ANU Pathway Diplomas are standalone AQF Level 5 qualifications at The Australian National University. Each comprises one year of full-time study and can lead into an aligned Bachelor degree with 48 units of credit, provided the student meets the relevant progression requirements. For international applicants, the Diploma must be packaged with a Bachelor degree; it cannot be commenced with the intention of studying only the Diploma.
What qualification does the Diploma provide?
The Diploma is a qualification in its own right within a nested Diploma-to-Bachelor structure. Completing the Diploma and qualifying to progress into a Bachelor degree are distinct outcomes: progression depends on the requirements for the chosen degree.
ANU offers three Pathway Diplomas:
- Diploma of Business and Economics
- Diploma of Computing
- Diploma of Politics and International Relations
The programs are delivered by a wholly ANU-owned Pathways entity. Students are full ANU students from commencement.
What does the course involve?
Each Diploma takes 12 months full-time, across two semesters, and consists of eight courses. The curriculum includes ESEN1001 Academic Skills for University Study and level-1000 courses shared with Bachelor students.
Teaching is in person at ANU’s Acton Campus in Canberra. There is no remote option, and the current intake is Semester 1 only.
Students receive pre-commencement enrolment counselling, individual academic advice throughout the Diploma, monitoring of engagement and progress, and support with the transition into Bachelor study. They also have the same access to accommodation as Bachelor students.
Which Bachelor degrees can students progress into?
The aligned pathways provide one year, or 48 units, of credit when students meet the applicable progression requirements. The required Diploma GPA depends on the destination degree.
| Pathway Diploma | Aligned Bachelor degree | Required Diploma GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Economics | Bachelor of Accounting | 4.0 |
| Business and Economics | Bachelor of Business Administration | 4.0 |
| Business and Economics | Bachelor of Commerce | 4.0 |
| Business and Economics | Bachelor of Economics | 4.0 |
| Business and Economics | Bachelor of Finance | 4.0 |
| Computing | Bachelor of Computing | 4.0 |
| Politics and International Relations | Bachelor of Asian Studies | 4.0 |
| Politics and International Relations | Bachelor of International Relations | 4.6 |
| Politics and International Relations | Bachelor of International Security Studies | 4.6 |
| Politics and International Relations | Bachelor of Political Science | 4.6 |
| Politics and International Relations | Bachelor of Public Policy | 4.6 |
The Diploma of Politics and International Relations therefore has different progression thresholds within the same pathway. A GPA of 4.0 meets the listed threshold for Asian Studies, while the other aligned degrees require 4.6.
Students may apply for a non-aligned Bachelor after completing the Diploma. Such applications are assessed in the same way as those from students who have completed one year of undergraduate study at ANU. Credit is assessed case by case, so changing programs does not guarantee a full year of credit.
Who is the pathway intended for?
The selection-rank entry range is 70–79.99. Students with a selection rank of 80 or above should apply for a Bachelor degree and cannot commence a Pathway Diploma.
There are no subject prerequisites for Diploma entry, and adjustment factors do not apply. Accepted entry backgrounds also include a graded AQF Certificate IV and specified senior secondary qualifications from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
For the Tawjihi / Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-aama route, the stated requirement is an academic average of 80% plus an SAT score of at least 1090.
International applicants must plan for the packaged Diploma-and-Bachelor sequence, including financial capacity for both stages. Holding a standalone Diploma qualification at completion does not remove this packaged-entry condition.
What English level is required?
Direct entry requires IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0, or an equivalent result. This is the same English requirement as undergraduate entry.
ANU ELICOS can be packaged with the pathway. However, the guide states that ELICOS applications for Semester 1 2027 are closed.
What does the Diploma cost?
The 2027 indicative annual tuition fee is AUD 57,640 for each Pathway Diploma program. This covers the Diploma’s indicative annual tuition, not the total cost of the Diploma-and-Bachelor sequence.
ANU describes the Diploma tuition cost as aligned with the first year of the corresponding Bachelor degree.
Most students are not eligible for the ANU International Achievement Award or Vice-Chancellor’s Award during the Diploma. Scholarship assessment takes place at articulation for students with a Diploma GPA of at least 4.6, equivalent to selection rank 85.
The stated exception is for Pacific Region citizens, who receive a 50% tuition discount under the International Achievement Award from Diploma commencement.
How do international applicants apply?
The application route depends on the qualification being completed and the applicant’s location:
- Onshore applicants completing Australian Year 12, the IB or NCEA Level 3 apply through UAC.
- Other international applicants apply through ANU Application Manager / Studylink.
The listed international application deadline for Semester 1 2027 is 15 December.
The package provides one Confirmation of Enrolment for the Diploma and another for the Bachelor, supporting one visa application. It does not guarantee a visa outcome or remove the academic conditions for Bachelor progression.
The key distinctions are the qualification awarded, the GPA required for the intended Bachelor, and the credit available for that specific route. The aligned pathway offers a defined credit arrangement; a change to another degree requires a separate assessment.