Getting into higher education
Do you want to get into a degree? The minimum entry requirement is usually successful completion of Year 12. Apart from that, the entry requirements and rules — and the ways around them — will vary depending on where and what you want to study.
Degrees of difficulty: what is usually required for entry
For school leavers, universities rely heavily on the cut-off selection method. Other common selection criteria are used in addition to the cut-off, such as prerequisites, interviews, auditions, or entrance tests. However, for school leavers these rarely replace the cut-off altogether.
For mature age students, universities will usually look at broader evidence of a student’s abilities. However, successful completion of senior secondary education as well as prerequisite subjects is generally still required. Other selection criteria including tests such as the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT), and interviews can be used in addition.
TAFE institutes and other private higher education providers will not focus as much on cut-offs and may have broader, more individualised entry criteria than universities. However, if they specialise in a specific field, expect interviews, auditions and folios where relevant.
Different ways of getting in
Some courses are very hard to get into (for example, medicine, law, veterinary science and creative arts). Others like environmental studies, arts and nursing are easier to get into.
In addition, some universities and campuses are tougher to get into than others. So, while arts might generally be an easier course to get into overall, when compared with other fields, it will certainly be harder to get into at the really tough universities.
You will probably be aware of this, but you might not know that there are ways around the problem. There are five options.
- If you are sure about the course you want to do, hedge your bets and apply to some tougher providers and campuses, and some easier ones.
- If you have your heart set on a particular campus, but don’t think you will make it into the course you wanted, choose a less competitive course at the same campus, then get brilliant marks in first year and transfer. No guarantees, of course.
- Investigate the alternative selection criteria or special entry schemes. Special entry schemes are often available to students if they do not quite meet entry requirements. For example, if you have suffered any financial, social or other hardship or been disadvantaged in your studies, then the institution will take this into consideration and apply different methods of selection, which will help you get in even if your score is below the cut-off.
- Try to apply as a mature age student. Sometimes if you enter higher education as a mature age student you are subject to different entry criteria which can be less rigid than the standard. For example, you might be able to have work experience taken into consideration if you have not completed a prerequisite. Or if you did not complete Year 12, some VET study might be deemed equivalent.
- Work your way up the qualifications ladder using VET and other pathways — check out Entry pathways .
Please rate this article:
(hover over the stars then click to rate)
