What is UTS Open?
UTS Open is your gateway to professional education and training delivered by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Our offerings are online and on-campus, and include microcredentials, short courses and free online taster courses.
Why study a UTS Open course?
The world is changing. New jobs and industries are emerging faster than ever, requiring cutting-edge expertise. The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the way we work, including the jobs that are in demand, and highlighted skills shortages. At the same time, our workforce is becoming increasingly globalised and automated. Learning is not limited to the start of our career. We all must learn and retrain throughout our lifetime to remain competitive in the workforce.
What type of courses does UTS Open offer?
We offer a variety of on-trend, industry-informed and career changing courses to give you the competitive edge at work and in life. Our courses are categorised as microcredentials, short courses and free online taster courses, providing choices that work for you, whatever your learning needs.
What is a microcredential?
Microcredentials are our top level UTS Open course, designed for those seeking specialist knowledge at university-level. Our microcredentials align with specific UTS subjects and are formally assessed, meaning your acquired skills and knowledge are verified by UTS. Microcredentials may also earn credit towards future study in a UTS degree.
What is a short course?
Short courses are for those with a range of life and work experiences. Our short courses are designed with, and delivered by, industry experts. Short courses are an accessible way to learn new skills and knowledge in a specific area.
What is a taster course?
Taster courses are for those looking for a taste of UTS postgraduate learning. Our tasters allow you to learn online at your own pace. Better yet, all our tasters are FREE!
How do I enrol in a UTS Open course?
Register your account (it's free) and you'll be able to sign up for courses and track your learning progress. Having trouble signing up for a course? Check out our Troubleshooting FAQ.
What will I learn in a UTS Open course?
UTS Open courses are designed to further develop your knowledge and expertise with practical, industry-relevant and forward-thinking content. Our courses are designed with industry to equip you with the skills, tools and techniques to meet tomorrow's challenges.
How are UTS Open courses taught?
UTS Open courses are innovative and interactive; delivered online, onsite or through a combination of both (blended). Onsite courses are delivered at our state-of-the-art UTS campus or at other central locations.
Our courses are taught by a mix of academic and industry experts. To learn more about who will be teaching or leading your course, check out the Meet the Expert section on each course page.
Do I need prior experience or special equipment to enrol in a UTS Open course?
Our courses are designed for a wide range of people; some are best suited to those with advanced skills, while others are offered at introductory levels that anyone can enrol in. Each course page will clearly detail if any prior experience or knowledge is assumed or required. Any equipment or other resource requirements will also be listed.
If you are enrolling in an online or blended course, you will need access to an appropriate device with adequate internet connection and the capacity to run any defined programs that may be associated with your course. Be advised that recommended internet browsers include Google Chrome and Firefox.
What do I receive when I complete a UTS Open course?
You can look forward to new knowledge, skill and expertise when you complete a UTS Open course. Investing in your own learning creates new opportunities for potential promotion, job offers, building your own business or switching to a new industry or career.
UTS Open certificates also are awarded, depending on your course design.
You could earn a:
- UTS Microcredential Certificate of Attainment, for successful completion of all assessments within a microcredential
- UTS Short Course Certificate of Completion, for successfully completing all required tasks within a short course (e.g. quizzes and portfolio submission)
- UTS Short Course Certificate of Attendance, for short courses without required completion tasks OR a microcredential where assessment was not undertaken or not successfully passed.
Many of our courses may contribute to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Check the website of your professional body for CPD courses that may qualify. Our UTS Open pages will also provide details about course recognition.
What is a microcredential?
Microcredentials are our top tier UTS Open course, designed for those seeking specialist knowledge at university-level. Our microcredentials align with a subject of equivalent volume of learning that forms part of a UTS award course structure. Microcredentials include formal assessment and may qualify for recognition of prior learning in award degrees at UTS and other institutions. As these subjects are formally assessed, this means your acquired skills and knowledge are verified by UTS.
Why do I need a microcredential?
UTS microcredentials provide verified recognition of acquired skills and knowledge in a specific area, at university-level. This means your current or future employers can be assured you have met the strict course requirements at a tertiary standard.
Do microcredentials contain tests or assessments?
Yes. All UTS microcredential courses include formal assessment. This may include multiple components, such as tests and assignments. Each microcredential description page clearly outlines the assessment criteria for the course.
What is the difference between "duration" and "commitment"?
