Want to get a Headstart?

Have you ever thought it would be handy to know what university is like before you actually start your degree? And wouldn't it be great if this helped you get your SACE and counted towards your ATAR?

All high achieving students in Year 12 now have the opportunity to attend the University of Adelaide part-time if accepted as a Headstart Studies or Headstart Accelerated scholarship student.

Headstart Accelerated

We are now in the thirteenth year of our Headstart Accelerated scholarship program, which is open to accelerated students who have completed a Stage 2 subject in an earlier school year and are completing their SACE or IB at less than a full year's workload (exceptionally gifted students in lower grades may also be considered). It provides gifted and highly motivated students a challenge beyond the Year 12 curriculum and the chance to grow as an individual as they combine secondary school and some university studies. Successful applicants will receive a scholarship that exempts them from university fees for up to two first-year subjects each semester.

For full details please use the navigation menu to the left to read about how it works and how to apply.

Headstart Studies

Changes to SACE have provided an excellent opportunity for the University of Adelaide to extend the invitation to participate in University life and studies to a larger number of school students, not just those who are accelerated in their studies. The SACE Board has agreed that students satisfactorily completing a university subject as part of their secondary studies will gain credit towards their SACE (maximum 20 credits) and can count it towards their ATAR. From 2012, under the new Headstart Studies scholarship program, all high achieving Yr 12 students may now apply for any of the Headstart courses (subjects) detailed on this website for which there are no Year 12 subject prerequisites. Successful applicants will receive a scholarship that exempts them from university fees for up to one first-year subject each semester.

Students who take up the offer of a Headstart scholarship may benefit from and contribute to the intellectual and diverse cultural life of the University. Headstart is offered only at the University's North Terrace campus.

For full details please use the navigation menu to the left to read about how it works and how to apply.

Application dates 2013

• Semester 1 courses: Monday, 11 February 2013
• Semester 2 courses: Monday, 8 July 2013

The 2013 application form is available in the 2013 Headstart brochure.

If you have any enquiries, please contact Angela Ballantyne (Mon–Wed only) in the Office for Future Students on (08) 8313 8381 or via email angela.ballantyne@adelaide.edu.au.

Please visit the 'how to apply' section for each of the programs for detailed information on the application process.