Take your next step
Submit an online application
Learn moreSecure your place in one of 18 Macquarie degrees
Next Step is an entry pathway for non-school applicants. You'll study Macquarie University units alongside current degree students, then use your results to secure entry into your chosen degree.
You will study four undergraduate units across two 13-week sessions. See the results required to transition into individual degrees below.
Program options
Standard
-
Complete the following at pass level or higher:
- Two units in Session 1
- Two units in Session 2
Accelerated
-
Complete the following with a WAM of 65+:
- Two units in total
You’ll be automatically assessed for articulation and acceleration eligibility upon release of examination results.
If you’re eligible for articulation, you’ll be invited via email to complete an online application for one of 18 Macquarie degrees.
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As a mature age student with no ATAR the Next Step program gave me a clear route onto my degree course. By enrolling in units associated with my final degree my efforts have counted toward my final goal from day one.
Program eligibility
The Next Step program is an entry pathway for students who haven't met the entry requirements for a bachelor degree at Macquarie.
To apply, you must be both:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or a humanitarian visa holder
- a non-school applicant (HSC or equivalent, completed more than two years before application) or over 20 years old with little or no educational qualifications for direct entry into a bachelor degree.
About the program
Applications open in late October each year and close two weeks before the session starts.
You will attend classes alongside current Macquarie University degree students, during the same study sessions.
Session timetable
Study period | Start date |
|---|---|
Session 1 | 24 February 2025 |
Session 2 | 28 July 2025 |
Program fees
Next Step is an upfront, tuition fee-paying program. HECS and FEE-HELP are not available. Tuition fees must be paid in full before the start of each study session.
You’ll be eligible to apply for HECS once you have articulated into a degree program.
Unit fees
Each unit offered via the Next Step pathway are charged according to the area of study:
Area of study | 2024 fee per unit |
|---|---|
Arts units (Band 1) | $2675.00 |
Science units (Band 2) | $3325.00 |
| Commerce units (Band 3) | $3662.50 |
Degrees you can articulate into
Below is a list of the degrees you can undertake after successfully completing this pathway.
The articulation requirements within each degree refers to the WAM requirement for a standard articulation. All degrees have a WAM requirement of 65 or above for accelerated articulation.
View our course Handbook for specific unit information.
Faculty of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Articulation WAM Requirement: no WAM requirements – must successfully pass 4 units.
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. You should consider including one of the following units:
- ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- PHIL1037 – Critical Thinking
- ENGL1050 - Grammar and Writing
Bachelor of International Studies
Articulation WAM Requirement: 57
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. You should consider including one of the following units:
- ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- PHIL1037 – Critical Thinking
- ENGL1050 - Grammar and Writing
Bachelor of Media and Communications
Articulation WAM Requirement: 57
Required units:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
MMCC1015 | Media Practice and Production | 2 |
MMCC1040 | Introduction to Media and Mass Communications | 1 & 2 |
Bachelor of Security Studies
Articulation WAM Requirement: No specific WAM required – must pass all four units listed below.
Required units, any 4 of the following:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
PICT1010 | Introduction to Security Studies | 1 |
PICT1014 | International Security and the 20th Century | 2 |
PICT1011 | New Security Challenges | 1 |
PICT1012 | Strategy and Security in the Indo-Pacific | 2 |
| PICT1030 | Introduction to Criminology | 1 |
Bachelor of Social Science
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. You should consider including one of the following units:
- ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- PHIL1037 – Critical Thinking
- ENGL1050 - Grammar and Writing
Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Complete 4 of the following units
| Unit Code | Unit Name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
| ABST1000 | Introducing Indigenous Australia | 1 & 2 |
| ECHE1130 | Play Based Approaches to Early Childhood Learning and Development | 2 |
| ECHE1180 | Infancy and Early Development | 2 |
| ECHE1310 | The Arts in Children's Lives | 2 |
| ECHE1200 | History and Philosophy of Early Childhood | 1 |
| ECHE1300 | Health and Wellbeing | 1 |
Additional Requirement: For eligible applicants, a teaching survey has to be completed at the time of articulation application.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences
Bachelor of Psychology
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Three compulsory units and one elective unit
Compulsory units
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
PSYU1101 | Introduction to Psychology I | 1 |
PSYU1102 | Introduction to Psychology II | 2 |
STAT1103 | Introduction to Psychological Design & Statistics | 1 & 2 |
Elective unit | Choose one from the Next Step unit list |
Bachelor of Speech and Hearing Sciences
Articulation WAM Requirement: 57
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list, including ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Speech and Hearing Sciences.
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. You should consider including unit ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities as one of your units
Learn more about the Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation.
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Articulation WAM Requirement: 54
Requirements: Three compulsory units
Required units:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
PHYS1510 | Engineering Physics | 1 & 2 |
ENGG1000 | Introduction to Engineering | 1 & 2 |
In addition to the two compulsory units above, you must also choose one other unit from the following table:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
MATH1000 | Introduction to Mathematics Modelling | 1 & 2 |
MATH1010 | Mathematics Modelling IA | 1 & 2 |
MATH1020 | Mathematical Modelling IB 1 & 2 | 1 & 2 |
COMP1000 | Introduction to Computer Programming | 1 & 2 |
You must also choose one other unit from the Next Step Unit List to study as an elective. This elective unit can be from any department in any faculty.
Bachelor of Environment
Articulation WAM Requirement: 54
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. Consider including ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
Bachelor of Game Design and Development
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list including the following two units:
- COMP1000
- COMP1010
Learn more about the Bachelor of Game Design and Development.
Bachelor of Information Technology
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list including the following two units:
- COMP1000
- COMP1300
Bachelor of Science
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list. Consider including ACOM1001 – Academic Communication in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
To secure a place into a bachelor degree you must receive an overall Weighted Average Mark (WAM) as required.
*To be eligible to apply for these specific degrees, you must successfully complete specific units identified by the relevant department offering the degree.
Bachelor of Cyber Security
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list including the following two units:
- COMP1000
- COMP1300
Bachelor of Medical Sciences
Articulation WAM Requirement: 54
Requirements: Successful completion of four units from the Next Step unit list including any two of the following units:
- ANAT1001
- BIOL1110
- BIOL1210
- STAT1170
Macquarie Business School
Bachelor of Business
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: MGMT1002 Principles of Management and three units from the table below:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
MQBS1010 | Leadership for Business | 1 & 2 |
MQBS1020 | Business Communication | 1 & 2 |
MQBS1030 | Decision Making for Business | 1 & 2 |
MQBS1040 | Financial Management for Business | 1 & 2 |
Bachelor of Commerce
Articulation WAM Requirement: 50
Requirements: Complete four units from the table below:
Unit code | Unit name | Offered in Session |
|---|---|---|
ECON1020 | Principles of Economics 1 | 1 & 2 |
ACCG1000 | Accounting in Society | 1 & 2 |
ACST1001 | Finance 1A | 1, 2 & 3 |
MGMT1002 | Principles of Management | 1 & 2 |
MKTG1001 | Marketing Fundamentals | 1 & 2 |