Skip to main content
Student studying online in a cafe

Tertiary Enabling Program

Ready to get started on your journey into uni?

CDU's free Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP) is an alternative pathway into university.  With TEP, you'll have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to succeed at university.

Is TEP for me?

TEP is perfect for you if you didn’t complete year 12 or didn’t achieve the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) needed to get into your chosen university course, or if you just haven’t studied for a while.

Benefits of TEP

  • TEP is a free program to get you ready for university study (there may be some costs for textbooks and stationery, depending on the units you study).
  • You can study part-time or full-time, on campus, online or a bit of both with mixed-mode study.
  • Once you complete TEP you will be able to enrol in most undergraduate programs at CDU (scroll down for more info on what you can study after TEP).
  • TEP can be completed in just 16 weeks.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible for the Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP):

  • you must be 17 or over by the census date of the relevant semester.
  • you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen (residing in Australia), permanent resident or Humanitarian Visa holder

What can I study after TEP?

Once you have successfully completed TEP  you will be eligible to apply for most CDU undergraduate courses. Popular courses such as nursing, midwifery, education, law, psychology and engineering* can all be applied for with a TEP completion.  

Exceptions are the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences and any honours or post graduate courses.

*additional preparatory maths courses (such as bridging) may be required to build your maths skills further to be successful in this highly technical degree

      How do I apply?

      Submit the online application form


      Being offered a place in TEP

      You'll be advised via email whether you've been successful in gaining a place in TEP.  The offer will include:

      • your student number 
      • the steps you need to take to enrol, and
      • important dates relating to your studies.


      What if I didn't get offered a place?

      If you're unsuccessful in receiving an offer into TEP, you'll be emailed details about adult literacy and numeracy programs in your area.

      These programs can help to improve language, literacy and numeracy skills.

      Preparing for TEP

      Learn about the TEP subjects, study options and expectations of students.

      Getting started with TEP

      Find out about the support available, how to enrol and Week 1 study boosting activities.

      Become a TEP student

      Begin your journey to higher education

      Graduates of TEP

      • From bridging course to Mechanical Engineering

        From bridging course to Mechanical Engineering

        My personal story began in 2012. Around this time, I felt that there was something empty bouncing around, unfulfilled with dead-end jobs. It was only after having my beautiful baby boy, Elijah, that I realised he deserved to have a better future. I deserved a better life.

        READ MORE
      • TEP student at CDU

        I'm the first in my family to go to uni

        Beth Cooper is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Canberra; passionate about Australian history, design, communication and solving community development issues. Last year, she moved to Darwin to pursue her life goals; kick-starting her study dreams with CDU's free Tertiary Enabling program.

        Coming from a line of strong women, Beth is the first person in her family to go to university and is currently pursuing a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws degree in the hope to become a workers’ rights advocate. We caught up with her to celebrate her first High Distinction grade and to hear about her story.

        Read Beth's story
      • How I got into the swing of study before starting uni

        How I got into the swing of study before starting uni

        Felex Oryema completed our Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP) in order to gain the skills to succeed at university after moving from Uganda. We asked him about his experience studying TEP, VET and Higher Education with CDU.

        Read more

      Contact us

      If you have any questions or would like some more information about the TEP program, please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch. 

      If you are already enrolled in TEP and have a unit specific question, please visit TEP Central (Learnline site) or relevant unit site to find the contact details for your Unit Coordinator of that unit.

      If you are already enrolled in TEP and have a program question, visit TEP Central to find the contact details for the TEP Program Coordinator.