QTAC Information Sheet
Alternative Entry
To be a successful tertiary student, it is not necessary for you to have completed Year 12 or have any formal academic qualifications. There are a number of alternative qualifications that you can present to assist your application. Using these alternative qualifications is known as Alternative Entry. However, before applying using Alternative Entry carefully consider the qualifications you do have.
For example, if you have ever completed Year 12 or its equivalent, undertaken some Senior External examination subjects, studied at university, TAFE, or registered training organisations or completed an approved bridging course, you may be considered for entry on the basis of these qualifications.
Many applicants incorrectly assume that because they are over 21 they
will automatically be considered for Alternative Entry. This is not the case: tertiary entrance
depends on each applicant's qualifications and the policies of the
institution to which they are applying. Not all institutions accept Alternative Entry
qualifications for all of their
courses, particularly performing arts or creative arts courses.
It is strongly advised that before you submit your application, you check your eligibility for Alternative Entry with the relevant
institution admissions office.
Alternative Entry is not recommended as a
pathway for current internal Year 12 students.
If you do not have any formal academic qualifications, Alternative Entry enables you to demonstrate your capacity to undertake tertiary study on the basis of the following:
1. Professional & Postsecondary Qualifications
These qualifications include:
- health care qualifications such as registered and enrolled nursing, dental therapist or assistant, and veterinary nurse training
- apprenticeships and traineeships
- police, fire, merchant marine, civil aviation and defence force ranks
- creative arts qualifications in the areas of music, dance, and speech and drama
- language qualifications such as translating and interpreting
- membership of selected professional associations for which qualifying examinations were undertaken
More detailed information about how these qualifications can assist your application is available in the QTAC publication Pathways to Tertiary Studies or by contacting the relevant institution admissions office.
2. Employment Experience
If you have spent more than six months in full-time or equivalent paid employment you should clearly outline this on your QTAC application, including your job title and the main duties you performed. Your employment does not have to be related to the courses you wish to study.
It is essential that your employment experience be substantiated by written statements from your employer/s or, if self employed, by your accountant, solicitor or tax agent. These statements should be signed and dated, on official letterhead and must include the following information:
- length of service including date commenced and date finished;
- type of employment (full-time, part-time or casual);
- job title;
- duties performed
3. Personal Competencies Assessment (PCA)
PCA recognises that many aspects of an individual's life experience may result in the development of skills, abilities and knowledge that relate directly to the ability to undertake tertiary study successfully. The PCA is a written statement in which you address specific categories relating to tertiary study. View more....
4. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you are applying using Alternative Entry it is recommended that you sit the STAT. The STAT is a two-hour aptitude test that assists applicants to demonstrate their potential for tertiary study and helps institutions make selection decisions. The test is made up of 70 multiple-choice questions that are designed to assess a range of competencies commonly considered important for successful tertiary study.
You do not have to 'study' for the test. It is an aptitude test and therefore is not designed to test your knowledge of specific subjects. All the background information is given to you in the test. The questions focus on your ability to process, analyse and understand material. The background information may be presented in a variety of forms, including graphs, tables, diagrams, prose and cartoons. Sample questions are available on the acer website.
In many cases a STAT result may be used on its own (usually if you are 21 years of age or over) or in conjunction with other qualifications and can also be used to satisfy some subject prerequisites. View more...
Prerequisites
If you are considering applying using Alternative Entry, you are still required to satisfy subject prerequisites and any other specific entry requirements set by the tertiary institutions. If you are unsure whether your qualifications will satisfy the prerequisites, you should clarify this with the relevant institution admissions office before submitting a QTAC application. Please see Satisfying the English Prerequisite for more information.
Institutional policies on Alternative Entry
The information in the following table is subject to change. For detailed information regarding specific institution policies relating to Alternative Entry, please contact the relevant institution admissions office.
