How to apply

Eligibility
To be eligible for a Headstart place in 2011, students should be completing SACE Stage 2 or the International Baccalaureate (IB) at Year 12, with less than a full year's workload.

Please note that students are not eligible for Headstart if they have already completed SACE Stage 2 or the IB at Year 12.

A special case will need to be made by schools on behalf of students who have met the SACE requirements, but are not yet in Year 12.

Applicants must also meet the following criteria:

• Have an average score of 15 or better for SACE Stage 2 subjects already taken, and at least 17 for any SACE Stage 2 subject which constitutes a prerequisite for the University course to be studied. IB students will need an average score of 6 or higher at the Standard Level and 5 or higher at the Higher Level. Note: A SACE score of at least 19 in Mathematical Studies and Specialist Mathematics, or 6-7 in IB higher level Maths, is required to enrol in university Mathematics I.
• Be recommended by their school principal, who will take into account their basic eligibility, study load at school, academic ability, the practicalities of attendance at classes and capacity to manage the social and organisational demands.

Please note that only a limited number of places will be offered and each application will be assessed on its merits.

Applications

Students wishing to apply for a Headstart place should complete the application form in the Headstart brochure by the closing date for either semester 1 or 2. This form (towards the back of the brochure) should be accompanied by proof of the student's academic performance in the appropriate SACE Stage 2 subject/s, a letter of recommendation from the school principal, contact details of the applicant's nominated mentor, and a timetable of 2011 school classes.

Students applying for Psychology IA and/or Psychology IB may also be required to attend an interview. Further details may be obtained by contacting Carmen Rayner (phone 8303 5704 or email carmen.rayner@adelaide.edu.au) in the Department of Psychology.

Any queries about the application should be directed to Angela Ballantyne (Mon-Wed only) ph: (08) 8303 8381 or email: angela.ballantyne@adelaide.edu.au.

Mid-year Entry

Students who were unable to apply to the Headstart program in semester 1 can now be considered for entry into courses (subjects) beginning in semester 2.  Mid-year entry is only available into courses that do not have a semester 1 university course prerequisite or assumed knowledge (see course descriptions for further information). 

Students applying for Headstart at the beginning of the year apply for both semesters in the initial application (they do not need to complete a second application for semester 2 courses.) 

Headstart Timetable

When applying for the program, students, their parents and mentor teachers should take into consideration timetabling. Courses (subjects) are offered on the North Terrace campus only, and Headstart students should attend regularly to gain maximum benefit from their university studies. We encourage students to investigate the timetable requirements of the courses for which they may apply. Class details will be available from December 1 so that a potential timetable can be investigated. A 2011 school timetable should be submitted with the application form.

Course offerings for 2011 can be viewed here.

Costs

Successful applicants receive a full scholarship from the University of Adelaide which waives the tuition fees for any courses studied as part of the Headstart program.  Costs associated with textbooks, materials, equipment and field trips are the responsibility of the student. 

Closing dates

The closing dates for Headstart applications are:

Please note that teaching begins 2.5 weeks after the closing date.  Applications received after the closing date each semester cannot be considered due to the time required for students' enrolment and orientation.