Mature age and non year 12 entry

Even if you don't have a current OP or rank, there are still lots of ways you can qualify for entry to our courses.

 

What to include on your QTAC application

If you have any of the qualifications or experience listed on this page, make sure you include them on your QTAC application. QTAC will use them to calculate an entry rank for you.

When you submit your application online via QTAC, it will tell you if you need to supply supporting documents and how to do this.

Entry based on secondary or tertiary study

If you've ever studied at secondary or tertiary level, that study may help you get into university, regardless of how long ago it was.

You should include on your QTAC application any:

• Senior (Year 12) results from Queensland (including OP or TE score) or other Australian states
• International Baccalaureate (IB) results
• Certificate or Education ('A' levels) or comparable qualifications
• External senior ('night school') examination subjects
• Australian Christian Education (ACE) studies
• AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) certificates
• tertiary bridging or preparatory studies, including the Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation (ATP)
• tertiary study: at university, TAFE, vocational education and training (VET), Open Learning or registered training organisations.

You may be able to work out your own rank

If your prior study is listed here, you can work out your rank and use the past rank cut-off in your course details as a guide to which courses you may be able to get into.

Entry based on professional qualifications, employment or life experience: alternative entry

Even if you don't have any secondary results or tertiary study, you can still qualify for entry to our courses.

QTAC will calculate a rank for you based on your professional qualifications, employment or life experience.

We call this 'alternative entry'.

Your qualifications and experience don't need to be directly related to the course you're applying for. Alternative entry is about demonstrating that you'll be able to handle university study.

You will have a rank for your Year 12 results or any university or completed TAFE studies. This may be sufficient for you to gain entry to university.

If you haven’t completed school or any additional study, or if your ranks for these aren't high enough to gain entry, you can apply to university on the basis of your work and life skills through the alternative entry pathway.

Which courses can I apply for using alternative entry?

You can use alternative entry to get into any of our courses, except:

• Dean's Scholars Programs
• courses with additional entry requirements, where entry is not judged solely on OP or rank
• graduate and diploma entry programs.

Bonus ranks gained through special entry schemes do not apply to the Alternative Entry Scheme.

What should I include in my application?

Employment experience

Include your employment experience on your application if you've spent at least 6 months in full-time paid employment (or equivalent).

QTAC will calculate your rank based on the type of employment and the length of time you were employed.

You'll need to provide an official statement from your employer confirming your employment. See QTAC for details.

QTAC: using employment experience for alternative entry

Life experience: Personal Competencies Assessment (PCA)

You can demonstrate that your life skills and experience will help you handle university studies by completing a Personal Competencies Assessment (PCA).

The Personal Competencies Assessment is a written statement in which you address specific categories so you can demonstrate how your skills, abilities and experience will help you succeed at university.

QTAC has more information about the Personal Competencies Assessment and they run workshops to help you prepare your statement.

QTAC's Personal Competencies Assessment (PCA) information sheet

QTAC Workshops and Seminars

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is a multiple-choice test that you can take to demonstrate your potential for university study. You don't need knowledge in any particular subject areas to take the test.

You can't get into our courses based on just your Special Tertiary Admissions Test, but you can use it in combination with your previous study, professional qualifications, employment or life experience to improve your rank.

To sit for the Special Tertiary Admissions Test you need to register with QTAC. They also run workshops to help you prepare for the test.

QTAC Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)