2024 Head Start Guidelines

unisq.edu.au/headstart
1. Eligibility
Students Attending a State or Non-State Secondary School
Students must supply their most recent graded report card issued by their
state regulatory body (e.g., Education Queensland)1. The report card
must feature a minimum of three (3) senior school subjects and students
must have maintained a minimum B average (or 70% or higher).
Please see the Grade Average Calculator to assist in determining a B
average. We assess the top five (5) subjects on the report card.
Grade Average Calculator
Students will become ineligible for entry in subsequent study periods
where fail grades are received in two (2) Head Start courses. A student has a B grade average if
they average at least four (4) points
Home School & ACE Schools on the below table
Students who are not able to supply an official report card from the state
regulatory body (e.g., Education Queensland) must submit a completed Grade Point equivalence
STAT test which is the recommended test for school age students. While
not the preferred testing option, results from a completed SAT test may A 5
also be considered. B 4
Minimum requirements for entry via STAT or SAT test:
C 3
• STAT test: Score of 155 points or more
D 2
• SAT test: 70th percentile or above
E 1
2. Eligible Semesters by Year Level

• Year 10 – Trimester/Semester 2 and Trimester/Semester 32

• Year 11 & 12 – Semester/Trimester One, Two and Three How to use this tool:
Each grade has a corresponding
3. Additional Application Requirements point value. Convert the grades into
Each school must nominate a coordinator for the student/s studying the points (for example: if the subject
Head Start program each study period via the Application Approval Form. grades are: A,B,C the points are
This must be a staff member at the school for students enrolled at a high worked out as follows: 5,4,3 = 12)
school or a parent/guardian if home schooled. To work out the average score,
This coordinator will provide care and support for their student/s enrolled divide the total points by the number
in the program and will monitor their progress. The coordinator is the only of subjects (in the example above:
contact that UniSQ can provide with student information in line with the 12/3 = 4)
UniSQ Student Authority to Act Procedure. Bonus Points of 0.25 can be
If the nominated coordinator needs to change a new approval form will received for each of the following
need to be completed by the student and new school coordinator. (maximum of 1.0 points)

4. International Students • A successfully completed

Head Start course
International students who are enrolled with an Australian-based school • A completed Certificate III or
are eligible to apply for the UniSQ Head Start program. International higher
students can complete the online application form and normal entry • Students studying one of the
requirements apply (see guidelines 1 and 2). following subjects:

5. Course Limits  A Language other than

English
Students can only enrol in a maximum of one (1) course per study period.  Chemistry
 Physics
The maximum number of courses that a student can complete under the  Specialist Mathematics
Head Start program while at school is seven (7) courses.

For each subsequent Head Start course, a new full application form must
be completed online by the application closing date for each
Semester/Trimester.
6. Tuition Fees
Students will be enrolled as ‘non-award students’ and will not be charged any tuition fees for their first Head
Start course. Students will be expected to meet the costs normally incurred with the course, including textbooks,
residential school costs, etc.

If students have requested to withdraw from their course in writing before the advertised last day to drop a
course without a fee (Census Date), they will be eligible for another free course in a later study period.
Students undertaking additional Head Start courses in later study periods will be charged $4603 per course. In
addition, students will be required to pay a Student Amenities Fee (SAF) which is currently $43.854. These fees
will need to be paid in full to UniSQ by the fee payment due date for the respective study period of study as
published on the UniSQ Academic Calendar.
7. Residential Schools

A number of Head Start courses in the Science, Health and Medical Sciences and Nursing study areas have a
Residential School component. This is an on-campus requirement where students need to attend to be eligible
to complete all course requirements.
Residential schools give external students the opportunity to attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials, use the
facilities and meet out staff and other students. These are held in a block of 3 days approximately where
students need to commit to coming onto a UniSQ campus to complete. Residential School dates are available
well in advance to review and allow students the opportunity to ensure they can commit.
Please check the 2024 course list to determine which courses have a Residential School
8. Early Offer

Students who successfully complete a Head Start course are eligible for an Early Offer based purely on the
completion of a Head Start course*.
Students may receive a conditional offer as early as August depending on when they submit their early offer
application. Students still need to meet all other program pre-requisites (e.g., completion of Year 12 and
minimum C grade in Units 3 & 4 in school subjects required as pre-requisites).
Students should check the UniSQ Handbook to determine program pre-requisites. Students still need to apply
via QTAC and must place a UniSQ program as their first (1st) preference to be considered for an Early Offer.

* Early offers are not available for the below quota managed programs:
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
• Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)
• Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medicine Pathway)

9. QCE Points

Students who successfully complete a Head Start course will receive two (2) points towards their Queensland
Certificate of Education (QCE) for every course, up to the maximum allowable limit (8 points) set by the
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA). Results will be uploaded to the QCAA portal within
four (4) weeks of UniSQ results being released.
* Students in Year 12 studying in Semester Three do not receive QCE points.
* Students outside of Queensland are not eligible to receive QCE Points. Head Start does not contribute points towards other state
senior certificates.

10. Adjustment Factors

Students who complete a Head Start course will receive one (1) Tertiary Entrance Rank point towards their
QTAC rank if applying to UniSQ. A student can receive a maximum of six (6) bonus ranks which includes
adjustments based on subjects.
11. Course Completion
Students will be provided with a certificate upon successful completion of each course at the Head Start
Celebration or via post after grades are released.
An unofficial transcript can be downloaded from UConnect at the completion of the course. Students can obtain
an ‘official’ academic transcript upon request and payment of the associated fee.

Should a student be admitted into a UniSQ program, credit can be applied for each completed Head Start
course, subject to the rules pertaining to that particular program (e.g. program structure). Further information on
this can be found here.
12. Flexible Academic Calendar Project
In 2024 UniSQ will be moving to an innovative, new, flexible Academic Calendar focusing on how student’s
lifestyles are changing and how students access learning in the 21st century. All teaching periods will be
contained within a single calendar year from January to December, excluding Nursing and Creative Arts courses
which will move formats in 2025. The existing UniSQ calendar format (semesters) will run parallel to the new
design throughout 2024, as programs prepare to move into the new layers. The UniSQ Handbook will be
updated as needed with any changes.
13. UniSQ Student Support & Policies
Students will be issued with a student number and will have access to the University support services, Library
and to the University IT services including UConnect. Students will be subject to the provisions of the
University’s statutes and regulations during their enrolment.
Each Head Start application must be signed by parents/guardians thereby giving consent to UniSQ to provide
full internet access to the student for the purpose of their studies and educational activities and incidental to such
in accordance with UniSQ’s ICT policies. UniSQ will not be responsible for the content that may be viewed on
the Internet.
By refusing consent or later withdrawing consent by written notice to UniSQ, the student’s enrolment or Internet
access as applicable will be cancelled by UniSQ, which may impact their study results. Parents/guardians and
the nominated school coordinator are eligible to be granted access to information regarding the enrolment of
their student/s during the semester.

1 The Toowoomba Christian College Report Card will also be accepted.

2 Check the individual course eligibility on our Head Start Courses Webpage
3 Course fees are based on 2024 prices and are subject to change. See the current fee schedule here.
4 SAF are based on 2024 prices and are subject to change. See the current fee schedule here.

Contact our Head Start Team

Email: headstart@unisq.edu.au
Opening hours: 8.00am - 5.00pm (AEST) Monday to Friday (except public holidays)
Connect with the UniSQ Team: Contact us