campus

Sydney (Level 4, 255 Elizabeth Street, CBD), New South Wales

La Trobe University Sydney Campus

Sydney (255 Elizabeth Street, CBD), New South Wales

Charles Sturt University Sydney and Melbourne

Sydney (77 Berry Street, North Sydney), New South Wales, and Melbourne (222 Bourke Street), Victoria

ACAP University College

Sydney (255 Elizabeth Street, CBD), New South Wales; also Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)Psychological ScienceCounsellingSocial WorkPsychological Science and Criminology (Melbourne only)Length3 years full time (Social Work 4 years)TuitionAUD 30,632 a year full time (AUD 3,829 per unit) (indicative; the fee year is not stated on the course page)

Victoria University Sydney

Sydney (Sussex Street, CBD), New South Wales

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)Information TechnologyCyber SecurityData ScienceBusiness (Accounting)Business (Information Systems Management)Early Childhood EducationEarly Childhood Education and LeadershipLength3 years (Early Childhood Education and Leadership 4 years)TuitionAUD 19,500 per semester of 4 units (AUD 39,000 a year full-time) for IT, cyber security, data science and business; early childhood AUD 17,750 per semester of 4 units (AUD 35,500 a year full-time) (2027, before any scholarship)
  • Diploma pathway Diploma of Business (Enterprise) and Diploma of Information TechnologyLength1 yearTuitionAUD 16,600 per semester of 4 units; AUD 33,200 for the year (2027, before any scholarship)

University of Canberra Sydney Hills

Sydney (Castle Hill), New South Wales

Victoria 5 institutions

Monash University

Melbourne (Clayton, Caulfield, Peninsula and Parkville), Victoria

Deakin University

Melbourne (Burwood), Geelong (Waurn Ponds and Waterfront) and Warrnambool, Victoria

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)CommerceBusiness AnalyticsInformation TechnologyComputer ScienceEngineering (Honours)NursingLawsLength3 years (4 for engineering honours and laws)TuitionAUD 43,800–47,000 estimated annual fee (2027)
  • Foundation Foundation Program (Deakin College)Length8 months (Standard, 8 units) or 12 months (Extended, 12 units), then the full bachelor’sTuitionStandard AUD 32,200; Extended AUD 37,260 (2026 fees; 2027 not yet published)
  • Diploma pathway Diplomas (Deakin College)CommerceBusinessInformation TechnologyEngineeringHealth SciencesScienceDesignCommunicationFilm, Television and AnimationConstruction ManagementLength8 or 12 months, then two more years of a three-year bachelor’s (three more for four-year honours degrees)TuitionAUD 35,200–40,000 for the diploma (2026 fees; 2027 not yet published); Diploma of Construction Management AUD 39,800 (2027)

La Trobe University

Melbourne (Bundoora and City), Bendigo, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton, Victoria

RMIT University

Melbourne (City, Bundoora and Brunswick campuses), Victoria

Swinburne University of Technology

Melbourne (Hawthorn), Victoria

Queensland 6 institutions

Queensland University of Technology

Brisbane (Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove), Queensland

The University of Queensland

Brisbane (St Lucia, Brisbane City, Herston, Dutton Park) and Gatton, Queensland

Griffith University

Gold Coast, Brisbane (Brisbane South–Nathan and Brisbane City) and Logan, Queensland

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)BusinessInformation TechnologyEngineering (Honours)NursingLength3 years (4 for engineering honours)TuitionAUD 39,500–47,500 a year, indicative (2027)
  • Foundation Foundation Program (Griffith College)Length2 trimesters (8 months), then the full bachelor’s (or a Griffith College diploma and two years of the degree)TuitionAUD 29,250 for the programme (2027)
  • Diploma pathway Diplomas (Griffith College)BusinessBusiness (Commerce)Information TechnologyEngineeringHealth SciencesHealth Care (nursing pathway)ScienceCriminology and Criminal JusticeSocial and Psychological ScienceInternational Tourism and Hotel ManagementDesignEducational StudiesLength2 trimesters (8 months) or 3 trimesters (12 months), then normally two more years at Griffith UniversityTuitionAUD 35,500–45,750 for the diploma (2027)

Southern Cross University

Gold Coast, Queensland; Lismore and Coffs Harbour, New South Wales; Perth city campus

