Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Pre-Master's Program is a postgraduate pathway for students who have completed a bachelor's degree or equivalent but did not meet the requirements for direct entry to Adelaide University.
• Successful completion provides guaranteed entry into the student's packaged postgraduate degree at Adelaide University, subject to the applicable progression conditions.
• Students develop academic knowledge, critical-thinking ability, quantitative skills, research skills and intercultural communication skills before starting the master's degree.
• Students study at Kaplan International College Adelaide before progressing to their master's degree at Adelaide University.
• The program includes master's-level courses related to the student's chosen destination degree.
• The pathway is particularly useful for international students who need additional academic preparation before entering postgraduate study in Australia. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The standard Pre-Master's Program contains compulsory preparation courses followed by additional master's-level courses linked to the student's selected master's degree.

Academic English A – PM501EAP

This course develops academic English skills needed for postgraduate study.

Topics include:

• academic communication
• group work
• collaboration
• effective communication
• building productive academic relationships
• academic learning outcomes.

Critical Thinking Skills – PM502ACS

This course develops critical and analytical thinking for postgraduate study.

Topics include:

• critical reading
• evaluating academic arguments
• distinguishing critical analysis from description
• developing independent arguments
• analysing different viewpoints
• academic debate
• reflective learning
• independent thinking.

Quantitative Skills – PM504ACS

This course covers mathematics and statistics relevant to postgraduate study.

Topics include:

• algebra
• functions
• geometry
• calculus
• matrices
• sampling methods
• data representation
• measures of central tendency and dispersion
• distributions
• correlation
• regression.

Study and Research Skills – PM505ACS

This course prepares students for postgraduate academic research.

Topics include:

• identifying research problems
• formulating research questions
• research planning
• research methods
• time management
• academic communication
• group collaboration
• analysing and evaluating research
• oral and written reporting
• academic integrity.

Intercultural Studies – PM503SOC

This course develops intercultural awareness and communication skills.

Topics include:

• cultural diversity
• cultural identity
• Australian and global contexts
• comparing customs and traditions
• empathy
• intercultural communication
• respectful interaction in personal and professional environments.

Master's-level courses

Students in the second semester also complete four additional master's-level courses specific to their chosen master's degree. Additional compulsory courses apply in the second semester.

The exact four master's-level courses therefore depend on the student's packaged master's program.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The Pre-Master's Program is not restricted to one discipline. It provides pathways into a range of Adelaide University master's degrees.

The exact discipline depends on the packaged postgraduate degree selected by the student.

Possible destination areas include fields such as:

• Business and economics
• Computer science and information technology
• Engineering
• Health and biomedical sciences
• Other postgraduate disciplines offered through the current Adelaide University pathway arrangements.

Programme Highlights

• Postgraduate pathway to Adelaide University.
• Designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Standard duration: 2 semesters / approximately 9 months.
• July and October intakes.
• International tuition fee: A$48,000.
• Domestic tuition fee: A$29,700.
• CRICOS code: 116800D.
• Guaranteed entry to the packaged postgraduate degree after successful completion, subject to applicable conditions.
• Academic English preparation.
• Critical-thinking development.
• Quantitative and statistical preparation.
• Study and research skills development.
• Intercultural communication training.
• Four additional master's-level courses tailored to the chosen master's degree.

Career Outcomes

The Pre-Master's Program itself is a pathway rather than the final professional qualification.

Career outcomes therefore depend on the Adelaide University master's degree completed after the pathway.

Students can potentially progress into professional careers associated with their selected master's discipline, such as:

• business and management
• information technology
• computer science
• engineering
• health and biomedical fields
• research
• professional consulting
• project management
• data and analytics
• other specialist postgraduate fields.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

A major structural update is that the program is now operated by Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd under the Kaplan International College Adelaide arrangement. The current KICA site states that Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd operates the College under CRICOS provider 03127E.

The current standard Pre-Master's Program is listed as:

• CRICOS: 116800D
• Duration: 2 semesters / 9 months
• Intakes: July and October
• International fee: A$48,000.

Students should pay particular attention to the packaged master's degree because:

• the master's destination determines the master's-level courses taken during the pathway;
• the master's degree may have its own academic and English requirements;
• progression is subject to successfully completing the pathway and meeting the applicable conditions;
• not every master's degree necessarily has the same intake structure.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally use the Australian Student visa (subclass 500) for this study pathway.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs states that Student visa applicants must be enrolled in an eligible course and hold a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) when the visa is decided. OSHC is also required unless the applicant falls within an exemption category.

Key requirements include:

• valid passport and identity documents
• valid CoE
• enrolment in an eligible course
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• Genuine Student requirement
• evidence of financial capacity where required
• applicable health requirements
• applicable character requirements
• compliance with Student visa conditions
• welfare arrangements where required for students under 18.

Genuine Student requirement

The Genuine Student requirement applies to Student visa applications lodged on or after 23 March 2024.

Applicants must demonstrate that they genuinely intend to enter and stay in Australia as a student and understand that study is the primary reason for applying for the Student visa. Home Affairs considers circumstances such as family/community ties, employment and economic circumstances, reasons for choosing the course and provider, understanding of studying and living in Australia, and the future benefit of the course.