High Performing Students Program
The High Performing Students Program allows high-achieving high school students of any age an opportunity to get a head start on their university studies and to get to know the University of Newcastle.
The program invites outstanding high school students to complete a 1000 level first year university course while still in high school. These classes are held outside of school hours on campus at NUspace in Newcastle, or online. Unspecified credit for the completed course may be applied for on admission into a degree at the University.
Students and their families are invited to attend an attainment ceremony at the end of semester to receive their University transcript with their course results and to celebrate their achievements and place within the University community.
The High Performing Students Program runs during Semester 1 each year. In 2027 lessons will run once a week from February until May, with a semester break in April.
To be eligible for the High Performing Students Program, students must demonstrate outstanding performance in one or more area relevant to the course of interest.
You need permission from your school and parent or guardian to participate and you must exhibit maturity, dedication, and an ability to manage the additional workload, without a negative impact on your school studies or personal life.
Students must also meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Australian citizen
- Dual citizenship holder of Australia or New Zealand
- Holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
- Permanent resident of Australia
- New Zealand citizen
There is no cost to apply for the program.
In 2027 the cost for the course, once accepted, is $450. An invoice will be sent to the student's email address after enrolment. Individual courses may also make recommendations of a textbook/s that can be purchased if the student chooses to do so.
Withdrawing from the program before the census date will allow for a full refund; however, any requests made after the census date will not be eligible for reimbursement. The census date falls approximately four weeks into the semester.
Students in the High Performing Students Program are University of Newcastle students and have access to the same Academic Learning Support Services and Study and wellbeing resources as other University students, along with the use of all the same on campus facilities, The Careers Service and Campus Libraries.
Courses on offer
In 2027 the HPS Program will once again expand to offer a wider range of courses, delivered by experienced academics with extensive expertise in their fields.
The HPS Program offers 'Face to Face' and 'Online' courses. We encourage students to consider the benefits of studying in person on campus as part of this experience where possible. Regardless of study mode, completing all course work and attendance in scheduled lessons is mandatory.
Study modes
- Face to Face courses listed below require in person attendance once a week. These lessons run at NUspace Campus, Newcastle from 4pm-6pm on Fridays during Semester 1, 2027.
- Online - with no scheduled lessons - These courses allow students to complete the weekly learning activities online, in their own time. Pre-recorded lectures are provided to students, and there are no live lessons or scheduled classes during the week.
- Scheduled Online - These courses have a timetabled Zoom lesson online from 4pm-6pm on Fridays, during Semester 1, 2027. Students in these courses need to be available and able to log in with internet access at this time to participate remotely.
2027 Courses:
Returning students who have completed LAWS1010 please note: LAWS1101 is the same course as LAWS1010. It has been renamed but contains the same content. Please choose a different course on your application form; students are not permitted to complete the same course again.
Course Description
Sources of Law and Legal Skills introduces the foundational knowledge and skills that students require to study all other law courses. It develops essential skills in reflective practice, legal research, legal writing, referencing, case reading, problem solving, and legal reasoning. Students develop a growing awareness of legal practice as a distinctive element within the Australian legal process.
The course introduces the foundation and structure of the institutions and processes of the Australian legal system, including its origins and cultural contexts. Students are introduced to the sources of authoritative law (including statutes and case law), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal systems, and fundamental legal concepts such as the rule of law, separation of powers, and doctrine of precedent. The nature and function of law is analysed and contextualised.
Course Modes - choose one
Option 1 - ‘Face to Face’ Students in this mode are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other course work is provided online for you to complete throughout the week, in your own time. Some assessments and exams are submitted online, others occur during your usual face to face lessons.
Option 2 – ‘Scheduled Online’ Students in this mode are not required to come to campus for lessons or exams. You will need to log in for a 2 hour lesson over Zoom from 4pm - 6pm each Friday to watch and participate in the live casting of the face to face lesson occurring on campus at the same time. All other course work is provided online for you to complete throughout the week, in your own time. Some of your assessments and exams occur at your own high school. The University will contact your school to make arrangements with a teacher from your school to support and supervise you throughout.
