Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program equips students with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to succeed in higher education studies.  It is suitable for students who wish to study at a diploma or degree level but who have not achieved the required Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or who lack the required pre-requisite or assumed knowledge and subsequent confidence to gain entry to higher education or to or achieve academically.

Upon successful completion of STEPS, students will gain entry to CQUniversity diploma or degree programs through the standard CQUniversity direct entry process for those programs where direct entry is available.  Entry to CQUniversity programs will be in accordance with specific undergraduate program entry requirements and successful completion of courses applicable to the program of choice.

Students will be advised of the appropriate study plan to facilitate the career pathway to which they aspire. Students can choose to study in full time or part time mode in Term 1, 2 or 3 of the academic calendar year, dependent on course availability.