Aboriginal Orientation Course

An entry pathway for undergraduate studies.

This 14-week course is ideal for Indigenous students who have not completed Year 12, received the required ATAR or have other diverse life and education experiences.

Running each semester, the course grants entry into most undergraduate courses, including Arts, Biomedical Science, Commerce, Nursing, Science, Social Work and Teaching. It’s also a great way to prepare yourself for university study and to make friends before you start.

You’ll enrol in up to 4 units, including 2 core units and 2 electives from either the Arts or Science stream, depending on the undergraduate course you’d like to study. To be accepted into your chosen undergraduate course, you’ll need to receive at least 50% in all units.

The Aboriginal Orientation Course is taught by the UWA Indigenous Student Services.

All the information you need

Learn more about what you’ll study, how we support Indigenous students and what scholarships you might be eligible for.

Course fees

The Aboriginal Orientation Course is a free course.

Course dates

The Aboriginal Orientation Course (AOC) runs in both Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Semester 1

Applications close: mid-February
Semester 1: late February to mid-June
Applicants must attend the University Entrance Workshop in late November or late January.

Semester 2

Applications close: early July
Semester 2: mid-July to early November
Applicants must attend the University Entrance Workshop in late June.

Core units

All orientation students must complete the following 2 core units:

Elective units

You’ll also need to choose 2 electives from either the Arts or Science stream. This is where you’ll start refining your learning to align with your chosen undergraduate course.

Arts stream

Our Arts stream is a great basis for subjects you might undertake in an Arts degree, such as Anthropology, Creative Writing and Literature, History, Political and Legal Studies, Psychology and Sociology. These units focus on critical and analytical thinking, essay writing, tutorial discussions and oral presentations.

If you’re interested in studying a Bachelor of Arts and/or considering a career in architecture, education, law, psychology or social work, enrol in:

Science stream

The Science stream is designed for students interested in careers in commerce, engineering, health, science, among others.

If you’re interested in studying a Bachelor of Science and/or considering a career in engineering, geology, science or sports science, or are planning to follow your undergraduate degree with postgraduate studies in dentistry, engineering, medicine or podiatric medicine, enrol in up to 2 of the following:

If you’re interested in studying a Bachelor of Commerce and/or considering a career in accounting, economics, finance, management or marketing, enrol in up to 2 of the following:

*If you’re planning to study Science or Commerce, we strongly recommend taking the Foundations of Mathematics (MATH0013) unit, unless you have a scaled pass in ATAR Mathematics Applications or ATAR Mathematics Methods.

Regional students

If you’re based in a regional or remote area, our team can help with organising travel and accommodation to attend the University Entrance Workshop (details below). You can also complete the workshop online if you’re unable to travel to Perth.

There’s also plenty of support for regional students to attend uni in Perth, including help finding accommodation and financial support. Ask our team about this when you get in touch.

Scholarships

If you’re enrolled in – or undertaking the Aboriginal Orientation Course – you might also be eligible for a scholarship. These might include:

Indigenous Enabling Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (IECAS) – $5,000 for regional or remote students who have moved to Perth
Indigenous Enabling Commonwealth Enabling Education Costs Scholarship (IECECS) – $3,000 for students enrolling in a bridging or orientation course for the first time
C. Cruickshank Family Scholarship – $1,800 for a female Indigenous student under the age of 21

Browse Indigenous scholarships

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How to apply

Get in touch

Our Indigenous Student Services team is here to help! Reach out at the link below to chat about the Aboriginal Orientation Course and the undergraduate course you’re seeking entry into.

Apply online or in-person

If you’re a Year 12 student or recent high school leaver (within two years), then you can apply for the course through TISC. Non-school leavers can apply through UWA’s website.

Applications for Semester 1 close in mid-February, while applications for Semester 2 close in in early July.

Applying online

To apply online, you’ll need to prepare:

Proof of identification (such as a birth certificate)
Unique Student Identifier or USI – all Australian school students have one. If you don’t have a record of yours, visit Find your USI.

Apply online via UWA Apply

Appy online via TISC

Applying in-person

You can also apply at the University Entrance Workshop and get in-person support from our team. You'll need the same materials listed above to apply in-person.

Need help with submitting your application? Feel free to email or call us at any point.

Attend the University Entrance Workshop

Held at Bilya Marlee on UWA’s Perth campus, this information session is a chance to have a yarn about your career and study goals, your past life, work and/or study experiences, and what support you might need to complete your studies.

Our team will also work out which is the best entry pathway into university for you, whether that’s through the Aboriginal Orientation Course, Indigenous Provisional Entry Scheme or Experience-based entry. If you haven’t already applied for university entry, you can also complete this at the workshop.

The University Entrance Workshop is held in late January, June and November.

Getting your offer

You’ll get the outcome of your application via email. If successful, login to the UWA portal to accept it!

Accept your offer

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Applying late

If you’re interested in studying but the application date has passed, we still recommend getting in touch with our team as we may be able to accept late applications.

Get in touch

Have a yarn with us

Our Indigenous Student Services team can help with information about uni entry, scholarships, accommodation, tutoring, postgraduate studies and more.

Office hours
8.30am–5.00pm (AWST), Monday to Friday
Give us a call
+61 8 6488 3428
Email us
sis@uwa.edu.au
askUWA
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Aboriginal Orientation Course

All the information you need

Semester 1

Semester 2

Arts stream

Science stream

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How to apply

Applying online

Applying in-person

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Applying late

Have a yarn with us

Office hours

Give us a call

Email us

Register

Study

Explore courses

Discover UWA

How to apply

Scholarships and fees

Support information

How can we help you?

Study

Semester 1

Semester 2

Arts stream

Science stream

Applying online

Applying in-person