Prior Knowledge Required
Preferably, those students applying for this course will be achieving outstanding results in either English or a HSIE subject. Otherwise, there is no other specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Laws ((Honours) Combined programs, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Media and Communication, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Development Studies, Bachelor of Psychological Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Science.
Course Description
Foundations of Health and Disease provides an integrated introduction to Human Biosciences. The anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems will be introduced, including the mechanisms of disease. Students will explore potential future health careers including Medical Radiation Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing and Biomedical research.
Course Mode
'Online - with no scheduled lessons’
All resources and learning activities are accessed online and completed throughout the week in your own time. This course does not have scheduled lessons, either online or face to face, and you are not required to come to campus for exams. There may be an online exam that you will need to sit at your own high school, with the support of a teacher from your school to supervise you throughout.
Prior Knowledge Required
There is no specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course, other than the demonstration of outstanding school results and a curiosity about the content.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours).
Course Description
Society and Culture: an Introduction to Sociology introduces the sociological perspective through an exploration of contemporary social and cultural issues. Key sociological concepts and theories are used to examine social patterns, social action and social change.
Topics in this course may include: socialisation and identity, sex and gender, race and ethnicity, class and social inequality, globalisation and work, deviance and social control, and media and popular culture.
Course Mode
‘Face to Face’ only.
Students in this course are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other course work is provided online to be completed throughout each week, in your own time. Some assessments or exams are submitted online, others occur during your usual face to face lessons at the university.
Prior Knowledge Required
There is no specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course, other than the demonstration of outstanding school results and a curiosity about the content.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: SOCA1010 can be used as 10 units of unspecified credit for the majority of undergraduate degrees at the University of Newcastle. Degrees where it will feature as credit in a major are as follows: Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (Secondary).
Course Description
Creative Writing: Introduction offers entry-level training in creative writing. Students will be familiarised with the techniques and strategies used by creative writers and be trained to adapt these tools to produce their own work.
The course includes close reading and discussion of texts across the major literary forms, as well as opportunities for students to develop their own writing.
Course Mode
‘Face to Face’ only.
Students in this course are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other coursework and assessments will be provided online, for students to complete throughout the week in their own time.
Prior Knowledge Required
There is no specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course, other than the demonstration of outstanding school results and a curiosity about the content.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: ENGL1201 can be used as 10 units of unspecified credit for the majority of undergraduate degrees at the University of Newcastle. Degrees where it will feature as credit in a major are as follows: Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (Secondary).
Course Description
Molecules, Cells and Organism introduces the basics of cell and molecular biology and explores the nature of life's molecular building blocks and systems, and how these interact to form functional cells and ultimately organisms.
Students will discover some of the principles behind how cells work, how biological complexity and life itself may have originated, basic genetic concepts explaining how organisms can pass on their traits which convey selective advantages for survival in a fiercely competitive world, along with cells communicating with other cells, and detecting and responding to the external stimuli in its environment. This knowledge underpins our ability to combat disease, to harness solar energy to feed the world, to sustainably power human industry and to recycle our waste efficiently using microbial systems.
Students who complete this course will be well placed to further their studies in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, microbial biology, molecular genetics and animal & plant physiology.
Course Modes - choose one
Option 1 - ‘Face to Face’ Students in this mode are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other course work is provided online for you to complete throughout the week, in your own time. Some assessments and exams are submitted online, others occur during your usual face to face lessons.
Option 2 – ‘Scheduled Online’ Students in this mode are not required to come to campus for lessons or exams. You will need to log in for a 2 hour lesson over Zoom from 4pm - 6pm each Friday to watch and participate in the live casting of the face to face lesson occurring on campus at the same time. All other course work is provided online for you to complete throughout the week, in your own time. Some of your assessments and exams occur at your own high school. The University will contact your school to make arrangements with a teacher from your school to support and supervise you throughout.