Duration and commitment can be found at the top right of the microcredentials description pages. These are included to help you understand the time required to study the course.
"Duration" refers to the total timeframe between when you would be required to start your course (including any pre-readings) and scheduled completion (including, if relevant, any completion tasks, such as tests or project submission).
"Commitment" is an approximate indication of the average hours we believe it will take a participant to prepare for and complete all course requirements. Commitment can be presented as total hours or the average time per week required to complete this course. This is provided as a reference guide only and will vary from individual to individual.
Can my microcredential count toward UTS postgraduate study?
Yes! Your successfully completed UTS microcredential may be used for recognition towards future study, if you subsequently are accepted into, and enrol in, the related specified UTS postgraduate degree. Each UTS microcredential aligns to a particular subject, which is associated with one or more specific UTS postgraduate degrees. Please note: microcredentials do not provide a direct admission pathway into a UTS degree course - they do provide a great introduction to UTS postgraduate study and potential credit.
What's the difference between a microcredential and a short course?
Microcredentials are aligned with UTS postgraduate degrees and include formal assessment. Successfully completing all assessment tasks rewards you with a UTS Microcredential Certificate of Attainment. UTS microcredentials may also earn recognition towards future UTS postgraduate study. This microcredential may also qualify for recognition of prior learning at this and other institutions.
Short courses are designed for a range of life and work experiences; may or may not include tasks that test your acquired learning; and can earn you either a UTS Short Course Certificate of Completion or Certificate of Attendance.
What do I receive if I successfully complete a microcredential?
Successful completion of a microcredential means you have passed the formal assessment of the university-level course.
You can look forward to new knowledge, skill and expertise when you complete a microcredential. Investing in your own learning creates new opportunities for potential promotion, job offers, building your own business or switching to a new industry or career.
Many of our courses may also contribute to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Check the website of your professional body for CPD courses that may qualify. Each course description page will also provide details about course recognition where applicable.
Why study a microcredential with UTS Open?
UTS microcredentials are designed with the same level of academic rigour and standards as our postgraduate degrees. Our microcredentials are practical, industry-relevant and forward-thinking and are delivered by UTS academics and industry experts.
What is a short course?
UTS short courses are designed to support a range of life and work experiences. Our short courses are designed with industry to equip you with the skills, tools and techniques to meet tomorrow's challenges today.
Why do I need a short course?
UTS short courses allow you to grow your knowledge in areas of high or niche market demand. Learning and retraining throughout our lifetime is vital as the work economy evolves with increasing speed. Short courses are an accessible way for you to upskill or reskill as needed.
Do short courses contain tests or assessments?
Sometimes. Our short courses vary in design and while some short courses contain quizzes or learning tasks, others do not. Each short course description page clearly outlines any completion tasks involved.
Can my short course count toward UTS postgraduate study?
Not usually. Short courses generally do not earn credit toward future postgraduate study. There are a limited number of short courses which, when combined with formal assessment tasks, may be considered for recognition of prior learning - but these are the exception. Generally, short courses do not count towards UTS postgraduate study.
What do I receive if I successfully complete a short course?
You can look forward to increased levels of knowledge, skills and expertise. This could lead to new and exciting opportunities for you - through promotion, job offers, building your own business or switching to a new industry or career.
Depending on the short course you undertake, you may receive a UTS Short Course Certificate of Completion (for successfully completing all required tasks) or a UTS Short Course Certificate of Attendance (where no specific tasks are required).
Many of our short courses may also contribute to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Check the website of your professional body for CPD courses that may qualify. Our UTS Open course pages will also provide details about course recognition.
What's the difference between a short course and a microcredential?
Short courses are designed for a range of life and work experiences, may or may not include tasks that test your acquired learning, and can earn either a UTS Short Course Certificate of Completion or a UTS Short Course Certificate of Attendance.
Microcredentials are aligned with UTS postgraduate degrees and include formal assessment. Successfully completing all microcredential assessment tasks results in a UTS Microcredential Certificate of Attainment. UTS microcredentials may also earn recognition towards future UTS postgraduate study at this and other institutions.
Why study a short course with UTS Open?
Our short courses are practical, industry-relevant and forward-thinking. They are delivered by UTS academics and industry experts. Our short courses are designed with industry experts to equip you with the skills, tools and techniques you need to meet tomorrow's challenges today.
What is a taster course?
Taster courses (tasters) are free UTS Open courses that provide a sample of the postgraduate learning experience. All our tasters are offered in an online-format and are self-paced, meaning you're totally in control of your learning.
