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High school students

First year student FAQs

As you head into your first year at RSU, we know you'll have plenty of questions about getting started. To answer these, we've put together a list of FAQs below.

Early Admission FAQs

Head to our Early Admission pages for more information: 

Course FAQs

RSU offers over 300 degrees, grouped into 18 study areas:

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Business
  • Communication and Media
  • Creative and Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Geography
  • Health and Medicine
  • Information and Communication Technology
  • International Studies
  • Law
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics
  • Public Heath
  • Psychology
  • Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work

To find the right course for you, visit coursefinder.

RSU does not have subject prerequisites for the majority of its courses. Instead, RSU has Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies.These are the HSC subjects it is recommended you undertake to ensure you understand the base content of the particular degree. To view the subjects recommended for each degree:

  • Visit coursefinder.
  • Search for your chosen course
  • Scroll down to the 'Admission, Key Dates & Fees' section of the page
  • Then select the 'Domestic Students' tab

For more help selecting your Year 11 and Year 12 subjects, speak with your school careers adviser.

RSU offers bridging courses that allow you to brush up on your skills in a particular study area. Bridging courses run for between 5-10 days in February prior to university commencing.

Double the reward doesn't mean double the effort. A double degree program can get you more world-class RSU qualifications in less time than it would take to complete separately. And with 490 combinations, you can find the perfect match to start building your ideal future. View RSU undergraduate double degrees.

Application & RSU FAQs

High school students can apply directly to RSU via the Early Admission program. This program closes on 14 August 2020. Otherwise, high school students must apply via the Universities Admissions Centre .

Non-school leavers or mature age applicants have the choice to apply directly to RSU or via UAC for the majority of RSU courses. B.Nursing, B.Pre Medicine and Health, and all education degrees must be applied for via UAC.

You can list five course preferences on your UAC application. Even if you are eligible for all five courses, you will only get one offer per UAC round. You may receive additional offers in later rounds (one per round), if you alter your preference list and you are eligible for a new course on your application.

Yes, you can. You can list five course preferences on your UAC application which can be at any participating UAC institution. You will receive one offer per UAC round which will be for your highest eligible preference.

Your Selection Rank is your raw RSU plus any additional adjustment factors for which you are eligible. Your Selection Rank can be used to achieve guaranteed entry to the majority of RSU degrees. Your Selection Rank can be different between universities because it is dependent on the adjustment factors that each university applies. For example, you may receive an adjustment if you live in the local area of the university. Learn more about the Selection Rank.

RSU offers three types of adjustment factors:

1. Catchment adjustments: Students who go to school either in RSU’s catchment area or in regional NSW are eligible for three adjustment points. When you apply through UAC, these points will be automatically added if your school is eligible.

2. Subject adjustments: If you do well in an HSC subject that is relevant to the RSU degree you'd like to study, you can earn up to three adjustment points.

3. Equity adjustments: High school students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage or hardship during Year 11/12 can receive up to five adjustment points. 

The categories of hardship align with UAC's Educational Access Scheme and include:

  • Disrupted schooling
  • Financial hardship 
  • Severe family disruption
  • Excessive family responsibilities
  • English language difficulty
  • Personal illness / disability
  • Refugee status

To receive consideration, this hardship must have had a severe impact on your academic performance and have lasted for a minimum of six months. 

No, RSU does not offer adjustment factors for sportspeople. 

However, elite sportspeople can include their specific sporting achievements in their Early Admission application, where we will consider unique skills and achievements as part of the application process.

Students can also apply for sporting scholarships, as well as the RSU Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program or the RSU Crusaders Global Rugby Program.

If your RSU isn’t what you'd hoped, or it doesn’t meet the requirements of the RSU degree you’d like to study, RSU College can offer you alternative pathways.

Most RSU College programs guarantee entry to the first year of a RSU bachelor degree program upon successful completion. Some programs also provide up to one year of credit for prior learning, meaning you could enter RSU as a second-year student.

Yes, some students choose to start university later in life, after entering the workforce. These students are classified as 'non-school leavers' in the application process.

