You can study individual units for personal or professional development without having to apply for a full QUT course. We call this 'single-unit study'.
If you successfully complete a unit, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit) if you decide to apply for a degree course in the future.
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply for single-unit study, except international students who are in Australia on international student visas.
You must be 18 or older at the time you plan to start studying.
If you're a high school student and want to study university units while you're still at school, you may be able to apply for our START QUT program for Year 12 students.
English language proficiency
If your previous studies were not in English, or were completed in a country where English is not the first language, you will need to demonstrate that you meet our English language proficiency requirements when you apply.
You can do this by providing results of an English language test that we recognise.
English language proficiency test score requirements
IELTS (Academic)
- Overall score:
- 6.5
- No sub-score less than:
- 6
TOEFL iBT (Internet-based)
- Overall score:
- 90
- No sub-score less than:
- 20
Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic)
- Overall score:
- 64
- No sub-score less than:
- 58
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
From 2015
- Overall score:
- 176
- No sub-score less than:
- 169
Before 2015
- Overall score:
- 58
- No sub-score less than:
- Borderline
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
From 2015
- Overall score:
- 176
- No sub-score less than:
- 169
Before 2015
- Overall grade:
- C1
I want to study a QUT unit as part of my course at another university
If you're enrolled in a course at another university, but want to study a QUT unit for advanced standing towards your course, you can apply as a cross-institutional student.
What can I study?
You can browse for units in the study areas you're interested in. You can apply for up to four units at a time.
To study some units you need to have completed particular subjects as prerequisites, or have a certain level of background knowledge (which we call 'assumed knowledge'). Check the previous study requirements for the units you're interested in. If you have any questions, contact the unit coordinator for the semester you want to study.
Certain units, such as education practicums, are not open to non-QUT students. Check the unit you're interested in to find out whether you can apply for single-unit study.
How much will it cost?
You must pay full tuition fees up-front.
Your fees will depend on which units you enrol in. Check the fees in your unit information.
If you're an Australian citizen, permanent visa holder or permanent humanitarian visa holder, or a New Zealand citizen, check the fee for domestic fee-paying students.
If you're a citizen of another country, check the international student fee.
When to apply
The deadlines for applying depend on when you plan to start studying.
2024
How to apply
Check the units you're interested in to see whether you can apply for single-unit study. If the unit is open to applications for single-unit study, complete and submit a single-unit study application form.
Single-unit study application form
Supporting documents
If the units you want to study require particular prerequisites or background knowledge, you'll need to supply documents that demonstrate that you meet the requirements, for example academic transcripts or proof of work experience.
You'll need to upload scanned copies of the documents and submit them with your application. They don't need to be certified copies.
What happens next?
We'll email you to let you know we've received your application.
It usually takes us about three weeks to process applications.
We can only process your application if it's complete, including any required supporting documents. If you submit an incomplete application and don't supply the rest of the required information within five working days, we'll refuse your application.
After we've processed your application, we'll email you to let you know whether it's approved. If it is, the email will also let you know what you need to do to get started at QUT.