James Cook University Brisbane

Brisbane (349 Queen Street, CBD), Queensland

Victoria University Brisbane

Brisbane (Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley), Queensland

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)Information TechnologyCyber SecurityData ScienceEarly Childhood EducationEarly Childhood Education and LeadershipLength3 years (Early Childhood Education and Leadership 4 years)TuitionAUD 19,500 per semester of 4 units (AUD 39,000 a year full-time) for IT, cyber security and data science; early childhood AUD 17,750 per semester of 4 units (AUD 35,500 a year full-time) (2027, before any scholarship)

Western Australia 4 institutions

Edith Cowan University

Perth (ECU City and Joondalup) and Bunbury, Western Australia

Murdoch University

Perth (Murdoch campus) and Mandurah, Western Australia

The University of Western Australia

Perth (Crawley), Western Australia

Curtin University

Perth (Bentley and Perth City) and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)CommerceComputingInformation TechnologyEngineering (Honours)ScienceLength3 years (4 for engineering honours)TuitionAUD 41,146–47,652 first-year fee (2027)
  • Diploma pathway Diplomas, Stage 1 and Stage 2 (Curtin College)CommerceComputingEngineeringHealth ScienceBuilt EnvironmentArts and Creative IndustriesLengthStage 1 and Stage 2, each 2–3 trimesters (8–12 months); then usually two more years at Curtin (longer for four-year honours degrees)TuitionStage 1 AUD 32,900; Stage 2 AUD 36,900–44,900; AUD 69,800–77,800 for both stages (2027)

South Australia 3 institutions

Adelaide University

Adelaide, South Australia

Torrens University Australia

Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Blue Mountains

University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) Adelaide

Adelaide (182 Victoria Square, CBD), South Australia

Australian Capital Territory 1 institution

University of Canberra

Canberra (Bruce campus), Australian Capital Territory

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (direct entry)BusinessInformation TechnologySoftware EngineeringEngineering (Honours)PharmacyLength3 years (4 for engineering honours and pharmacy)TuitionAUD 39,000–44,500 a year (2027), e.g. Information Technology AUD 39,000, Business AUD 39,900, Pharmacy AUD 44,000, Engineering (Honours) AUD 44,500
  • Foundation International Foundation Studies (UC College)Length3 terms (12 months), then the bachelor’sTuitionAUD 29,250 for the programme (2026 fees; 2027 not yet published)
  • Diploma pathway Diplomas (UC College)BusinessCommunicationDesignInformation TechnologyHealthScienceLengthBusiness, communication, design and IT: 8 months (2 terms) from October or 12 months (3 terms) from March. Health and science: 12 months (2 semesters)TuitionAUD 30,500–34,500 for the diploma (2026 fees; 2027 not yet published)

Colleges and English 3 institutions

ECA Group colleges

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (APIC)Information Technology (incl. Computer Networks and Security)Business (Accounting, Analytics and AI, Project Management)Business Information SystemsLength3 years full time (24 units)TuitionAUD 2,750 a unit: AUD 66,000 for the degree, about AUD 22,000 a year (2026 list price); 2027 fees to be confirmed; APIC states a CoE issued at the 2026 price for 2027 will be honoured

Academies Australasia colleges

Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Armidale

  • Bachelor’s degree Bachelor’s degrees (AAPoly)Information TechnologyBusiness (Leadership and Management)Business (Cyber Security)Business (Digital Marketing)Tourism and Hospitality ManagementLength3 years (6 semesters)TuitionAUD 60,000 for the degree, i.e. AUD 20,000 a year, plus AUD 120 materials a semester (2026 fee; AAPoly has announced higher prices for 2027, not yet published)

Greenwich College and Greenwich Higher Education

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide

A bachelor’s, your visa and work

  • One visa for the package: a foundation or diploma and the degree can be packaged in one student visa, with a Confirmation of Enrolment for each course and a short gap between them.
  • Work during studies: up to 48 hours a fortnight in session and unlimited hours in scheduled breaks.
  • After graduation: a bachelor’s of at least two years in Australia can lead to a two-year Temporary Graduate visa; foundation and English study do not count towards the two years.

Free consultation

Not sure which route fits you?

A MultiPath counsellor compares Australian universities, routes and scholarships for your profile, free of charge. Offices in Bucharest, Astana and Tashkent, or online from anywhere.