Mature age

Undergraduate entry requirements

Not everybody goes straight from school into higher education. In fact, many mature age students would argue that life experience makes the tertiary experience all the more rewarding.

Charles Darwin University has a large number of mature age students entering the university through a number of different pathways. If you do not meet the minimum entry requirements (below) and would like to discuss your options, feel free to contact Student Services or call into a Information Centre, located at both Casuarina and Alice Springs campuses. We also have a career counsellor on hand should you need advice.

Am I classified as a mature age student?

To be a mature age student you must be 19 years or older at the start of your first semester and fulfil other general entry requirements.

The minimum entry requirement for most undergraduate degree courses is:

Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education (or equivalent) and a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) of 60 or higher (this also applies to international students); or
Successful completion of a VET or TAFE award of certificate IV or higher; or
Attainment of a STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test) score of 145 or greater; or
Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience; or
Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma; or
Successful completion of 40 credit points in the CDU Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP) or other recognised bridging or tertiary preparation course. Enabling/Foundation Program (.pdf, 138kb).

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

The University has a guaranteed Indigenous entry provision scheme, which provides alternative admission assessments for Indigenous students.

For further information contact the Information Centre.

What if I need help with English?

If you are a domestic student, speak English as a second language and need help preparing for undergraduate degree study, contact LearnLink and ask about the Adult Migrant English Program.