Why do I need a taster course?
Tasters are an easy - and free - way for you to learn from UTS academics and experts and experience a sample of university-level content. You'll be able to boost your skills and increase your knowledge in an online, self-paced format that's designed for maximum flexibility.
Do tasters contain tests or assessments?
No. Our taster courses don't have tests or assessments. They may include informal quizzes to help you gauge your progress.
Can my taster course count toward UTS postgraduate study?
No. Taster courses do not earn recognition towards future postgraduate study with UTS.
What do I receive if I successfully complete a taster?
You can look forward to increased levels of knowledge, skill and expertise when you complete a taster course. Investing in your own learning creates new and exciting opportunities for potential promotion, job offers, building your own business or switching to a new industry or career.
As there are no tests or assessments, our free taster courses don't qualify for certificates.
What's the difference between a short course and a taster course?
Both our short courses and tasters are designed for a range of life and work experiences.
Short courses vary in price and may be delivered online, on-campus or through a blended approach (a via mix of both online and face-to-face learning). They may or may not include required tasks and may be rewarded with a UTS Short Course Certificate of Completion or a UTS Short Course Certificate of Attendance.
Taster courses are completely free, fully online and self-paced, do not include completion tasks and do not result in a certificate.
Why study a taster with UTS Open?
Tasters are a way for you to grow your knowledge and understanding of a particular area while experiencing a free sample of the UTS postgraduate online learning experience. Our tasters allow you to tap into UTS postgraduate content - for FREE!
Do I need a UTS Open account?
Yes. A UTS Open account enables you to enrol in our courses. Your UTS Open account also allows you to track all your enrolled courses and progress in one centralised location.
How do I create a UTS Open account?
Creating a UTS Open account is free and easy. Get started and sign up now.
How do I enrol in a UTS Open course?
For microcredentials and short courses, choose the course date/times that work for you and click on the blue "Sign up" button on the course page. If you can't see this button, there are not places currently available. If this is the case, you will instead see a 'Register your interest' panel, where you can leave your details. Once the course becomes available, you will be notified.
Each course you select will be added to your cart. When you're ready to checkout and pay (where applicable), click on the blue cart icon at the top right of the webpage. Enter your voucher code if you have one, then click on the "Checkout" button and follow the prompts to complete your enrolment.
For tasters, you need only click on the blue "Start learning" button on the course description page. Within a few minutes, your taster should appear in My Courses.
How do I enrol in multiple courses?
After you have clicked on the blue "Sign up" button for a course session, you can choose to "Keep browsing" or "Go to cart". Clicking on "Keep browsing" allows you to continue to explore available offerings or search for courses for as long as you need.
When you are ready to checkout and pay, click on the blue shopping cart icon at the top right of the webpage. Enter your code if you have one, then click on "Checkout" and follow the prompts to complete enrolment.
How do I search for a course?
To search for a specific course, click on the magnifying glass icon at the top right of any UTS Open webpage. Type in a word or phrase and either click "Go" or click on one of the suggested results that appear in the drop down.
Not sure what you're searching for? You can also browse our courses by Study Area or Course Type (microcredentials, short courses, tasters or any online course).
How much do UTS Open courses cost?
Our UTS Open courses vary in price depending on course duration and the content covered. You'll be able to see the price of each course that is open for enrolments on the course pages. All our taster courses are free.
When do I need to pay for my UTS Open course?
You will need to pay the course fee in full to secure your place and confirm your enrolment. In fairness to all potential participants, we cannot reserve or hold places.
What payment options are available?
For instant confirmation of your place, we recommend you enrol and pay by credit card. If your business or organisation requires an invoice before payment can be processed, you can select the pay via invoice option. Both payment options will include a tax invoice.
Is FEE-HELP available for UTS Open courses?
No. FEE-HELP is not available for any UTS Open courses.
Are payment plans available?
No. Payment plans, such as instalments, are not available for UTS Open courses.
Are discounts available?
Sometimes! You may find special offers and discounts promoted on the course description pages, such as the Alumni Advantage discount. Some discounts will automatically be applied when you book the course (e.g. early bird offer), others may require a specific code. For these, you will need to enter the specified voucher code at the checkout before you complete payment. Unsure of how to apply a discount code? Read the next question on "How do I apply a discount?".
