Welcome and session overview

Rob: Welcome to the National Virtual Expo. Welcome to this session on choosing your own adventure at uni -- without the ATAR. That sounds pretty good to me. I'm going to be hearing from colleagues at Southern Cross University about some of the options available to students for these kinds of alternative entry pathways, and some of these are incredibly appealing. If you've got questions as we go, make sure you drop them in the chat. If you're on social media watching this live, you can drop your question directly in the chat and we will answer all of them. If you're watching on the session hub -- watching this on the recording -- you can also ask your questions on the Choosing Your Uni Discord. Details are down in the session description. We have a Facebook community just for you as well. Any questions at all, make sure you ask them and get a personal answer. Let's get into this session on choosing your own uni adventure. Let's go.

Guest: Thanks, Rob. Good morning and good afternoon to everyone watching today from around the world. My name is Sam. I'm a future student officer here at Southern Cross University. Today I want to speak to you about pathways to university and how they can set you up for success.

Guest: There's more than one way to get to university -- that's really the thing I want to touch on today. It's important to know there isn't just one method to get you in. Today's session will be Southern Cross University focused, but this information is applicable to other universities as well, so pay attention because it may help you in your journey regardless of where you end up studying.

Why the "one correct entry point" idea is outdated

Guest: Whether you're finishing school right now, returning to study after a break, or just feeling unsure about what's next, the idea of university can feel exciting but also pretty overwhelming -- and that's completely normal. Something we've all been through, including myself.

Guest: For a long time there was a very strong message that university had only one correct entry point. You finish year 12, you get a good ATAR, and then you go straight into a degree. That's exactly what I thought when I was at school. But if that didn't happen, people often felt like they had somehow failed or missed their chance. The reality is that idea is outdated, and that's why I'm speaking to you today -- because there are so many options to come to university, and there is an option for everybody, which is a really special thing.

Guest: Pathway courses have become one of the most effective and successful ways into university, especially for people who want to feel confident and capable but aren't eligible through the standard route at the moment. I want to pause on that idea for a moment, because getting into university and succeeding at university are two very different things. I'll say that again: getting into university and succeeding at university are two very different things, and they don't always go hand in hand. Pathways are not settling. They're not giving up on the big goal. They're a strategic starting point. Not everyone starts at the same point, but they can always finish together.

What pathway courses are designed to do

Guest: These pathways are designed to help you succeed -- not just get into university, but actually complete your studies and succeed. It's about feeling prepared. More often than not, students come to university with an idea of what it's like, which I had as well. But it's really important to know what's actually expected, because the reality is there are more expectations at university than at school. You manage your own workload, your own time. You don't have teachers hanging over you the whole time telling you what to do. So it is very different.

Guest: Having confidence in your own ability is crucial -- confidence truly affects your results. And finally, believing that you actually belong there. Without believing you belong, none of what I mentioned earlier really matters. So it's super important to believe you belong at university. Hopefully everyone watching right now does believe that, because everyone has the right to study.

Guest: So I want to share a few things today. We're going to look at what pathway courses actually are and who they're designed for, because the answer may surprise you. We'll also look at why they often lead to better long-term outcomes and how they can open doors that might feel closed at the moment. If at any point you're thinking, "okay, this sounds a bit like me," then this is exactly the talk you're looking for.

Who pathway courses are for

Guest: A pathway course is essentially a bridge to university study. Sometimes it isn't a straight line -- you need to take a few detours, and that's exactly what a pathway course is. Instead of jumping straight into a full bachelor's degree where expectations can hit you all at once, you start with courses intentionally designed to help you transition into full-time study.

Guest: Pathway courses help you build academic skills, whether you've come straight from school or haven't studied for quite some time. You learn how the university actually works -- which is very different from school. You manage your own time, your own classes, and it's up to you to complete everything. You get familiar with assessment and deadlines. You learn how you best work, because everyone learns differently. You adjust to expectations gradually, and you build confidence before the pressure ramps up. You wouldn't enter a bike race without having ridden a bike first -- the same principle applies here.

Guest: I want to be very clear: pathway students are not weaker students. In fact, many pathway students end up being some of the more successful students at the university. Because they didn't rush into things, that considered approach gave them confidence and built their success. Choosing a pathway program is a very successful choice.

