QTAC Information Sheet

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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 Guide 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.  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

For self-employment to be assessed you must provide supporting documents from your accountant, solicitor or tax agent on official letterhead identifying the position you held, type of business and length and dates that the accountant has been of service to you and the relevant business.

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 at www.acer.edu.au.

In many cases a STAT result may be used on its own 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 Subject Prerequisite for more information.

 

Institutional Policies on Alternative Entry - 2011/2012 Admissions

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 In exceptional circumstances, AMC may also accept written submissions that outline prior employment experience, educational background, community service and other relevant material, contact AMC.	Yes.	Yes -  if 21* (except for engineering programs).
Bond University	Yes - if 21*, except for entry to programs from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.	No - applicants are selected by interview	Yes, if Year 12 is completed, if not applicants must be 21*
Christian Heritage College	Yes.
CQUniversity	Yes.	Yes - if 18*.
Griffith University	Yes.	Yes - if 21* but not acceptable for B Oral Health in Dental Science.	Yes - if 21*.	Yes - if 21* but PCA not acceptable for B Oral Health in Dental Science.
James Cook University	Yes - if 18*, but not acceptable for B Pharmacy, B Physiotherapy, B Dental surgery, B Veterinary Science, B Medicine/B Surgery.
Qantm College	Yes - if 18*.
Queensland Institute of Business and Technology	Yes.	Yes - if 21*.
Queensland University of Technology Alternative Entry applies to all QUT courses, except those with special entry requirements ie Dean's Scholars, fine arts and music courses requiring auditions, portfolios or interviews, and graduate and diploma entry programs.	Yes.	Yes.	No.	Will combine STAT with employment experience and/or PCA.
Southbank Institute of Technology	Yes.
Southern Cross University	Yes – if 18*. Does not except employment experience less than one year full-time equivalent.	Yes – if 18* but not for B Visual Arts (single & combined degrees) or B Business Hotel Management.	Yes – if 18*. STAT results are only valid for ten years.	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*. This rank is capped at 90.	Yes - if 18*.	Will combine PCA with STAT for applicants who are 18*. This rank is capped at 90. Will not consider STAT combined with professional qualifications or employment experience.
University of New England	Yes - except for B Laws, B Laws (Graduate Entry), B Pharmacy or B Psychology with Honours.	Yes - if 17* but not for entry to B Laws, B Laws (Graduate Entry), B Pharmacy or B Psychology with Honours.	Yes - if 17* except for B Laws (Graduate Entry).   STAT results are only valid for 3 years.
University of Southern Queensland	Yes.
University of the Sunshine Coast	Yes - if 18*.

 

* The dates by which age requirements need to be met are dependant on entry semester. Refer to the Institution Age Requirements table below for these dates.

 

Institution age requirements - 2011/2012 Admissions

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, 2011	Semester 1, 2012	Semester 2, 2012
Australian Catholic University	n/a	1 January 2012	1 July 2012
Australian Maritime College	n/a	1 January 2012	1 June 2012
Bond University	1 September 2011	1 January 2012	1 May 2012
CQUniversity	1 November 2011	31 January 2012	1 July 2012
Griffith University	n/a	1 January 2012	1 June 2012
James Cook University	n/a	1 February 2012	1 July 2012
Qantm College	1 August 2011	1 February 2012	n/a
Queensland Institute of Business and Technology	31 October 2011	1 March 2012	28 June 2012
Southern Cross University	1 March 2011	1 March 2012	1 March 2012
The University of Queensland	n/a	1 February 2012	1 July 2012
University of New England	n/a	1 February 2012	30 June 2012
University of the Sunshine Coast	n/a	31 December 2011	30 June 2012

 

This information was correct as at 21 September 2011.

 

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