For teachers and career advisers
From about Year 10, you may find students are increasingly likely to ask about their future career paths and the choices available to them for continuing education after high school. Here you’ll find all the information you need to help them learn more about life and study at UWA.
Choosing subjects at school
It’s possible your students already know they’d like to go to university and what they’d like to study. To help them on their journey, discuss with them the things they’re good at and the things they enjoy doing, as well as those they don’t. This can help inform them as to the type of degree they choose to study. Remember, at UWA our flexible course structure means students can try out several areas of study in their first year before having to choose a major.
If your students have questions about choosing the ‘right’ subjects to study, it’s important to alleviate any unnecessary stress. Any level of mathematics is a wise choice, even if they are unsure what area they’d like to focus on at university, because they may end up changing their minds.
You’ll find course prerequisites online and in our Course Guides. It’s important for students not to worry if they have not completed the prerequisites, as there is often a way to still gain entry. They can speak to our Future Students Advisers for more information.
English is a prerequisite to tertiary study and there are some courses that also require a certain level of mathematics. For all other courses where a prerequisite is indicated, students are still able to enrol if the subject has not been completed. Students will simply need to complete a bridging unit within their degree.
LOTE and mathematics bonus
For those studying a language other than English (LOTE), a 10 per cent bonus is applied on the scaled score for the student’s best LOTE subject.
Likewise for those studying mathematics, a 10 per cent bonus is applied on the scaled score for Mathematics Methods and a separate bonus for Mathematics Specialist. If a student is completing both subjects, they are eligible for both bonuses.
If any of these subjects are not in the student’s top four ATAR outcomes (only four are used to derive the ATAR), the student is still eligible for the 10 per cent bonus.
UWA's twenty three undergraduate degrees
We offer more than 65 majors within our undergraduate degrees.
Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours)
Embrace technological challenges and devise innovative solutions to transform the way we live.
Find out moreBachelor of Agribusiness
Address global food security challenges with an agribusiness degree at UWA
Find out moreBachelor of Agricultural Science
Gain skills for future agricultural systems. This degree integrates the rapidly developing field of AgTech with key agricultural science subjects.
Find out moreBachelor of Arts
Gain the lifelong, transferable skills employers are seeking with one of Western Australia's most diverse degrees.
Find out moreBachelor of Biological Science
Help preserve our ecosystems and protect the future of wildlife and their environments
Find out moreBachelor of Biomedical Science
The Bachelor of Biomedical Science encompasses the biological basis of human structure and function and the application of this knowledge to disease, wellbeing and society.
Find out moreBachelor of Business
Learn practical and relevant business skills to help you achieve a dynamic career pathway.
Find out moreBachelor of Chemistry
Understand the structure, properties and transformations of matter with a quality education in chemistry from UWA.
Find out moreBachelor of Commerce
Make a positive difference in the world. UWA Commerce graduates bring together people and organisations across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Find out moreBachelor of Earth Sciences
Gain a holistic understanding of earth and its oceans to help secure a more sustainable future
Find out moreBachelor of Economics
Gain the powerful skills in economic reasoning and analysis required to understand and change the world.
Find out moreBachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Become an industry-ready engineer with real-world experience in just four years. Graduate with the key skills and qualities employers need in new engineers to succeed in their rapidly evolving sectors
Find out moreBachelor of Environmental Design
Environmental Design is a broad study area that involves design and planning in relation to natural and constructed environments.
Find out moreBachelor of Environmental Science
Make a real and meaningful difference in protecting our environment. Study Environmental Science with Australia’s best.
Find out moreBachelor of Human Sciences
Understand what it is to be human - from our structure, function, development and genetics, to adaptation, performance and evolution.
Find out moreBachelor of Marine Science
Seek solutions to the threats facing our marine and coastal environments.
Find out moreBachelor of Molecular Sciences
Solve life’s greatest challenges through cutting edge approaches in molecular sciences
Find out moreBachelor of Music
The Bachelor of Music provides specialisations for composers, performers and musicologists, as well as those focused on creative music technology.
Find out moreBachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
An inspiring and research-oriented four-year degree for high-achieving students.
Find out moreBachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
All important social issues have philosophical, political and economic dimensions.
Find out moreBachelor of Psychology
A psychology degree that will prepare you for a diversity of careers and further study toward registration as a psychologist.
Find out moreBachelor of Science
Reason, logic, observation, analysis, resourcefulness, creativity, imagination, experimentation and synthesis – these are the essence of science.
Find out moreBachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Become an Accredited Exercise Scientist with WA’s number one sport & sciences program.
Find out moreWhat does a degree involve?
At UWA, we have five undergraduate degrees that usually last three years. The Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) lasts for four years.
We also offer a range of postgraduate professional pathways geared towards career choices such as law, teaching, dentistry and engineering. These Direct Pathways give students an assured place in one of our postgraduate professional courses from the start of their studies. The pathways combine a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, providing them with a clearer direction to their career of choice.
Once students have an idea of the kind of degree they’d like to do, encourage them to think about choosing a major – the subject area on which their studies will be focused. UWA offers more than 65 majors, from Accounting to Zoology and plenty in between.
Studying at UWA doesn’t need to be limited to one area, however. It’s possible (but not compulsory) to choose a second major and to add optional units. This means UWA degrees are flexible and wide-ranging, and can be tailored to address individual career goals and personal interests. Students can easily try out several areas of study in their first year before choosing a major.
Applications and enrolment
Some students prefer to take time out exploring the world or the workforce first and that could mean deferring their university studies for up to a year or applying later as a mature-age student. If a student is looking to start university straight from high school, you can read more about our admission requirements and how to apply. Prerequisites vary from course to course, but the one that is common to all is English language competency.Glossary
It can be difficult enough for a school-leaver to work through their options without also needing to battle through university terminology. We’ve put together a list of words that you can pass on to them to help them decode information.
Need more information?
If your students would like to learn more about UWA, our courses and our people, our Future Students team can answer any questions.
How we can help
We have many opportunities for high school students to engage with life and study on campus.
Course Information Evenings
Many parents like to help their children with the decision of what to do after high school and require information about all the options. UWA offers presentations on admissions requirements, enrolment and other important topics.
Individual Advisory Sessions
Students and parents can book a personalised 30-minute session with a Future Students Adviser to discuss UWA courses and admission requirements and ask any questions they may have about studying at UWA. These are available on weekdays from 9am to 4pm.
Open Day
Students and their families can get a taste for the University by attending our annual Open Day where staff and students are on hand to showcase life and study at UWA.