Institution
|
Professional qualifications &
|
Personal Competencies Assessment
|
STAT accepted on its own
|
STAT combined with professional qualifications, employment and PCA
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Catholic University
|
Yes.
|
Yes - if 21*.
|
||
Australian Maritime College |
Yes.
|
Yes (except for engineering programs) |
||
Bond University |
No – applicants are selected by interview.
|
May be acceptable, if 21*. Contact Bond for details. |
No |
|
Christian Heritage College |
Yes.
|
Yes - if 18*.
|
Yes - if 17*.
|
Yes - if 18*.
|
CQUniversity |
Yes.
|
Yes - if 21*.
|
||
Endeavour College of Natural Health
|
No - applicants are selected by interview.
|
|||
Griffith University |
Yes.
|
Yes - if 21*.
|
||
James Cook University |
Yes - if 18*, but not acceptable for pharmacy, physiotherapy, dental surgery, veterinary science & medicine courses.
|
Yes - if 21*, but not acceptable for pharmacy, physiotherapy, dental surgery, veterinary science & medicine courses.
|
Yes - if 18*, but not acceptable for pharmacy, physiotherapy, dental surgery, veterinary science & medicine courses. |
|
Qantm College |
Yes.
|
Yes - if 18*.
|
||
Queensland Institute of Business and Technology
|
Yes.
|
|||
Queensland University of Technology |
Yes.
|
Yes.
|
No.
|
Will combine STAT with employment experience and/or PCA.
|
Southern Cross University
|
Yes – for some courses (excluding B Laws - Graduate or undergraduate entry and combined B Laws courses). Applicant must be 18*.
|
No. |
||
TAFE Queensland |
Yes.
|
|||
The University of Queensland |
Yes - in some cases. For employment to be considered applicants must be 18*.
|
No - but PCA may be considered for applicants applying for programs offered externally at UQ Gatton who are 18*††.
|
Yes - if 18*.
|
Will consider PCA in combination with a STAT result for applicants who are 18*††. UQ will not consider STAT combined with professional qualifications or employment experience.
|
University of New England |
Yes - but not for entry to B Archaeology with Honours or B Psychology with Honours. |
Yes - if 17* but not for B Archaeology with Honours, B Psychology with Honours and B Laws (non-grad entry). |
Yes - if 17*. Applicants unable to sit the STAT should contact UNE Admissions.
|
|
University of Southern Queensland |
Yes.
|
Yes - if 21*.
|
||
University of the Sunshine Coast |
Yes - if 18*.
|
Yes - if 18*.
|
Yes - if 21*.
|
|
* The dates by which age requirements need to be met are dependant on the entry semester. Refer to the Institution Age Requirements table below for these dates.
†† This rank is capped at 90.
Institution age requirements
The dates by which age requirements need to be met are dependant on the entry semester. See the list of dates below.
Institution
|
Semester 3, 2009
|
Semester 1 2010
|
Semester 2 2010
|
|---|---|---|---|
Australian Catholic University
|
1 October 2009
|
1 January 2010
|
1 July 2010
|
Bond University
|
1 September 2009
|
1 January 2010 |
1 May 2010
|
Christian Heritage College
|
30 November 2009
|
31 January 2010
|
30 June 2010
|
CQUniversity
|
1 November 2009
|
31 January 2010
|
1 July 2010
|
Griffith University
|
1 August 2009
|
1 January 2010
|
1 June 2010
|
James Cook University |
n/a |
1 February 2010 |
1 July 2010 |
Qantm College
|
1 August 2009
|
1 February 2010
|
n/a
|
Queensland Institute of Business and Technology
|
31 October 2009 |
1 March 2010 |
30 June 2010 |
Southern Cross University
|
1 March 2009
|
1 March 2010
|
1 March 2010
|
The University of Queensland
|
n/a
|
1 February 2010
|
30 June 2010
|
University of New England
|
n/a
|
1 February 2010
|
30 June 2010
|
University of Southern Queensland
|
1 November 2009
|
1 March 2010
|
1 July 2010
|
University of the Sunshine Coast
|
31 October 2009
|
31 December 2009
|
30 June 2010
|









