The Priority Student Success (PSS) Program prepares and supports students from our widening participation programs into university.
The PSS program supports students coming from the U@Uni Academy Program, the Humanitarian Scholarship Program, and the UniReady Enabling Program.
Throughout the PSS program, students take part in a number of activities to help them transition to uni life. These include academic bridging courses, workshops, social events and peer mentoring.
2026 program activities
HeadStart Workshop
A one-day introduction packed with useful information to get students prepared for 2026.
Bridging courses
Intensive courses designed to fill knowledge gaps in key subjects relevant to specific degrees. These courses help students prepare for their first-year subjects in Science, Health and Engineering degrees. Available courses include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Maths Preparation or Mathematics
- Physics
Peer mentoring
Students are matched with a peer mentor who is a current UTS student. Mentors help guide students in their first session of uni, provide timely information, and are available as a point of contact for questions throughout Autumn session.
UTS Orientation
Orientation is a series of events held over two weeks providing an opportunity for students to explore what UTS has to offer, get to know about extracurricular activities, join a club, attend events, and learn about faculty-specific initiatives.
Session Academic Support
Students can access interactive and subject specific help, including:
- U:PASS – a student learning program designed to assist students who are studying subjects that are difficult or historically have a high failure rate.
- HELPS – provides language and academic literacy support to help students understand their assignments, and improve writing, communication, and study skills.
Mid-year Social
A catered social gathering to celebrate your first completed session at university.
Pre-Census Surveys
Students complete surveys in both Autumn and Spring session to let UTS know how they are going, what they need, and how they feel about their studies.
Student advisory meetings
Students meet with a PSS team member to discuss and plan to improve areas of concern (wellbeing or academic), and UTS support services.
Bridging courses
Students enrolled in an engineering, health, or science degree will register and attend a bridging course to support their transition into the first-year subjects.
Registration and dates
Students will receive an email in December 2025 with instructions on how to register, specific details of the bridging course they are required to attend, and a voucher code to register without payment. Visit UTS bridging courses to check the dates and links to register.
Students enrolled in a degree within the following faculties are required to attend the listed bridging course(s).
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Students enrolled in a degree within the faculty of engineering and information technology can attend the listed bridging courses to support their transition into their studies.
- Mathematics Preparedness or Mathematics
- Physics
Note: Students enrolled in a cybersecurity, games development, information technology or information systems degree are not required to register or attend.
Faculty of Health
- Biology
Note: Students enrolled in a sport and exercise science or sport and exercise management degree are not required to register or attend.
Faculty of Science
- Chemistry
Note: Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Mathematical Science are not required to register for the Chemistry bridging course. The Bachelor of Mathematical Science students have the option to register for a Maths Preparation or Mathematics bridging course to support their transition into university.
Other faculties
Students enrolled in the combined degree Bachelor of Science Master of Teaching within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences must register for a bridging course. Students can select at least one bridging course from chemistry, mathematics or physics.
Students enrolled in the combined degree Bachelor of Engineering Science Bachelor of Laws within the Faculty of Law have the option to register and attend a mathematics preparedness or mathematics and/or a physics bridging course.
Exemptions
A student can be exempt from attending a bridging course if they show evidence of satisfactory academic achievement of relevant high school subjects for the award (e.g. a student who is offered a Bachelor of Advanced Science achieves a four or higher performance band in Chemistry).
Students can provide a copy of their HSC results to success@uts.edu.au by 5 January 2026.