2023
11
Feb
College move in day for first-year residents
First year residents move in the weekend before orientation starts at UQ. This gives you a chance to settle in and meet your new college friends ahead of the excitement of O-Week.
Preparing for university life can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming, especially if you’re the first in your family to attend or coming from outside of Brisbane. That’s why our support for your university journey starts well before Orientation week.
Whether you’re just looking at the moment, or you’ve got your heart set on attending Grace, we’re here to help.
Below you’ll find information, key dates, handy tips and useful links. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for or you’ve got a burning question, we’re only a phone call away.
There are many ways you can get a feel for life at Grace; visiting us in person, taking a virtual tour, hearing from our current residents, or just ringing us up to have a chat.
At Grace, we’re committed to building an inclusive and diverse community. We understand success takes many forms, so our residents are chosen based on individual strengths, passion and personality. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, faiths and abilities.
We pride ourselves on offering an affordable college experience, with a variety of scholarships and bursaries for incoming students, and flexible payment plans for your individual circumstances.
Currently, we enjoy one of the highest acceptance rates of any UQ college and the majority of our early applicants are successful.
Getting started on your application is easy, in fact it should only take you about 10 minutes. We just need some basic details on you, your education to date, and what you’ll be studying while at Grace. Super simple stuff.
You can apply at any stage of your university enrolment, even if you’re not totally sure what you’ll be studying or when. Just like university courses we can offer a deferral on your place at Grace, giving you freedom and flexibility in your future.
Our admissions for the upcoming academic year open around April / May the year prior. Applications then stay open until the academic year starts, or we reach capacity.
For peace of mind, many applicants prefer to apply and secure their place before they’ve received their university or TAFE enrolment offer. Living on campus is a popular choice, so we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Your one-off application fee ($110AUD) can also be paid at the same time as submitting, via our online payment portal. You can also submit your application without paying the fee, but your application won’t be officially received until the fee is paid.
If you’ve already paid your one-off application fee ($110AUD) when you submitted your application form, congratulations! You can now be officially considered for a place at Grace.
Be sure to save a copy of your payment confirmation and receipt, in case we need to confirm it against your application.
If you haven’t paid yet, now is the time to pay your fee. As a reminder, your application won’t be officially considered until the fee is paid.
You can pay online through our secure payment portal, which accepts debit or credit cards, PayPal balances & credits and bank account transfers (via PayPal).
Other payment options include bank transfer, money order or cheque. Please contact the college if you wish to pay via these methods.
To complete your application, you’ll need two referees to complete our online Confidential Reference Form. Your references will be asked a series of questions about your personality and character, and how you might benefit from attending Grace.
Some tips:
Once you’ve selected your two referees, simply share the link to the online Confidential Reference form with them and we’ll handle the rest.
And if you’re having trouble finding the words to ask someone, we’ve got a some examples in a PDF below to get you started.
Please note that in line with our commitment to sustainability, we prefer electronic documents where possible. Printable forms are available from the College for referees unable to complete the form online.
That’s why as part of your application, you’ll sit down for a chat with one of our leadership staff. Not an interview, or an inquisition. Just a friendly conversation where we can get to know you a bit better.
You don’t need to prepare anything for this, but you’re welcome to bring any questions, worries or queries you might have about life at Grace. Trust us, we’ve heard them all.
Once your referees have completed their forms, and your application fee is paid, we’ll be in touch to find a time that suits.
For nearby applicants we’ll endeavour to do a face-to-face sit down over a cup of tea. For those from further afield a video or telephone call will be scheduled.
Once your application is complete, our admissions team reviews it holistically. We’ll then be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application.
Where you are in your university enrolment will determine what kind of offer you’ll receive:
To secure your place at Grace, you’ll need to accept your offer in writing and provide the first payment of your fees (usually $750AUD).
Notification of offer: Once your application is complete, we aim to let you know the outcome as soon as possible. For most applicants, this is within 1-2 weeks after their sit down chat with us.
We know moving into College and starting University can feel daunting, especially if you’re moving to a new city. However, it’s not a step you have to take alone.
Attending Grace means you have the support from the whole college community, whether it’s an extra set of hands to carry your bags in or a friend to sit with in the dining hall. Move-in marks the first day of lifelong friendships, and we can’t wait to welcome you home.
Below you’ll find some key dates for Grace College and the University of Queensland academic year. Applications for Grace College open around April / May for the following year (e.g. April / May 2023, for the 2024 Academic year).
At Grace College, the academic year runs from February – November with a winter break around June.
First year residents move in the weekend before orientation starts at UQ. This gives you a chance to settle in and meet your new college friends ahead of the excitement of O-Week.
The official start of lectures, workshops, pracs and tutorials at The University of Queensland.
The official start of lectures, workshops, pracs and tutorials at Queensland University of Technology.
We’re open for in-person tours by appointment any day of the week. Can’t make it to campus? Book in for a guided remote tour instead.