Prior Knowledge Required
The academics have advised that students applying for this course are best to have completed Year 10 Chemistry and would benefit from having completing either Year 10 Mathematics or Physics as well.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Course Description
Discrete Mathematics introduces students to the basics of discrete mathematics, including topics like set theory, logic, counting, probability, recurrence relations, and graph theory. It provides essential knowledge for students considering a degree in Mathematics, Computer Science or Software Engineering.
Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are separate or distinct, unlike calculus, which looks at continuous change. This area is key in both pure and applied mathematics, is the foundation of modern computing and is important in the sciences, with growing applications like understanding DNA sequences in molecular biology.
Course Mode
‘Face to Face’ only.
Students in this course are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other course work is provided online to be completed throughout each week, in your own time. Assessments and exams occur during your usual face to face lessons at the university.
Prior Knowledge Required
The academics have advised that students applying for this course should have strong skills in algebraic manipulation, including the ability to solve a 2x2 linear system of equations, and quadratic equations.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Mathematics, Bachelor of Mathematics (Advanced), Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Computer Science - Core courses, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Biotechnology, Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management, Bachelor of Psychological Science, All Engineering (Honours) programs (excluding Surveying).
Course Description
Object Oriented Programming is an introduction to an object-oriented programming language. Students learn about problem-solving strategies, top-down program development and programming style. This course introduces the fundamentals of analysing a problem and then implementing a solution, as a computer software system using an object-oriented language. It provides a basic introduction to data abstraction and object-oriented analysis and design, with emphasis placed on programming and testing.
Course Mode
‘Face to Face’ only.
Students in this course are required to attend a 2 hour in person lesson each week, from 4pm - 6pm on Fridays, at NUspace Campus, Newcastle. All other course work is provided online to be completed throughout each week, in your own time. Some assessments or exams are submitted online, others occur during your usual face to face lessons.
Prior Knowledge Required
There is no specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course, other than the demonstration of outstanding school results and a curiosity about the content.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Mathematics, Bachelor of Education (Secondary), B Computer Systems Engineering (Honours).
Course Description
Globalisation and International Management explores the challenges and opportunities that come with the globalisation of markets and production, which affect managers in both local and international companies. Students will learn about the cultural, political, economic, and technological factors that drive globalisation, and be introduced to basic ideas in global economics and international business.
This course also looks at how globalisation impacts different areas of management, such as human resources, marketing, and supply chain management. Alongside learning about how managers make strategic decisions across cultures and countries, students will discuss and critique the focus on profit in large global companies, considering the role of corporate social responsibility.
Course Mode
‘Scheduled Online’ only.
Students are not required to come to campus for lessons or exams for this course. Instead, you will need to log in for a 2 hour lesson over Zoom from 4pm - 6pm each Friday to participate in an online lesson. All other course work will will be provided online for you to complete during the week in your own time. Assessments or exams are submitted online or completed online during your weekly Zoom lesson with supervision from your lecturer.
Prior knowledge needed for success in this course
There is no specific prior knowledge required to attempt this course, other than the demonstration of outstanding school results and a curiosity about the content.
This course may be eligible for credit in the following degrees: Bachelor of Business (and associated combined degrees), Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and events, Bachelor of Commerce (and associated combined degrees), Bachelor of Business Analytics.
The University of Newcastle reserves the right to withdraw courses from the High Performing Students Program if there is insufficient interest.
How to apply
We are excited to announce that applications for the 2027 courses will open in September 2026.
Keep an eye on this page for the 'Apply' button coming soon.
When applications are open all required forms and documents will be available here for download and submission.
Please note - there is a shorter application period this year than in previous years. Applications for 2027 will close in late October 2026 (exact closing date will be available soon.) Late applications will not be accepted.
Need more information?
Send an email
Call (02) 4921 5558
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.