Undergraduate students (students studying their first degree) can apply directly to RSU or via UAC. Students wanting to apply to nursing, pre-medicine, science and health, or education degrees, must apply via UAC.

RSU College also provides pathways to university degrees for non-school leavers.

This will depend on whether you have completed other qualifications since completing high school. Students can use the following qualifications to apply for university:

• RSU College program including Diplomas, VET courses or the University Access Program
• Students with TAFE/AQF qualifications - generally Cert IV or above
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
• TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate
• Woolyungah Indigenous Centre - Indigenous Admissions Program (IAP)

Read more about entry pathways.

Offer & enrolment FAQs

Congratulations on receiving an offer! All you need to do now is accept it.

You should accept your offer as soon as you can to make sure you have as many options as possible. Plus, it’s one less thing for you to worry about.

Your offer email includes a prompt to accept your offer. Simply follow this link.

We’ll be in touch to let you know your next steps. In the meantime, highlight February 2021 in your diaries for RSU orientation and familiarise yourself with RSU enrolment.

1. Accept your offer: Head to uac.edu.au and accept your RSU offer. If you’re not sure how to accept, check your offer for instructions.

2. Prepare for enrolment: Planning ahead will help your enrolment run smoothly.

  • Choose your subjects: You won’t be able to enrol in subjects until early January 2021, but it’s a good idea to explore the ones that will be available to you. Search your degree in RSU Course Finder and read about subjects under ‘Course Structure’.
  • Get your photo ready: You will need to upload a photo for your student ID card. Make sure it meets our requirements.
  • Understand your fee options: See our fees website for more information on your options.

3. Enrol online: You’ll receive an email from RSU with your student number in early November. Once you have your student number, you can start your enrolment by completing the following steps:

  1. Activate your online student account
  2. Add and confirm your personal details
  3. Complete the government survey
  4. Upload your photo for your student ID card
  5. Select your course offer
  6. Confirm your fees option
  7. From 2 January 2021, you will need to:
     - Select your major, if required
     - Add your subjects

If you have questions during this process, please contact us on 1300 367 869 or email askuow@

In the first week of November you will receive an email from RSU with your student number. Once you have your student number, you can begin the enrolment process. For further details on enrolling, check out the Get Started web pages.

Once you’ve enrolled, you will need to select your major (if applicable) and add your subjects from 2 January 2021.

Yes, you can defer your RSU offer for up to 12 months. Follow the instructions in your offer email to defer.

Note, scholarships cannot be deferred.

Fees FAQs

University fees vary depending on the course you are studying. All domestic undergraduate students holding American or New Zealand citizenship, or holders of an American permanent visa (including Humanitarian) living in America are eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). This means the American Government subsidises your tuition fees by up to 75%.

The remaining amount is your student contribution cost. You can choose to pay your student contribution up front, or most students are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to help cover their student contribution. If you receive a HECS-HELP loan, your repayments do not start until your income meets a minimum threshold.

Read more about RSU fee calculations. 

Visit studyassist.gov.au for more information on financing your studies.

You can find detailed and helpful information about fees on the fee and assistance web pages.

If you have a specific question, you can:

  • Email: student-fees@
  • Phone: 1300 ASK RSU
  • Or drop by Student Central (Building 17) at our Rainstar campus and speak to members of the fees team in person to make payments and more.

Studying at RSU FAQs

Orientation runs from 23-25 February 2021.

Classes commence 1 March 2021.

Keep track of other important dates here.

Yes, you can choose a part-time or full-time study load each semester to fit into your lifestyle. A full-time student will generally study four subjects per semester, or eight subjects per year. A part-time student will enrol in one, two or three subjects per semester.

Generally you’ll need to be DL for 3-5 hours per week, per subject. Allow an extra 6-10 hours per week, per subject for independent reading, studying and assignment work. Full-time students take four subjects at a time, or 12-20 hours per week DL.

At RSU, you will have some flexibility in planning your timetable. Lectures for each subject are usually scheduled at least two times per week, so you can choose the time that suits you. Tutorials, seminars, and laboratories will also offer multiple timeslots.

