QTAC Information Sheet

Minimum Entry Requirements

Although a broad range of qualifications may be considered for gaining entry to tertiary courses, many courses have Minimum Entry Requirements that must be satisfied in order to be considered for entry into a certain course.

Minimum Entry Requirements can include auditions, subject prerequisites such as English (4,SA) or Maths B (4,SA), portfolios, satisfying English language proficiency, interviews and are summarised in the course entry in the QTAC Guide and in Course Search.

Satisfying the Minimum Entry Requirements does not mean you will definitely receive an offer in a course or that you have a competitive selection rank/OP for entry. If you do not satisfy the minimum entry requirements for a course, your application for that particular course is not considered any further, irrespective of the strength of your OP or QTAC selection rank. Once you have satisfied the minimum entry requirements for a course you then compete for a place on the basis of merit. Merit is expressed as an Overall Position or QTAC selection rank and is allocated based on the qualifications you present to QTAC.

If you are a current applicant, you can view feedback via Current Applicant online services on each of your course preferences on whether you satisfy the minimum entry requirements such as subject prerequisites, folios, auditions, English language proficiency etc. This will assist you in reviewing your preferences for an upcoming offer round, supplying further documentation or make other arrangements to satisfy the requirements. View More

Minimum Entry Requirements can fall into one of the two following categories -

Prerequisites
Institution Admission rules

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are in place for courses that require a level of knowledge or the demonstrated ability to acquire a certain level of knowledge. This is done to maximise the chances of success in the course. Prerequisites can either be subject prerequisites or auditions, portfolios, interviews, application forms.

Subject prerequisites

Subject prerequisites are expressed as achievement in specific Year 12 subjects, for example:

English (4,SA) indicates that the Queensland Studies Authority subject English (or equivalent) must have been studied over four semesters (ie Years 11 and 12) and an overall Exit Assessment of Sound Achievement or better obtained. Please see Satisfying the English Subject Prerequisite for more information.

Subject prerequisites, if not satisfied in Year 12, may be satisfied in a number of other ways, for example, successful results in the STAT, bridging subjects, Senior External Examination, etc. Applicants should check with the tertiary institution concerned to establish acceptable ways of meeting any stated prerequisites.

Auditions, Folios and Interviews

Applicants for performance-based courses may be required to submit a folio or complete an audition as part of the requirements for entry into the course. Applicants to other courses may be required to have an interview to assist the institution in determining eligibility for the course. Information regarding the audition, interview or folio can be obtained from the institution to which you are interested in applying. You can determine whether the course that you wish to apply to requires that you submit a folio, or participate in an interview or audition by checking the prerequisite information under the course entry either on this website, or in the QTAC Guide.

Institution Admission Rules

Admissions rules vary by institution and can require that applicants can demonstrate their English language proficiency and may also require that applicants not be subject to quota management or affected by exclusion rules and minimum age requirements.

English Language Proficiency

Institutions require applicants whose first language is not English, who have not previously undertaken a minimum amount of secondary or tertiary study where the medium of instruction was English, to demonstrate their English language proficiency. View more....

Quota Management

An application for a quota place must be made through QTAC. Quota is the estimated number of places available in a course.

Exclusion

A student is excluded when their tertiary institution terminates their enrolment. Each institution differs with respect to their exclusion policies. Students can be excluded as a result of academic failure over a specified period of time, or because of non-academic reasons. If you are excluded, your eligibility for applying for future tertiary study at the same or other institutions could be affected.

Minimum Age Requirements

Some institutions require their students to have obtained a specified qualification or reached a certain age before being considered for admission (see table below for details). Applicants who do not meet the requirements listed below can still apply for courses however the success of their application will be at the institution's discretion. Applicants should contact their preferred institution before applying for more information.

Institutions

Age/Qualification Requirements

Christian Heritage College

CQUniversity

James Cook University

Queensland University of Technology

University of New England

University of the Sunshine Coast

applicants must have completed Year 12 or reached 17 years of age

Southern Cross University

applicants must have completed Year 12 or reached 18 years of age

Australian Maritime College

QIBT

applicants must have reached 17 years of age

Southbank Institute of Technology

TAFE Queensland

applicants must have completed Year 12 or attained Year 12 leaving age.

Assumed Knowledge or Recommended Study

Some institutions do not have specific requirements for entry into tertiary study. Instead, they may identify that it is assumed that applicants have knowledge in a particular area equivalent to Queensland Studies Authority subjects. This is usually identified as Assumed Knowledge or Recommended Study. For example, an institution may specify Assumed Knowledge: English (4,SA) or Recommended Study: English and Maths for entry into a particular tertiary course.

Unlike prerequisite subjects, applicants who do not have the Assumed Knowledge or Recommended Study will not be prevented from receiving an offer into the course. However, applicants should be aware that if they do not have the Assumed Knowledge or Recommended Study they may experience difficulty with some aspects of the course and be required to complete some bridging study to acquire this knowledge.

It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the institution(s) to which they are applying to ensure that they meet any Assumed Knowledge or Recommended Study expectations.

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