How to Apply

How to apply for ADF Current Serving Members

UNSW Canberra offers undergraduate programs in Arts, Business, Computing and Cyber Security, Engineering, Science, and Technology to current serving members of the Australian Defence Force.

1. ADF Process

Students must:

a) be recommended and approved by the ADF to enter one of the three ADF Schemes: RAAF - AAA, RAN - SEA, ARA - RAEME;

b) have served a minimum of five (5) years in the ADF;

c) have met the minimum entry requirements for UNSW Canberra as outlined in Point 3 below.

2. Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission to UNSW Canberra applicants must meet the lowest tertiary entrance rank to gain admission to the relevant degree program.

To have your entrance rank determined, you must complete the Preliminary Assessment Form by no later than the end of August of the year before the commencement of study. If possible, this application should include a supporting statement from the ADF (e.g. confirming the conditional posting order – if applicable) and attaching other relevant documentation.

As part of your application you will be asked to submit certified copies of any formal academic qualifications that you may have including previous secondary, tertiary (TAFE, or University) or Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited awards.

Please note that awards received from your service are not assessable unless they have been given Civilian Accreditation. 

Ineligible applicants will be directed to UNSW Canberra's Alternative Entry Pathways to provide them with an opportunity to achieve the requirements for admission.

3. Assumed Subject Knowledge Requirements

It is assumed that students will have achieved a level of subject knowledge (as listed below) that is considered desirable for successful university level study.

If you do not have the minimum level of assumed subject knowledge, you are NOT prevented from applying for admission or enrolling in any courses, but you will be placed at a considerable disadvantage and your service may require you to undertake a bridging program or other preparation courses such as Unilearn, Hubbard's School or any TAFE.

4. Academic Admission Standards

If applicants have multiple qualifications, then each qualification (from university or VET study) is assessed separately and the qualification/assessable item with the highest derived entrance rank is used for admission purposes.

Below is a list of qualifications accepted for entry, and their relevant derived entrance ranks.  

5. Application via UAC

If you are approved by your Service for a transfer to ADFA and you meet the University's entrance requirements, you must lodge an application through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).  Applications open early August and close at the end of September of the year before the commencement of study. Late applications after the end of September will incur late fees. A formal offer of admission will then be made to you through UAC in January of the year you plan to commence your studies.

If requested by UAC to forward any academic qualifications or transcripts, you MUST do so. Because of the Privacy Act, Student Administrative Services cannot forward your documentation to UAC on your behalf.

UAC offers are released via email in the first week of January. You will normally have up to one week to accept the offer. If you meet the entrance rank and been informed by UNSW Canberra that you are eligible for admission, but have not heard anything by the end of the first week in January, you should contact Student Administrative Services on (02) 6268 6000 or at sas@adfa.edu.au.

6. Arrival at UNSW Canberra

ADFA Induction Week

On your arrival at ADFA you will commence a week of military induction activities.

Academic Preparation Program

The UNSW Canberra Academic Language and Learning (ALL) Unit run an Academic Preparation Course for new advanced students before the commencement of the semester.  By the end of this program, students will be in a better position to know what to expect when their official program begins and will be better prepared for the demands of their academic studies. This program aims to:

• Welcome students to UNSW Canberra;
• Prepare students for the demands of academic study at UNSW Canberra;
• Provide students with essential information about facilities and services such as the computer labs, library catalogues, subject specific databases and internet search facilities;
• Give students practical experience in critical analysis, reading and note-taking, researching sources, avoiding plagiarism and writing assignments.