Selecting your courses
To successfully complete the Open Foundation program you must enrol in and pass a course load of 40 units.
There is a range of courses which provide preparation for entry across all faculties of the University. Start preparing for your new career while gaining your University entrance qualification.
The aims of Open Foundation are to help you gain admission to an undergraduate degree program of your choice, and to best prepare you for undergraduate studies. Hence, we advise you to select your courses for Open Foundation based on two factors:
- Courses that you think you will enjoy, are good at, or are interested in; and
- Recommended courses that will help prepare you for the study of specific undergraduate degree programs.
To help with your selection, read the course descriptions by clicking the Course Code in the tables on the courses page of your selected program, and check out the Recommended Courses below.
Note: The Open Foundation courses recommended for study by Faculties are based on the assumed knowledge that students are expected to have prior to commencing particular degree programs and courses. However, there are no prerequisites for entry into undergraduate degree programs at the University of Newcastle.
Recommended Courses
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Education and Arts
- Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science and Information Technology
NOTE:
CAL - Available at Callaghan campus
OUR - Available at Ourimbah campus
PM - Available at Port Macquarie campus
DIST - Available through distance education
Humanities courses in Open Foundation include: Courses in the Arts and Social Sciences, such as Aboriginal Studies, Australian History, Business Organisation and Management, Classical Studies, English Literature and Film, Philosophy, Social Enquiry, Studies in Law.
Faculty of Business and Law
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Business (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Commerce (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Commerce (CAL/OUR) |
Intermediate Mathematics plus Studies in Law or Business Organisation and Management or 20 units of Humanities courses. |
| Combined Law degree programs (CAL): Admission is competitive. A year of study in a single degree program may be required prior to gaining a place in Combined Law. Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws |
For the Bachelor of Laws degree - Studies in Law or 20 units of Humanities courses |
Faculty of Education and Arts
Students should undertake courses which will provide preliminary knowledge in the curriculum areas of the degree program.
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice(CAL) Bachelor of Arts (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Theology (CAL) Bachelor of Theology (CAL) Diploma in Languages (CAL) Diploma in Theology (CAL) |
At least 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Social Science (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Social Work (CAL) |
Social Enquiry and either 20 units of Mathematics or 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Speech Pathology (CAL) | Chemistry and Life Sciences, and Linguistics |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Arts (CAL/OUR/PM) Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (CAL/OUR) |
Introductory Mathematics and 20 units of Humanities courses (to satisfy NSW Institute of Teachers requirements) |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Arts (CAL/OUR) | At least 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Fine Art(CAL) | Visual Art or Design, and 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Mathematics(CAL) | Extension Mathematics |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (CAL) | Chemistry and the Life Sciences |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Science (CAL) | Mathematics courses, and/or Earth Science, or Conservation and Sustainability, or Chemistry and the Life Sciences, or Physics (only if you are also studying Extension Mathematics). |
| Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Technology (CAL) | Introductory Mathematics, and/or Chemistry and the Life Sciences, or Design, or Visual Art (depending on specialisation) |
| Bachelor of Music (CAL) Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts (CAL) |
Audition required - contact Faculty of Education and Arts to make an appointment. |
| Bachelor of Fine Art (CAL) | Visual Art or Design courses. Interview and portfolio required - contact the Faculty of Education and Arts. |
Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course | |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Computer Science (CAL) Bachelor of Engineering (all specialisations except Chemical and Environmental Engineering) (CAL) Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Surveying) (CAL) |
Strongly recommend Extension Mathematics and Physics |
|
| Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (CAL) Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) (CAL) |
Strongly recommend Extension Mathematics and Chemistry |
|
| Bachelor of Design (Architecture) (CAL) | At least 20 units of Design, Visual Arts, Mathematics or Physics courses | |
| Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) (CAL/DIST) | 20 units of Humanities courses (e.g. Business Organisation and Management, Studies in Law, Social Enquiry) and 20 units of Mathematics or Science courses (e.g. Introductory Mathematics, Earth Science, Chemistry) |
Faculty of Health
It is recommended that students intending to apply for admission to Faculty of Health programs enrol in health and/or science related courses. This will provide you and the University with a good indication of your ability to undertake tertiary study in a scientific/health environment and, at the same time, assist in your preparedness to commence this study should your application be successful.
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Biomedical Science (CAL) Bachelor of Physiotherapy (CAL) |
Intermediate Mathematics or Extension Mathematics, and either Chemistry and the Life Sciences, or Physics (only if you are studying Extension Mathematics). |
|
Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAL) Bachelor of Oral Health (OUR) Bachelor of Podiatry (OUR) |
Chemistry and the Life Sciences and Intermediate Mathematics |
|
Bachelor of Midwifery (CAL/PM) Bachelor of Nursing (CAL/OUR/PM) |
Science for Nursing and Midwifery and 20 units of Humanities courses or Introductory Mathematics |
| Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science(CAL) | Strongly recommend Extension Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry and Life Sciences |
| Bachelor of Medicine (CAL) | Open Foundation is not accepted for entry |
Faculty of Science and Information Technology
| Faculty Programs | Recommended Open Foundation course |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Computer Science (CAL) Bachelor of Mathematics (CAL) Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science (CAL) |
Extension Mathematics and 20 units of Science courses |
| Bachelor of Biotechnology (CAL) | Extension Mathematics and Chemistry and Life Sciences |
| Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (CAL) Bachelor of Science (CAL/OUR) |
Intermediate Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Conservation and Sustainability or Earth Science |
| Bachelor of Communication (CAL) | At least 20 units of Humanities or Design courses relevant to the degree major |
| Bachelor of Visual Communication Design (CAL) Bachelor of Natural History Illustration (CAL) |
20 units of Visual Art or Design courses |
| Bachelor of Development Studies (CAL) | Conservation and Sustainability and/or Social Enquiry |
| Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition (OUR) | Chemistry and Life Sciences and Intermediate Mathematics |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (CAL/OUR) Bachelor of Psychology (CAL/OUR) |
Intermediate Mathematics plus 20 units of Science or Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Informative Technology/Bachelor of Business (CAL/OUR) | Intermediate mathematics plus Business Organisation Management or 20 units of Humanities courses |
| Bachelor of Science with a major in Photonics (CAL) | Extension Mathematics and Physics |
| Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science (OUR) | Intermediate Mathematics and Chemistry and Life Sciences |
Next: What our students say
To find out about past students experiences of Open Foundation, go to What our students say.
Want to review? Back to Part-time Open Foundation or Intensive Open Foundation.