Program Overview

Introduction to the Head Start Program

The Head Start program at Griffith University is designed for highly motivated Queensland and northern New South Wales Year 11 and 12 students. This program allows students to complete an undergraduate-level course while still in high school, with the opportunity to earn credit towards their future degree.

Benefits of the Head Start Program

• No course fees: The tuition fees for the Head Start program are covered by Griffith University.
• Guaranteed admission: Students who successfully complete the program are guaranteed entry into a range of Griffith University degrees.
• Boost your ATAR/Rank: Completing a Head Start course can increase your ATAR/Rank by two adjustments for eligible Griffith University degrees.
• Get credit before you start uni: The credit earned through the Head Start program can be transferred to your future degree, reducing your workload and fees.

Entry Requirements

The Head Start program is open to Queensland and northern New South Wales Year 11 and 12 students who meet specific eligibility criteria, including:

• ATAR-eligible students
• Non-ATAR VET students
• IB Diploma Programme students
• Non-ATAR IB Career-related Programme students
• Non-standard curriculum students
• Home-schooled students

ATAR-Eligible Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Students

To be eligible, QCE students must:

• Achieve an average grade of B (or equivalent) across all subjects, including a General or Applied English subject
• Meet English subject prerequisites for certain courses (e.g., Education, Laws)
• Meet other subject requirements for specific courses (e.g., Mathematics for Education, Engineering)

ATAR-Eligible New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) Students

To be eligible, HSC students must:

• Achieve an average grade of B (or equivalent) across 5 HSC Board Developed courses (excluding courses with optional HSC written examinations)
• Meet English subject prerequisites for certain courses
• Meet other subject requirements for specific courses

Non-ATAR VET Students

To be eligible, non-ATAR VET students must:

• Be completing an AQF Certificate III or above
• Be undertaking VET study in combination with QCAA General and/or Applied subjects
• Achieve an average grade of B (or equivalent) across all subjects, including a General or Applied English subject
• Meet English subject prerequisites and other subject requirements for specific courses

IB Diploma Programme (DP) Students

To be eligible, IB DP students must:

• Achieve a minimum grade of 4 in all Higher Level (HL) subjects and a minimum grade of 5 in all Standard Level (SL) subjects, including English
• Meet English subject prerequisites and other subject requirements for specific courses

Non-ATAR IB Career-Related Programme (CP) Students

To be eligible, non-ATAR IB CP students must:

• Be completing an AQF Certificate III or above
• Be undertaking VET study in combination with IBDP HL or SL subjects
• Achieve a minimum grade of 4 in all HL subjects and a minimum grade of 5 in all SL subjects, including English
• Meet English subject prerequisites and other subject requirements for specific courses

Non-Standard Curriculum Students

To be eligible, non-standard curriculum students must:

• Be undertaking a minimum of five subjects that contribute to the completion of their senior qualification or certificate
• Achieve an average grade of B across all subjects, including the subject that meets the English Subject Prerequisite
• Meet English subject prerequisites and other subject requirements for specific courses

Home-Schooled Students

To be eligible, home-schooled students must:

• Provide evidence of being enrolled in a home education program
• Achieve a minimum of 80% User Percentile in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or a minimum overall score of 159 in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

Available Courses

The Head Start program offers a range of courses from various disciplines, including:

• Business
• Education
• Health
• Science
• Humanities and Languages
• Law and Criminology
• Visual and Creative Arts

How to Apply

To apply for the Head Start program, students must:

1. Choose their course
2. Check key dates
3. Talk to their school
4. Submit their application

Support and Resources

Head Start students have access to the full suite of IT, academic, and wellbeing support offered to Griffith University students. Students are also required to have support from their parents, guardians, and school to successfully complete the program.

Transferring Credit

Once students have successfully completed the Head Start program, they may be eligible to transfer their credit to their preferred undergraduate degree at Griffith University. The amount of credit awarded will depend on the courses studied through Head Start and the Griffith undergraduate degree they have been admitted to.