Applying for ANU Pathway Diplomas: Semester 1 and the international deadline
The international application deadline for ANU Pathway Diplomas for Semester 1 2027 is 15 December. The programs currently admit students in Semester 1 only. Your application route depends on the qualification you are completing and whether you are studying in Australia.
Which application route applies?
| Your circumstances | Application route |
|---|---|
| International student in Australia completing Australian Year 12, the IB or NCEA Level 3 | UAC |
| Other international applicant | ANU Application Manager / Studylink |
International applicants must package the Diploma with a Bachelor degree. Although the Diploma is a qualification in its own right, applicants cannot commence it with the intention of studying only the one-year Diploma.
The package involves a separate Confirmation of Enrolment for the Diploma and the Bachelor, supporting one visa application. Financial capacity needs to cover the Diploma–Bachelor sequence.
Who can apply for a Pathway Diploma?
The selection-rank entry threshold is 70, and the pathway is intended for applicants with a selection rank of 70–79.99. Students with a selection rank of 80 or above should apply for a Bachelor degree and cannot commence a Pathway Diploma.
The Diploma does not require subject prerequisites, and adjustment factors do not apply. Other entry routes include a graded AQF Certificate IV and the Work and Life Experience Scheme.
For direct English entry, applicants need IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0, or an equivalent result.
What will you study, and where?
ANU Pathway Diplomas run for 12 months full-time across two semesters, comprising eight courses. Study is in person at the ANU Acton Campus in Canberra; there is no remote option.
Each program includes ESEN1001 Academic Skills for University Study and first-year courses shared with Bachelor students. Students are full ANU students from commencement, with access to individual academic advice and support for the transition into Bachelor study.
Delivery is through a wholly ANU-owned Pathways entity.
Which Bachelor degrees can follow the Diploma?
The aligned pathways offer one year of credit, equivalent to 48 units, subject to meeting the progression requirements.
| Diploma | Aligned Bachelor degrees | Required Diploma GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Economics | Accounting; Business Administration; Commerce; Economics; Finance | 4.0 |
| Computing | Computing | 4.0 |
| Politics and International Relations | Asian Studies | 4.0 |
| Politics and International Relations | International Relations; International Security Studies; Political Science; Public Policy | 4.6 |
Choose the intended Bachelor alongside the Diploma: the required GPA differs between destinations, including within Politics and International Relations.
Students may apply for a non-aligned Bachelor after completing the Diploma. Those applications are assessed on the same basis as applications from students with one year of undergraduate study at ANU. Credit is considered case by case, so changing programs does not guarantee a full year of credit.
What tuition figure should you budget for?
The 2027 indicative annual tuition fee is AUD 57,640 for each Pathway Diploma. This covers indicative annual Diploma tuition only; it is not the total cost of the Diploma–Bachelor sequence.
Before submitting an application, establish the applicable application route, the intended Bachelor destination, its progression GPA and the funding needed for the full study sequence. Keep the 15 December international deadline attached to the Semester 1 2027 intake when planning your application.