First Year Students

Information sessions

Hear from academic staff and current students about what sciences majors you can choose and why.

The Next Step Program

Prepare yourself for the transition from first to second year with our ‘Next Step Program’. The Faculty of Sciences offer a personalised one-on-one planning service to:

• Customise your study plan to suit your interests and goals, while meeting program rules.
• Provide advice on Bachelor of Science majors and potential career and future study opportunities.
• Build industry, work experience and internship opportunities into your degree.
• Help you discover and receive credit for overseas exchange and study tour opportunities.
• Assist you planning part-time study workloads and how this may affect your enrolment.
• Provide advice about your options for transferring to another sciences program - often with credit for what you have already studied.

Step 1 - Review your current study plan

The first step is simply thinking about your current study plan and what implications it may have on your enrolment. 

View the current study plan for your program and ask yourself:

• Will I complete less than 24 units of level I courses by the end of the year?
• Did I receive credit for prior study when I commenced?
• Am I studying part-time?
• Will I study part-time next year?
• Did I fail any courses this year?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you will want to meet with a student advisor who can help you plan your timetable for next year. All students are also strongly advised to familiarise themselves with their program study plan and start thinking about what next year's enrolment might look like.

Step 2 - Consider an overseas study experience

Studying overseas is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore another country while your study counts towards your degree. Global learning opportunities increase your employability upon graduation and may meet requirements for ‘non-major electives’ in the Bachelor of Science. There are two types of overseas study experiences available:

Exchange

Through an exchange program, you can study overseas at a partner university while remaining enrolled at, and supported by, the University of Adelaide. Tuition fees are waived by the host institution, allowing you to continue to take advantage of your tuition arrangements at home, while having an amazing, immersive overseas experience.

Study tours

Study tours are short-term intensive programs that may include stops at multiple destinations, or be a more immersive experience at just one. These experiences normally run for two to four weeks and take place between semester breaks.

Step 3 - Complete the career readiness module

The Careers Service has developed online learning modules to assist you with planning your career. You are encouraged to complete module one which provides an introduction to career awareness, career planning materials, employer perspectives and graduate advice. 

Completion of this module will give you a greater understanding of how you can determine your career pathway and how your thoughts around possible careers may influence your enrolment and study plan next year.

Step 4 - Major information sessions

General major information sessions are held each September/October to help you understand the different majors you can choose. Each major is represented by an enthusiastic current student who has insider knowledge about second and third year courses and information about what careers majors can lead to.

Meet with a student advisor

You can also plan your timetable with one of our student advisors to:

• ensure your course choices fit with your career goals.
• learn how your course choices may affect your options in the following year; and
• tailor your study plan to cater for your circumstances, i.e. study abroad, part-time study etc.

Book an appointment 

Step 5 - Enrol for next year

Course enrolment for the following year usually opens in December. Use your study plan to organise yourself before enrolment opens.

We're here to help with your enrolment

Congratulations on gaining a place in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide!

Need enrolment support or assistance or need help with your coursework enquiries? Ask or visit the Student Experience Team in the Sciences Service Hub.

Student service hub Enrolment guide

Support from our peer mentors

In the Faculty of Sciences Peer Mentoring Program, we match small groups of new undergraduate students with enthusiastic current science students.

Peer mentors are fellow students who may also be studying the same courses as you. They will also have recent experience transitioning to university. Your mentor will talk you through what to expect in your first semester and provide you with face-to-face and online support as you transition into university life. 

Weekly mentoring ‘catch ups’ will also give you opportunities to meet other students.

How it works

1. Enrol in the course Science 1000 - Science Mentoring via Access Adelaide to have the mentoring sessions added to your timetable.
2. Attend the first mentoring session. This session is usually held in the first week of semester.

Enrol now Become a student mentor

Talk with our experts

Get help with your biology, chemistry and physics courses through our on-campus academic ‘Drop in Centres’.

Talk one-on-one with an academic staff member about any concepts or content of your course you want assistance or reassurance with.

Drop-in centre attendance form

Use this form when you attend a drop-in centre.

Drop-in centre timetable

Drop-in centres start in Week 2 of each semester. They run throughout the whole semester excluding public holidays and mid-semester break.

Study sessions with expert students

Maximise your success with our free study sessions run by science students who have already excelled in the same course. 

PASS is a free and internationally accredited program which aims to help you understand the key concepts of your course and improve your results.

PASS is for all students, whether you want to improve from a distinction to a high distinction; a pass to a credit or even just to obtain a pass.

Current PASS courses

• BIOCHEM 2501 Biochemistry: Metabolism
• BIOLOGY 1201 Biology: Human Perspectives
• BIOLOGY 1202 Biology: Organisms
• CHEM 1200 Chemistry IB
• CHEM 1201 Foundations of Chemistry IB
• CHEM 2520 Chemistry IIB
• GEOLOGY 1100 Earth's Interior
• PHYSICS 1200 Physics IB
• PHYSICS 1201 Physics for Life and Earth Sciences IB
• PHYSICS 1002 Astronomy

View session times