Step into a world of possibility by studying an undergraduate degree with us. You are an undergraduate student if you’re looking to study your first university course, such as a bachelor degree, associate degree or diploma.

Apply for your undergraduate degree in seven steps

An undergraduate degree at ACU involves much more than classes and study. You will learn to think critically and be guided by social justice principles. You will also gain skills and inspiration to bring about change in your community, profession and industry. 

Apply for an undergraduate degree using our step-by-step guide. Applying is easy; the process should only take around 20 minutes.

Follow the instructions on this page if you want to apply for one of the following degrees:

  • associate degree
  • bachelor degree
  • undergraduate diploma.

Am I domestic or international?

You are an international applicant if you will need a temporary visa to study in Australia.

You are a domestic student if you are one of the following:

  • Australian citizen
  • Australian permanent resident
  • Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder 
  • New Zealand citizen.  

If you’re a domestic student, you should visit our step-by-step guide for domestic undergraduate applications.

View our domestic undergraduate application guide


1. Choose your course

Browse our list of undergraduate courses that are open to international applicants. You can browse by course type, subject or study area.

Search undergraduate courses available to international students

2. Check eligibility and closing dates

You must have the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate for most undergraduate courses.

You can check if we recognise your high school qualifications by downloading and viewing the following documents for diplomas and bachelor degrees:  

Download the minimum academic entry requirement by country (PDF, 405KB)

English language proficiency

You will also need to meet the English proficiency requirements for your course. 

You may need to demonstrate your English language proficiency if:

English is not your first language
you did not attend university in English and in an approved English-speaking country.

You can prove your English proficiency by providing us with evidence of your previous studies or qualifications, or by achieving a certain score in a relevant English language test (including IELTS, OET and the ACU English Test). 

Visit our English proficiency requirements page for more information 

Consider a pathway or English language program

If you do not meet the requirements or English language proficiency for your chosen course, you can consider taking a pathway program or English language course. 

These programs and courses have lower entry requirements and can assist you with further study; after successfully completing a diploma, you may be eligible to enter the first or second year of the related bachelor degree.

Learn more about our English language pathway courses

You should also consider studying an English language course at the ACU Centre for Languages. 

Learn more about our English language programs

View a list of diplomas and pathway programs

ACU English Language Centre

English opens the door to many opportunities. Study at the ACU English Language Centre in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and we will give you the support to succeed.

Learn about our language centres

Take a virtual study tour

Join ACU staff member Cristina on a virtual tour of our Melbourne campus. You can join a class, practice your English with fun quizzes and discover why Melbourne is one of the world's most liveable cities.

Start the virtual tour

Application deadlines

It is important for you to get your application to us before the closing date. Plan ahead by taking note of your course application deadline now. 

View the upcoming application deadlines

3. Browse scholarships 

Take a moment to see if you’re eligible to apply for one or more of our scholarships for international students, including the ACU International Student Scholarship.

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for – just make sure they’re open to international students.

Browse scholarships available to international students

4. Gather your documents

You will need to gather certified copies of all the necessary documents for your application. These documents include:

  • academic qualifications (transcripts and completion certificates)
  • passport
  • evidence of English proficiency
  • any other documents which can support your application, such as evidence of work experience, professional registration and reference letters that are relevant to your course

Certified documents

Copies of your official documents will need to be certified. A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document that has been ‘certified’ as a true copy. 

Documents can be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP) or an authorised officer such as a public notary who is not related to you. 

The officer must include his/her professional registration number (if applicable) when certifying your documents.

5. Apply

When you’re ready to apply, you can make your ACU application through any of the following methods:

Please note: An application fee of A$110 will be charged if you apply online to ACU without the assistance of an authorised education agent.

Are you studying an Australian Year 12 qualification?

If you’re an international student currently studying an Australian Year 12 qualification, you may need to apply to ACU through a Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC).

If you’re studying Year 12 in Australia

 If you’re studying Year 12 outside Australia


Next steps

After you’ve submitted your application, you will get confirmation that we have received it and will begin processing it. We will let you know the outcome as soon as we can

If you received an offer

If you received an offer from us, you are on your way to great things. But we need to make it official. You can respond to your offer by accepting, deferring or declining.

Learn how to respond to your offer

If you didn’t receive an offer

There is no need to worry. We have a range of pathway diplomas and programs available to get you into your dream course.

Browse pathway diplomas and programs


Need help? Contact us

Contact our international student support team if you have any questions about your application to study at ACU. We can also answer you enquiries about arriving, living and studying in Australia.

Contact the friendly team at international student support

University terminology explained

Unsure what some of these words mean? We’ve put together a glossary to explain our technical terms in plain English.

Read our glossary

You might also like:

International student fees

Find out about our international tuition fees and payment options, including our one-price course fees to help you plan your studies with us.

Plan your fees

Student accommodation 

Living in one of our off-campus or managed student accommodation facilities is an ideal way to help you maximise your university experience. 

Take a tour

Important dates for your diary

Learn about the key dates on the academic calendar, including application deadlines, census dates and class timetables.

View dates

International students

Feel at home before you land in Australia with our guidance on arriving, finding somewhere to live, living costs and more.

Study with us

Have a question?

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Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

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