NOTE: Only one discount can be applied to any purchase. For example, if you are a UTS Alumni and enrolling at the early bird price offer, only the early bird discount will apply.
Can I apply more than one discount?
Only one discount applies per course. Where you have more than one item in your cart, you can apply more than one discount in total, but you will only be able to take advantage of one discount per course. Make sure the discounts you are using have been successfully applied and deducted before checking out and making payment.
How do I apply a discount?
If you have a discount code, and no other discount has already been applied to the course, you will need to enter the specific code on the View cart page before you checkout. Make sure the discount has been successfully applied and deducted before checking out and making payment.
I can't afford to pay for a course. What are my options?
Keep an eye out for our special offers and discounts on UTS Open courses. We also encourage you to check out our taster courses, all of which are free.
How do I get a tax invoice?
You will always receive a tax invoice, regardless of whether you choose to pay by credit card or via invoice request. This tax invoice will be emailed to you with your order confirmation and doubles as your tax invoice receipt.
How do I request payment via invoice request?
Payment via invoice request are only available to organisations with an Australian Business Number (ABN). You will need the ABN details of the organisation that will be paying the invoice before you commence checkout.
When you checkout, select Organisation and provide the ABN in Section 2: Your Details. In Section 4: Secure payment, choose Invoice Request and click on continue. You will then be provisionally enrolled in your course(s). Your place will be secured after full payment is confirmed.
Your invoice will be emailed to you, attached to your UTS Open order confirmation. Please check the email associated with your UTS Open account. If you don't receive the email within 15 minutes, please make an enquiry to support@open.uts.edu.au, and our support team will assist as soon as possible.
How can I pay my invoice?
You can pay for your invoice by either credit card or EFT back transfer. Please check the bottom of your invoice for payment instructions. If you need further assistance contact support@open.uts.edu.au
How do I know I've successfully enrolled?
When you've successfully enrolled in a course, an enrolment confirmation will be sent to your UTS Open account. You'll also see a tile for this course in your UTS Open account, under My Courses.
How do I access my course?
Log into your UTS Open account and under My Courses, click on the tile of the course you want to access. This will open a new page where you'll find more information about your course. The amount of online course content here will vary depending on your course design and delivery mode.
Can I cancel my enrolment? Will I get a refund?
Can I transfer my enrolment?
To request a transfer of your enrolment in a course, email support@open.uts.edu.au as soon as possible. Refunds, credits or additional charges, if any, will be calculated in accordance with the cancellation policy outlined in the UTS Open Terms & Conditions.
I can't sign into my UTS Open account.
My course is not appearing under My Courses
If you have recently enrolled in a free taster course, your course may take a little while to appear under My Courses. This usually happens quite quickly, but we ask you allow at least 15 minutes before trying to enrol again in this taster course.
If your microcredential and/or short course is not appearing in My Courses, make sure you have successfully completed the checkout process and no items remain in your cart. You should receive an enrolment confirmation email upon successful enrolment. If you are still having issues, email support@open.uts.edu.au and our support team will investigate and get back to you as soon as possible.
Why is my enrolment pending?
A course tile in My Courses may be flagged as enrolment pending for three reasons:
- Your payment via invoice request has yet to be receipted
- A voucher code you have applied requires verification by UTS
- Your course has mandatory requirements for enrolment pending. This means we are either waiting on you sending evidence of these mandatory requirements, or we have received them and are in the process of verifying these for you.
Your enrolment will be confirmed when the above (as applicable) have been fulfilled and/or actioned.
I get an error when I click on my enrolled course
If you click on your Enrolled Course tile and experience an error message, email support@open.uts.edu.au and include as much detail about the error message that you can (use Control+C to copy the error message and Control+V to paste it into the enquiry email). Our support team will investigate and get back to you as soon as possible.
I can't find my tax invoice
Your tax invoice will have been sent to the email address associated with your UTS Open account (search for "order confirmation" subject heading). If you cannot locate your tax invoice and require another copy, email support@open.uts.edu.au and our support team will get one to you as soon as possible.
I need to change my email address
Email support@open.uts.edu.au letting us know the new email address you'd like to use and our support team will assist as soon as possible.
I need to change my organisation name
Email support@open.uts.edu.au letting us know the new organisational name you'd like to use and our support team will assist as soon as possible.
I need to change my first or last name
Email support@open.uts.edu.au letting us know the name changes you'd like to use and our support team will assist as soon as possible.
I need to change my password
