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Home » Admission Criteria
Admission Criteria
When we assess your application, we use eligibility and merit to decide if you can get into a course.
Eligibility
Institution admission criteria apply to every applicant for every course offered. The criteria can be different for each institution. Common admission criteria include:
- English language proficiency
- course quota (the estimated number of places available in a course)
- exclusion (whether you have previously been excluded from an institution; this might affect whether you can get into the course you want)
- age requirements
- prerequisites
Some courses have additional admission criteria such as a personal statements, questionnaires, portfolios, auditions, interviews or tests, which are considered instead of, or together with, your academic qualifications.
Each institution sets its own admission criteria and most offer additional pathway options to applicants who don’t meet these general requirements. Visit the individual institution pages for details.
How you compete for a place
We put all applicants competing in the offer round in an ‘order of merit’, where the applicant with the best ATAR/selection rank is first and the applicant with the next best ATAR/selection rank is second etc.
We make offers by going down the order of merit until all places in the course are filled.
Where we stop is called the minimum selection threshold (ie the lowest ATAR/selection rank offered).
The minimum selection threshold:
- is not set beforehand
- can be used as a guide (only) as to what future cut-offs may be.
- do not usually change much from year to year, but do change on occasion.
- can change across semesters and between offer rounds for the same semester
- reflect supply and demand for a course (ie the number of places in the course, the number of applicants for the course and the quality of those applicants). This is not an indicator of the quality of the course.
To check previous years’ selection rank threshold information, search for the course entry on our website.
I am a 2022 Year 12 student
Current Year 12 students will be considered for an offer based on their ATAR/Selection Rank (or other recognised qualifications undertaken while at school).
Current International Baccalaureate (IB) students will be assigned a selection rank based on the score from the completed IB Diploma. As agreed by admissions centres around Australia, the IB score is converted to a ‘combined rank’. The combined rank is on the same scale as the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). This is then converted to QTAC selection rank. Visit IB studies for more information. IB Diploma students will be considered for an offer based on this selection rank (or other recognised qualifications undertaken while at school). For more information contact QTAC or the relevant institution.
Current New Zealand NCEA Level 3 students completing the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 will have an Interstate Transfer Index (ITI) calculated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and provided to QTAC
Current Non-standard Year 12 students studying programs of study including Australian Christian Education, Steiner Education and home schooling should contact QTAC or the relevant institution for more information on how this will be assessed. You must provide proof of completion of an accredited Year 12 program of study and official results from the US Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Current Non-standard Year 12 students are classified as “All Other Applicants” when lodging a QTAC application.
Current Queensland Senior External Examination students will be assigned a selection rank based on results from Queensland External Senior Exam subjects. Refer to Queensland Senior External Examination or contact QTAC for more information.
Other recognised qualifications completed when at school such as competency-based and graded AQF certificates III and IV (completed), diplomas, higher education study, and some creative arts qualifications (in the areas of music, dance, and speech) may also be assigned a selection rank. For more information contact QTAC or the relevant institution.
You are also required to meet relevant subject prerequisites for the course you are applying for. These can be satisfied by successfully completing Senior secondary subjects (or equivalent).
I finished school before 2022
Year 12 results (OP/ATAR/selection rank) do not expire once you have left school. Whether this result is considered for an offer to a course depends on whether you have additional qualifications, including other recognised qualifications completed while at school or after school. This includes formal qualifications such as Senior External Examination results, higher education study, VET study such as completed competency-based and graded AQF certificates III and IV (completed), and diplomas, bridging and enabling courses. Other post-secondary professional and paraprofessional qualifications (including creative arts, language and civil aviation qualifications, and professional registrations) and defence force service are also considered.
You may also use other admission pathways such as employment experience and the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); age restrictions apply.
Each institution sets its own entry criteria; which of these qualifications will be considered for entry will depend on the institution and/or course you are applying to. For more information, contact QTAC or the relevant institution.
I have completed/partially completed higher education study
If you’ve completed or partially completed higher education study (a tertiary course), institutions may consider this, and any other qualifications you have for entry. Each institution sets its own entry criteria, which of these qualifications will be considered for entry will depend on the institution and/or course you are applying to. Refer to tertiary study and the institution pages for more information.
If you’ve completed/partially completed higher education study (a tertiary course) and want to transfer to another course at a different institution, you should apply through QTAC. If you want to transfer to another course at the same institution, check with your institution to see if you need to apply though QTAC. In either case, you may be eligible for advanced standing/academic credit (application for advanced standing/academic credit is made direct to the institution)
You are also required to meet relevant subject prerequisites for the course you are applying for. These can be satisfied by successfully completing Senior secondary subjects (or equivalent). You must also satisfy any additional selection criteria – such as a portfolio, an interview, an audition, a questionnaire, a personal statement or a test – in addition to submitting a QTAC application. Visit the relevant institution page entry for their admission criteria.
I have Vocational Educational and Training (VET) study
If you’ve completed VET study at AQF certificate III level or higher, institutions may consider this, and any other qualifications you have for entry. Each institution sets its own entry criteria; which of these qualifications will be considered for entry will depend on the institution and/or course you are applying to. Refer to competency based training and institution pages for more information. You must also satisfy any additional selection criteria – such as a portfolio, an interview, an audition, a questionnaire, a personal statement or a test in addition to submitting a QTAC application.
