QTAC Information Sheet

Return to Previous Page

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 & employment experience	Personal Competencies Assessment (PCA) on its own	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 QUT's Alternative Entry scheme applies to all QUT courses, except for Dean's Scholars, fine arts, music, and graduate and diploma entry programs.	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 UQ will only accept an Alternative Entry application if you have NOT undertaken the equivalent of one year of full-time bachelor or higher level study.	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

 

Top of Page