Fee-free Uni Ready program
#1 Victorian university for student support
6-week online study blocks
Why choose Deakin
Ready for university but don’t meet the entry requirements yet – including without an ATAR? Deakin Uni Ready is designed for you.
Delivered online and in block mode, the Deakin Uni Ready program is fee-free and designed to fit around your life. You'll build the core academic skills needed for university success, including writing, critical thinking, communication and numeracy.
You’ll also explore different areas of study, helping you better understand your options and what university study could look like for you.
On successful completion, you’ll be able to demonstrate equivalence to Deakin’s minimum entry requirements, including a 50 ATAR and English proficiency, and apply for a range of undergraduate degrees across arts, health, science and business.
Deakin Uni Ready offers a free, supportive and practical pathway to build your skills, confidence and readiness for university study.
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Pathway to Deakin
Build university-ready skills and meet Deakin’s minimum entry requirements on completion, so you can apply for one of 11 selected undergraduate degrees.
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Study fee-free
Eligible domestic students pay no application, tuition or textbook fees, so you can prepare for university without the added cost.
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Flexible online study
Study part-time and fully online in six-week blocks across at least two trimesters, helping you balance study with other commitments.
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Support from day one
Access peer mentoring, academic skills support and language and learning assistance to help you build confidence and stay on track.
Program outcomes
Deakin Uni Ready can open the door to a range of undergraduate degrees at Deakin. Once you successfully complete the program, you’ll meet Deakin’s minimum admission criteria and can apply for selected bachelor degrees through the standard admissions process. Explore where Deakin Uni Ready could take you:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of Criminology
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Sport Development
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 3 2026 applications close 18 October 2026
Trimester 1 2027 applications open 19 October and close 7 February 2027
FAQs
Deakin Uni Ready (UniReady) is a fee-free, non-award enabling program that provides a supported pathway into university for domestic students who do not yet meet standard entry requirements. It is part of the Australian Government’s Fee-Free Uni Ready initiative and is delivered fully online.
You can apply through Deakin’s online application portal. Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for the program.
You may be eligible if you have completed Year 10 (or equivalent), are 17 years or older, and do not have, or are not eligible for, a university offer.
Deakin Uni Ready is available to domestic students who are Australian or New Zealand citizens, or permanent Australian residents.
Yes. Deakin Uni Ready is fee-free for eligible domestic students, offered under the Australian Government’s Fee-Free Uni Ready initiative. There are no tuition costs for eligible students. Because the program has no fees, students are not eligible for Deakin University financial scholarships, loans or bursaries, or government financial assistance, including Centrelink, grants or HECS-HELP.
After completing Deakin Uni Ready, you may be eligible to apply through the standard admissions process for selected undergraduate degrees at Deakin, including:
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Deakin Uni Ready?
Deakin Uni Ready builds the academic skills and confidence you need for university, with core learning in study skills, communication and critical thinking, plus an elective aligned to your interests.
Build your university foundations
Develop effective study skills
Learn to find and evaluate information, approach common assessment tasks, read critically and use academic conventions with confidence.
Strengthen communication and thinking
Build your academic writing, presentation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare for university-level learning.
Explore an area of interest
Choose an elective aligned with your future study interests and apply your academic skills while building knowledge in your chosen area.
Program structure
To complete the Deakin Uni Ready program, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 3 credit points of compulsory core units (subjects),
- a 1 credit point program elective
- Most units are equal to one credit point.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Note: This program is part-time only
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Compulsory 0- credit point module
To be completed in the first period of study:
Core
Program Electives
Plus 1 credit point selected from:
What to expect while studying
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
You’ll study the Deakin Uni Ready program part-time over two trimesters, with units delivered in six-week blocks.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Common Learning Outcomes for Enabling Courses in Australia | Common Learning Outcome for Enabling Course (CLO-EC) |
|---|---|
Knowledge: students completing an Enabling course will have a knowledge of:
| CLO-EC1: Apply core concepts of academic culture and academic conventions that enable successful university study including academic integrity, ethical practice, academic literacies and relevant discipline-specific knowledge. |
Skills: On completion of an Enabling course, a student will demonstrate:
| CLO-EC2: Locate, analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate information through self-directed learning for effective use in academic contexts, including online learning environments CLO-EC3: Work independently and collaboratively to apply academic literacy and communication skills to clearly express and exchange ideas, theories, and analysis that support effective engagement with tertiary study. |
Application of knowledge and skills: A student completing an Enabling course will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills by:
| CLO-EC4: Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to generate ideas and solutions in a range of disciplinary contexts while adopting student practices that align with institutional academic expectations. |
- Year
2027 program information
- Deakin code
- A026
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 3 2026 applications close 18 October 2026
Trimester 1 2027 applications open 19 October and close 7 February 2027
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.