Pathways to university
There are possible pathways for OP ineligible students to apply to study a Diploma at TAFE or a Degree at University.
Examples of learning pathways
Tertiary entrance in Queensland
Benefits of participating in TAFE courses
Articulation programs with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
Read How vocational education and training subjects contribute to tertiary study pathways [PDF 570kb].
Examples of learning pathways
Students come to TAFE from many different starting points with a view to fulfilling varied career or personal goals. Below are some examples of how TAFE learning pathways can meet your needs and give you greater possibilities.
| Starting point | Example of learning pathway |
|---|---|
| TAFE | You're enrolled in a Certificate at TAFE and work part-time at a fast food chain. Your dream job is to work in a five-star hotel in the Whitsundays but you don't yet have the skills required. To make your dream a reality, your TAFE teacher advises you to enrol in the Diploma of Hospitality and receive credit for the study you've already done in the Certificate. |
| Work | You've been working as a receptionist in a large real estate agency for the last five years and need a challenge. While still working full-time, you enrol in a flexible course at TAFE and get your Certificate in Real Estate in six months. You are well on the way to your new career. |
| Entering the workforce | After spending the last three years caring for your family you decide it's time to enter the workforce again. You aim to find work helping young people in your community and so enrol in a Certificate in Community Services at TAFE. |
| Year 10 | You get an apprenticeship as a chef as a local restaurant and sign a training agreement with your new boss. You work full-time and attend TAFE for scheduled block release training. When you graduate, you go on a working holiday (as your qualification is recognised across Australia) to build up experience and progress towards opening your own restaurant. |
| Year 12 | You complete your Senior Certificate but don't get the Overall Position you need to get into University. You decide to enrol in a full-time Diploma of Information Technology at your local TAFE. You complete our TAFE Diploma in 18 months, receive credit, and improve your QTAC selection rank enough to enrol in a Bachelor of Information Technology. |
| University | You graduated from university with a Bachelor of Science and have been working with CSIRO for five years. You want to upgrade your skills but don't want to commit to another three-year degree. You decide to enrol in a Renewable Energy Technologies course. You complete this short course in one year and have been promoted to a better position. |
Tertiary entrance in Queensland
Entrance to most Diploma level and Bachelor Degree level courses at Queensland TAFE Institutes, Universities and some Private Providers are through application to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). QTAC manages offers to courses on behalf of the member Institutions at both the main admissions period in January and February of each year as well as a smaller admissions period in June of each year.
Entry to most courses (except where through audition, portfolio or interview) is merit based and influenced heavily by course quotas and demand for places in each course. QTAC uses a ranking system to manage offers of places.
For many year 12 leavers, an Overall Position (OP) is awarded on completion of the prescribed number and type of subjects in senior high school as well as having sat the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test. OP Scores range from 1 (highest) to 25 (lowest).
For anyone else wanting to apply for a position in a course through QTAC (including Year 12 leavers who do not qualify for an OP), their application is assessed and they are allocated a Selection Rank. Selection Ranks are allocated taking into account information such as educational history, trade or traineeship studies, other professional qualifications and possible educational disadvantage. Personal competencies and employment experience can also be assessed at additional cost. Also at additional cost, applicants may sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), a 2 hour multiple choice test conducted at various times and places around Queensland. The STAT is designed to test a range of abilities commonly considered important for successful tertiary study. Results on the STAT are only used by QTAC if they improve your Selection Rank. Selection Ranks range from 99 (highest) to 1 (lowest).
Note also, that many courses at universities have prerequisite requirements for entry. Check with each institution regarding any prerequisite requirements for their courses.
Benefits of participating in TAFE courses
TAFE courses are often used as an option to increase the chance of entry to tertiary level courses by improving Overall Positions and Selection Ranks. The tables below summarise the benefits of participating in a TAFE course for tertiary entrance.
|
Program |
Selection rank |
Approx OP equivalent |
|---|---|---|
|
Completed Advanced Diploma |
91 (minimum) |
6 |
|
Completed Diploma |
82 (minimum) |
10 |
|
Completed Certificate IV |
74 |
13 |
|
Completed Certificate III |
68 |
15 |
Selection ranks vary depending on how many subjects are completed and how well a student averages across all their subjects.
VET (Vocational Education and Training) - What is it?
VET as part of the Senior Phase of Learning can assist students to achieve points towards a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). The students in year 10 or turning 16 years old need to have a Learning account (LUI) established by the school for TAFE to deposit training results into. When students are deemed competent the points are banked and a 'statement of results' is sent to the student to in turn present to the school to have results recorded.
TAFE entry at the end of year 12
This learning can assist with entry into TAFE programs at the end of year 12. Students can finalise any training outcomes to receive their full qualification or move onto a higher qualification.
Students can apply directly to the TAFE Institute at Certificate level II, III, IV or Diploma in November of the preceding year the student intends to study.
It is a good idea to attend Career Days and Open Days at the Institute and discuss training with teaching staff who can explain the career pathway.
Alternative entry to university
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If you don't have any educational qualifications for assessment, or
-
If you want to try to increase your selection rank.
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Different Institutions have differing policies on the use of Alternative Entry check their entry requirements or apply to their Student Administration sections.
Professional and postsecondary qualifications
-
Examples
- Apprenticeship or Traineeship
- Health care qualifications - EN, Dental assistant, Vet nurse
- Police, fire, merchant marine, defence force ranks
- Creative Arts qualifications
- Language qualifications - translating, interpreting
- Professional memberships requiring qualifying exams all of these qualifications can assist in gaining entry into the desired university program.
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www.qtac.edu.au site provides information and the current prices for applications for entry into higher education institute.
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Individual university sites provide information on agreements with TAFE around credit transfer and Advanced Standing for completed programs.
Articulation programs with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
The University of Southern Queensland in conjunction with Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE offers a range of articulation pathways for Diploma to Degree programs. Students commence studying the Diploma component of the program with SQIT, then undertake the Bachelor component of the program with USQ.
The Diploma/Bachelor programs can be successfully completed within three to three and a half years full-time.
Articulation arrangements are currently in place for:
-
Diploma of Business to Bachelor of Business
-
Diploma of Information Technology (Software Development) to Bachelor of Information Technology
-
Diploma of Hospitality Management to Bachelor of Hospitality Management
-
Diploma of Hospitality Management to Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
For further information please visit the University of Southern Queensland website or contact us.