Course overview
- Overview
The Pre-Master's Program - Standard prepares international students for entry into master's coursework study by developing the academic, research, and professional skills required for Australian postgraduate learning environments. The program strengthens academic literacy, enabling students to produce well-structured, critically informed and evidence-based written work. Students learn to synthesise and evaluate complex academic sources, apply appropriate research methods, and uphold academic integrity. Communication skills are refined to support clear and confident expression of complex ideas in both written and oral forms, with attention to academic conventions and audience. The program also develops analytical and quantitative reasoning, equipping students to interpret data and apply problem-solving strategies in academic and applied contexts. Students build intercultural competence and collaborate effectively in diverse settings, while developing independence through reflective practice and self-directed learning strategies. Students then apply the academic skills developed to discipline specific units. By completing the program, students gain the critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills required for postgraduate study, and demonstrate their application in discipline specific subject areas.
- Course code
- UWC17
- Course type
- UWA College Non-Award course
- Status
- not available in 2026
- Points
- 48
- Admission
(a) an Associate Degree or equivalent, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent.
- Coordinator
- Dr Peter Zhao
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- SS
- summer teaching period
- N/A
- not available in 2026 – may be available in 2027 or 2028
- *
- to be advised
Take all units (18 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | ENGX0005 | Communication Skills for Postgraduate Studies |
|
| N/A | PHIX0001 | Critical Thinking and Reasoning |
|
| N/A | POLX0002 | Contemporary Issues and Academic Literacy |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | MATX0001 | Quantitative Skills for Postgraduate Studies |
|
| NS | MATX1721 | Mathematics Foundations |
|
Students intending to progress to a Master's Course in Business should complete units to a value of 24 points.
Group B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | ACCX5432 | Introductory Financial Accounting | |
| N/A | BUSX5100 | Applied Professional Business Communications |
|
| N/A | ECOX5541 | Economics for Business: Applications and Policy | |
| N/A | MGMX5504 | Data Analysis and Decision Making |
|
| N/A | MGMX5507 | Management and Organisations |
|
Students intending to progress to a Master's in Information Technology should complete all units.
Group C
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS | CITX1003 | Introduction to Cybersecurity |
|
| NS | CITX1401 | Computational Thinking with Python |
|
| NS, S2 | CITX1402 | Relational Database Management Systems |
|
| N/A | MGMX5504 | Data Analysis and Decision Making |
|
Students intending to progress to a Master's in Data Science should complete all units.
Group D
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS | CITX1401 | Computational Thinking with Python |
|
| NS, S2 | CITX1402 | Relational Database Management Systems |
|
| N/A | MGMX5504 | Data Analysis and Decision Making |
|
| NS | STAX1400 | Statistics for Science |
Rules
Note: This course is not available in 2026.
Title
1. These rules are the Pre-Masters Program - Standard Course Rules.
Terms Used
2. The Glossary provides an explanation of the terms used in these rules.
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
3.(1) The Student Rules and the UWA College Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
(3) The UWA College policy and procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
English Language competency requirements
4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have achieved an IELTS score of at least 6.0, (with no band less than 5.5) or equivalent as recognised by UWA.
Admission requirements
5. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have
(a) an Associate Degree or equivalent, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent.
Course structure
6.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules. Students may not take units which are not specified in the unit sequence. Students must ensure they complete all specified core units in the course.
Satisfactory progress
7. To make satisfactory progress in a teaching period a student must —
(a) achieve a pass in units with a total credit point value of more than half the total credit point value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty;
(b) not fail the same unit on more than one occasion.
Progress status
8.(1) A progress status is assigned by the relevant school or board to each student once every standard teaching period or equivalent.
(2) A student who makes satisfactory progress under rule 7 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(3) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances a student who does not make satisfactory progress under rule 7 may be assigned one of the following —
(a) 'On Probation', in which case the student must see their Student Adviser to discuss enrolment and conditions that may apply to re-enrolment;
(b) Suspended', in which case the student is not permitted to re-enrol in the course for the following teaching period or equivalent; or;
(c) ‘Excluded', in which case the student is not permitted to re-enrol in the course;
(4) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances, a status of ‘Suspended' or ‘Excluded' may not be assigned to a student who has completed only one teaching period of study at the University.
Additional rules
Progression requirements to Master's
9. For progression to a master's degree a student must obtain a minimum WAM of 50.