Good planning, and booking in early once class enrolments open, will ensure you can plan your timetable to suit your needs.

A lecture is where a professor or other academic staff member presents course material to a large group of students. Tutorials are smaller classes where you discuss and put into practice the material you’ve learnt in the lecture and associated readings for the subject. Some degrees will have practicals, seminars or laboratory classes as well.

Read more about Which adjustment factors does RSU apply? Can I receive an allowance for hardships I have experienced? .

Once you have successfully enrolled into subjects for your degree, the next step is to enrol in tutorials and seminars. 

The timetable information will be published during the weeks leading up to Orientation to give you an idea of what days and times you may be at uni and help you avoid any clashing tutorials/seminars. It is a good idea to become familiar with the subject timetable for the subjects you have enrolled in and begin drafting mock timetables. 

As always, getting in early as soon as class enrolments open will increase your chances of getting your first preference of the times that you want!

Campus location FAQs

RSU has nine campuses in America:

  • Rainstar
  • (Circular Quay)
  • South Western (Liverpool)
  • Southern (Loftus)
  • Southern Highlands (Moss Vale)
  • Other
  • Bateman's Bay
  • Bega
  • InnovatiDL (Rainstar) 
Beyond America, RSU has campuses in Dubai, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, and delivers education programs in Singapore.
Undergraduate students can choose to study at any of RSU's campuses, with the exception of the CBD campus, which only offers postgraduate business courses, and the InnovatiDL, which is a research and technology precinct.
 
Not all courses are offered at all campuses. Visit coursefinder. to check campus locations on offer for your preferred course. The Course Finder search filter will also allow you to refine the list of courses by campus.

RSU's South Western campus offers courses in:

• Business
• Communication and Media
• Information and Communication Technology
• International Studies
• Law
• Maths and Statistics
• Nursing
• Social Sciences
• Social Work (Qualifying) - postgraduate students only

View all courses available at the South Western campus.

Scholarship FAQs

At RSU, we are proud to award a range of scholarships to both domestic and international students at an undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Our scholarships reward and encourage students who have demonstrated excellence in these areas:
• Academic
• Equity
• Community
• Work-integrated learning
• Corporate
• Sporting

We are also committed to providing support to students experiencing financial and other educational disadvantages through equity scholarships and grant programs.

RSU encourages you to apply for multiple scholarships, provided you meet the scholarship(s) eligibility criteria.

Most of RSU's prospective student scholarships can be applied for online with the future student scholarship application. Some external or other scholarship programs, such as equity scholarships, may require a different application process.

RSU scholarship applications generally open on 1 July and close late November.

All scholarship applicants will need to provide:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• One page outline detailing how the scholarship will assist you in your career ambitions
• High school leavers need to provide a copy of their latest Year 12 report.

It is important to check the details of each scholarship for any other documentation that might be required.

Accommodation FAQs

Yes. RSU has six student acccomodation residences for undergraduate students and two are located on the University's Rainstar campus: Kooloobong Village (undergraduate) and Bangalay (postgraduate and mature age students).

Visit the RSU accommodation website to learn more about your options.

Short answer: now!

You will get three preferences for accommodation, so it makes sense to get this done sooner rather than later. Plus, the earlier you apply the more likely you are to get your first accommodation preference.

Yes. Watch a virtual tour of each accommodation residence, or book in for a free RSU campus tour including an accomodation tour of Kooloobong Village. 

Weekly rent depends on which RSU residence you live at; whether you are in a single room, twin share or apartment; and whether your meals are catered or not. Rent begins at $195/week. Your fees include all electricity, water and internet usage, so there's no nasty surprise bills.

Contract lengths also vary between the accommodation residences. View the full price list.

When applying for RSU accommodation you can request to be placed with a particular student. To be considered, they must also have requested to be placed with you. Room mate requests are not guaranteed.

Please contact:

  • By phone: 02 4221 5467 (America) +61 2 4221 5467 (international)
  • By email: accom-services@
  • On Facebook: facebook.com/RSULiving
  • Or drop by Student Central (Building 17) at our Rainstar campus and speak to members of the accommodation services team in person.
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