Guest: Pathway programs are there for school leavers whose ATAR didn't quite go to plan, students who didn't finish year 12, people who haven't studied for a few years -- maybe you left school early and went straight into full-time work but now want an education. They're also there for adults balancing work, family, and other commitments, which is very common. And they're there for anyone who wants a smoother, more supportive start. You might even be eligible for a bachelor's degree already but not feel quite ready, and that's completely fine.

Guest: Here's a case that often gets overlooked: academic potential doesn't always show up in a single number. Some students have a bad year, a tough exam period, personal circumstances that hit at the wrong time. None of those things define your ability to succeed long term. Pathways acknowledge that people develop at different speeds and in different ways. They don't ask, "What happened when you were 17?" They ask, "Are you ready to go now?"

What if my ATAR is too low -- or I don't have one?

Guest: This is one of the most common questions people have, so don't stress if this is you. Your ATAR is important, but it doesn't mean university is out of reach. An ATAR is just one entry method, and for a lot of students it's not even the best one. Pathway programs focus on your motivation, your ability to learn, your willingness to build skills. For many students, a pathway is actually a better way to begin than going straight into a degree.

Guest: Some students who are eligible for direct entry choose to do a pathway program anyway, and there's a reason for that. Instead of learning everything all at once, you learn step by step. You build confidence before the pressure increases. You stop constantly questioning whether you belong. Stories like these -- students who started with a diploma or a short pathway program -- show that choosing a different route doesn't mean lowering your goals. It means supporting them properly.

Do pathways actually lead to success, or do they just delay things?

Guest: That's a very fair question. A lot of people think they're just adding extra time and falling behind everyone else. But here's what we consistently see: in many cases, pathway students are more successful once they're inside the degree. Why? Because success at university isn't about intelligence alone -- it's about skills. Pathways focus on essay structure, research, referencing, time management, and independent study. For most first-year students, those are the hotspots where things go wrong.

Guest: Students who complete pathway courses don't start guessing. They already know how to write and submit assignments, plan their workload, use online systems, and talk to teaching staff. At Southern Cross University, we've found that students who complete the Preparing for Success program find their feet very quickly when they transition to a bachelor's degree -- not because they're smarter, but because they're well-prepared.

Support structures built into pathway study

Guest: One of the biggest strengths of a pathway course is support. Starting university is a major transition. The content is harder. Socially, you're possibly surrounded by completely new people, which can be pretty daunting. Personally, you may struggle with some things and have a tough time adjusting, which is completely normal. Pathways are built with that in mind.

Guest: You get to understand expectations early. You're supported through the process. You get access to academic help and build confidence before entering your degree. And that support doesn't stop once you move into your bachelor's degree. Universities offer academic advisors -- like our first-year advisors at SCU -- peer learning support, wellbeing and counselling, and careers and employability services. University is about independence, but independence doesn't mean doing everything alone.

Diploma pathways and how they work in practice

Guest: There isn't just one pathway because there isn't just one type of student. Pathways across Australia include foundation courses and diploma pathways. Diplomas are an absolutely fantastic option for students wanting to go into university -- whether you've just come from school, haven't studied for quite some time, didn't get the results you wanted, or simply want to ease into study rather than going straight into a bachelor's degree.

Guest: Diplomas provide direct entry into second year across a range of bachelor courses. So you're not just doing a diploma and then starting from first year -- you actually transition right into second year alongside students who are starting at the same time as you. You can complete a diploma and receive a university award in your own right, which can help you secure a job in your discipline while continuing to study. Diploma students also have access to additional support resources to ease the transition, and options are available for both international and domestic students -- with domestic students having online and on-campus study options.

Guest: Let me walk through a few examples. If you wanted to study a Bachelor of Business but didn't get the ATAR you were looking for -- or you've been working full time and want to go into it now -- you can study a Diploma of Business, which is one year full time or two years part time, and then transition into your Bachelor of Business. The same applies for a Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies, where you can start with a Diploma of Legal Studies. A great thing about doing the diploma first is you also find out whether the discipline is actually something you enjoy. You might do a couple of subjects and realise it's not for you, and that saves you going through a full year of a bachelor's degree only to discover that.