You are also required to meet relevant subject prerequisites for the course you are applying for. These can be satisfied by successfully completing Senior secondary subjects (or equivalent). You must also satisfy any additional selection criteria – such as a portfolio, an interview, an audition, a questionnaire, a personal statement or a test – in addition to submitting a QTAC application. Refer to the relevant institution page entry for their admission criteria.
I have employment and life experience
Post-secondary professional and paraprofessional qualifications and service will be considered, including:
- some creative arts, language and civil aviation qualifications
- memberships of professional associations for which qualifying exams are undertaken
- police, defence and emergency services experience
Other admission pathways such as employment experience and the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be accepted; age restrictions apply. Refer to admissions pathways for more information. STAT results are not accepted for current Year 12 students or for applicants under the age of 18. STAT is not accepted for graduate entry programs. Each institution sets its own entry criteria, which of these will be considered for entry will depend on the institution and/or course you are applying to. Refer to the relevant institution page for more information. You must also satisfy any additional selection criteria – such as a portfolio, an interview, an audition, a questionnaire, a personal statement or a test in addition to submitting a QTAC application.
You are also required to meet relevant subject prerequisites for the course you are applying for. These can be satisfied by successfully completing Senior secondary subjects (or equivalent). Subject prerequisites generally cannot be met through certificate-level study.
I didn’t complete school/do well at school and have no other qualifications
Most institutions offer pathways options for applicants who don’t meet the entry requirements for their degree courses, or need further support and preparation before studying at degree level. These generally include non-degree courses such as foundation studies, preparatory courses and certificate, diploma or associate degree courses.
If you successfully complete a pathway course, an institution may guarantee you entry into a particular degree course. Otherwise, you can use your non-degree studies to apply and compete for admission to other degree courses. You may also be awarded credit for some studies undertaken in your non-degree course.
For more information, visit Enabling programs and bridging studies.
You may also be able to use your pathway program from one institution to help you get into tertiary courses at another. Check with the relevant institution which preparatory programs they accept.
You must also satisfy any additional selection criteria – such as a portfolio, an interview, an audition, a questionnaire, a personal statement or a test in addition to submitting a QTAC application.
I have an overseas qualification
If you are applying on the basis of overseas qualifications, visit International applications and contact the relevant institution/s to discuss your eligibility for admission before you apply through QTAC.
Courses not assessed by QTAC
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificates I and II
- Statements of attainment
- courses delivered by Australian private providers that are not accredited. Only those courses accredited under the AQF, or by the relevant state/territory accreditation authority, will be taken into account. Qualifications undertaken with private providers will not be assessed without proof of accreditation for the particular course.
- short courses run by a university (eg Project Management Essentials)
- other short courses such as first aid certificates.
If you’d like your qualifications assessed before you apply for study, our Qualifications Assessment Service can provide you with a qualifications assessment statement.
Additional requirements for health and welfare courses
Courses related to health, education and welfare may have additional requirements that need to be satisfied including:
- tests such as the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
- interview
- requirements for clinical/internship placements undertaken as part of your course
- accreditation and procedures for employment after you have completed the course
- questionnaires and/or personal statements.
Additional requirements for education courses
Applicants to initial teacher education courses must satisfy academic and non-academic entry requirements.
Additional requirements for creative and performing arts courses
Courses related to creative and performing arts may have additional requirements that need to be satisfied, including:
- audition
- interview
- portfolio
- questionnaire.
English language proficiency
You need to demonstrate that you can speak, write, read and comprehend English to a standard set by the institution. If English is not your first language check how you can demonstrate your English language proficiency.
Merit
ATAR/selection ranks
If you complete Year 12 in Queensland in 2021 and are eligible for an ATAR, QTAC will calculate your ATAR and you’ll receive it on 17 December 2021.
For all other applicants, we will allocate a selection rank based on your assessable qualification(s). Contact us on 1300 467 822 for information about selection ranks.
You get into some courses without an ATAR/selection rank if:
- you meet the course prerequisites and institution admission rules, and
- you don’t/won’t get an offer in a higher preference.
You will simply receive an offer the next time the course is offered.
You get into some courses with just an ATAR/selection rank if:
- you meet the minimum ATAR/selection rank
- you meet the course prerequisites and institution admission rules, and
- you don’t/won’t get an offer in a higher preference.
You will simply receive an offer the next time the course is offered.
You get into some courses with an ATAR/selection rank, and then compete for a place
This has to happen where there are more applicants than places.
For these courses, we will let you know whether your ATAR/selection rank is meeting the minimum to compete for a place.
If your ATAR/selection rank is not meeting the minimum to compete for a place
We will let you know, and
- we will look at your next preference to see if we can make you an offer in it. Letting you know you are not being considered for the course means you can change your preferences sooner.
If your ATAR/selection rank is meeting the minimum to compete for a place
We will let you know, and if:
- you meet the course prerequisites and institution admission rules, and
- you don’t/won’t get an offer in a higher preference, then
- you may get an early offer if you are highly competitive.
If you cannot receive an early offer, we’ll wait until the course’s major offer round so that you can compete for a place.