Guest: The same applies for a Bachelor of IT -- you can start with a diploma. For science, if you want to do a Bachelor of Science, there's a diploma option there as well. In education, whether you want to go into secondary, primary, or early childhood, you can start with a diploma. That's actually a great way to work out which direction you want to go if you're not sure yet. And health is a big one -- whether you want to do exercise physiology, psychological science, or medical science, the Diploma of Allied Health covers a lot of bases across nursing, health sciences, and clinical sciences, so you can get an idea of what you want to do and then have options for where you transition next.

Early offer program for year 12 students

Guest: Year 12 is a year where everything seems to happen fast. There are exams, there's stress, and it all builds up. The early offer program is designed with that in mind. It lets students apply before exams and results are released -- and it's currently open right now. Applying early takes some of the stress off so you can focus on your studies and make the most of your final year. It gives you a clear next step before exams, so you're not trying to juggle everything at once or waiting around once results come out.

Guest: The application is simple, hassle-free, and free to complete online in just a few steps. It's designed specifically for students approaching the end of school. No matter what your interests or future goals are, an early offer helps you take a confident step forward. Early offer applicants also receive priority consideration for scholarships, personalised guidance, and invitations to information sessions and upcoming opportunities -- which is really important to remember if you're looking at scholarships. Applications are currently open and close towards the end of the year, so I'd highly recommend year 12 students considering studying with us apply soon. And importantly, if you apply, you're not locked into anything -- you can defer the offer or say no.

SCU's pathway programs: Preparing for Success and Transition to Uni

Guest: At Southern Cross University, pathways are central -- not a secondary option. They are a legitimate way to study at university. Through SCU College, students can access the Preparing for Success program. The PSP is open to Australian residents over the age of 18 and can be studied on campus or online, full time over three months or part time over up to one year. The course is taught in six-week blocks, so you can focus on one or two units at a time. Graduates gain direct entry into a range of Southern Cross University degrees depending on the context and their situation.

Guest: We also have Transition to Uni, which is a free intensive course designed for recent school leavers who have received an ATAR or are ATAR-eligible. It's a six-week full-time program, so students need to be able to devote approximately 40 hours per week -- around ten hours of class time and up to 30 hours of independent study and assessment preparation each week. The course develops academic literacy and the foundational scientific and mathematical concepts you need at university, through interactive online modules, live online classes, and assessment preparation. Students must pass all units to complete the program. Those who successfully complete it are eligible for entry into a Southern Cross University undergraduate degree.

Bringing it all together: choosing the right starting point

Guest: So just to recap how this looks at Southern Cross University: we have the early offer program, the Preparing for Success program for Australian residents aged 18 and over, Transition to Uni for recent school leavers who are ATAR-eligible, and diploma pathways. All of these options build confidence, academic skills, and readiness. Even something as simple as knowing where the classrooms are, where to park, how to navigate the university's online systems -- all of that takes pressure off and helps your academic performance.

Guest: There's also recognition of prior learning, known as RPL, where prior study or work experience is recognised and counted as credit towards your degree. That can save you time by reducing the number of units you need to complete, save you money, and bring you closer to your career goals.

Guest: If you're unsure where you sit in all of this, that's normal. That's exactly why support teams exist. You can contact us and we're more than happy to sit with you and go through the best pathway for you. Your school's career advisors can also help point you in the right direction. There is always a way to study at university, and we'll help you find the right path.

Guest: If there's one message to take away today, it's this: there is no single right way into university. Whether you go straight from school into a bachelor's degree, or you've worked for 40 years and now you're going to do the Preparing for Success program before a diploma -- it's a completely different pathway for everyone. You shouldn't all start at the same point. A pathway is not a detour. It's a supported starting point. At the end of the day, you all finish with what you want -- your graduate outcomes. University isn't about how fast you start. It's about finishing strong. And sometimes the smartest path forward doesn't look like the most obvious one. Thank you so much for listening. Sam and Rob are more than happy to help you with your pathway to university.

A student's experience: from struggling at school to high distinction

Guest: I got my first grade at uni and I just laughed out loud. It wasn't just a pass -- I actually got a high distinction. I'd always done terribly at school. I did the PSP course at SCU College, which gave me the foundations of what you need to be able to study at uni. I didn't fail -- I got good grades -- so I thought, hey, I'll keep going. I studied a bachelor's in psychology, did alright, so I kept going and got into honours. Now I'm writing a thesis. Getting that first grade was the first time I felt like I can actually do this. I'm really grateful for it.

Rob: Have you got something out of this session? If you have any questions at all, drop them in the chat.