National Regional disability Liaison Officer Initiative (NRDLOI) project / UniAbility

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Considering higher education? A planning guide for people with disabilities or medical conditions

Entry requirements

INFORMATION SHEET
Number 3

On the following pages you will find brief outlines of the possible ways to get a place at TAFE or university. Much more detailed information is available from your school counsellor, TAFESA Institutes, the universities, and SATAC. SATAC produces three booklets: the SATAC TAFE Course and Admissions Guide, the SATAC University Guide and SATAC Tertiary Entrance, 2003, 2004, 2005. You should make use of these publications.

The two most common ways of gaining entry to TAFE or university are:

1. by completion of the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), or
2. by a Special Entry Scheme.

1.    South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)

Many students gain admission to TAFE or university in South Australia by completing the SACE or NTCE (the Northern Territory equivalent). Before commencing the SACE you will need to ensure that the subjects you choose will fulfil the requirements for the course/ program of your choice at TAFE or university. For detailed information about the SACE and tertiary entrance, refer to SATAC Tertiary Entrance 2003, 2004, 2005 or contact SATAC.

There are a number of rules for students who completed their Year 12 attempts in 1994 or earlier (see the SATAC TAFE Course and Admissions Guide or the SATAC University Guide for details).

If you are not currently enrolled in SACE, have not done Year 12 before and would like to find out more information about this program, contact the Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE) for the location of your nearest re-entry program.

2.    Special Entry Schemes

Special entry schemes allow a wide variety of people who do not meet the usual entry requirements to undertake TAFE or university study. Special entry schemes also allow access (under certain eligibility conditions) to applicants who meet minimum entry requirements but whose qualifications may not be competitive enough to guarantee admission.

Not all courses/programs offered by TAFE or the universities are accessible through special entry schemes, and each TAFE or university has specific rules regarding who is eligible, and uses a range of selection criteria. Detailed information about each TAFE or university’s special entry scheme and the selection criteria used in assessing applications for individual courses are published in the SATAC TAFE Course and Admissions Guide and the SATAC University Guide.

The four most common selection criteria are:

2.1 Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
2.2 Employment experience
2.3 Personal competencies
2.4 TAFE Entry Assessment (TEA)

2.1 Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

The STAT is one way of gaining admission to many TAFE or university courses/programs. You may be eligible to sit this 2 hour test, which contains 70 multiple choice questions. It is designed to assess your level of ability in a number of skills that are important to successful study at TAFE or university, including the ability to think critically and to analyse material.

Would it be useful for me to sit the STAT?

You would need to sit the STAT if you:

• have not completed the minimum admission requirements for a course/program
  or
• the scores that you gained are not high enough to gain entry. (Remember, if there are more applicants than places, offers will be made to those with the highest scores.)

Provisions may be made to accommodate your disability in the testing procedure. If you have a disability which may impact on your ability to sit the STAT, complete the relevant question on your SATAC form.

Some important points about the STAT

• STAT applicants into university must have turned 21 before 1 January of the year of admission. There is no age restriction for STAT applicants into TAFE. Not all courses/ programs currently offered by TAFE or the universities can be accessed by the STAT.
• The closing date for STAT applications to universities is the end of September. Late special entry applications may be accepted for some courses, but a late fee will apply. Check the SATAC TAFE and University Guides for any courses/programs you wish to apply for using STAT.
• The late closing date for sitting the STAT is early November, although alternative test arrangements can be made after this date or if you are unable to attend a scheduled test.
  A fee is charged for this service.
• You may sit for the STAT at country, metropolitan or interstate locations.
• Non-refundable fees apply to the STAT. The total cost depends on a number of factors such as when and where you sit the test.
• The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) offers short fee paying courses to help you prepare for the STAT.
• SATAC can provide preparation packs containing past tests fro a small fee.
• STAT results will not be considered if you hold a degree or diploma from a higher education institution.

2.2 Employment experience

The ability to be successful in a given job can demonstrate skills and background knowledge, which may not be evident through other selection methods such as the STAT. The consideration of employment experience as part of the special entry process seeks to recognise such knowledge and training. While some courses/programs will consider all work experience, whether paid or unpaid, others will only consider paid experience over a period of six months or more. Detailed information is published in the SATAC TAFE Course and Admissions Guide and the SATAC University Guide.

2.3 Personal competencies statements

Personal competencies statements provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate that you have developed through your life experiences the skills and abilities required for successful study at tertiary level. The statements are required to be no longer than three A4 pages (750 – 1000 words) and address the following criteria:

• higher education preparation
• higher education maturity independent learning strategies
• interpersonal and communication skills.

2.4 TAFE Entry Assessment (TEA)

TAFE Entry Assessment (TEA) statements allow applicants who cannot meet the usual entry requirements to TAFE courses to demonstrate their abilities. It is particularly useful for applicants who have gained broad skills and experience in their lives but who have no formal qualifications. See the SATAC TAFE Course and Admissions Guide for further information.

OTHER PATHWAYS

There are other pathways into university and some of them are briefly listed here. You will need to contact the organisations for more information.

For further information on entry into TAFE contact the institute that offers the specific course you are interested in.

Flinders University

For further information on special access schemes offered by Flinders University contact the admissions office on 8201 32074 or 1300 657 671 or www.flinders.edu.au/students/future/specialaccess/ 

Foundation Course: This course provides a possible point of entry to formal degree study for students who do not have the educational background for traditional study. Contact the Foundation Course Coordinator on 8201 2305.

Student Equal Access Scheme: This is designed to assist students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Appraisal forms completed by school staff indicating potential across a number of measures are used to judge applicants who are then ranked before being offered a place.

The University of Adelaide

Disadvantage such as a disability is taken into account in the selection of students through special entry.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Access Test: The test is for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. The test comprises a literacy test, and a numeracy test for a science based course. Telephone 8303 5705 or freecall 1800 651 763.

University of South Australia

Information Technology Bridging Program: This program prepares students for admission to undergraduate IT programs. Contact the Program Information Centre on 8302 2376.

Applied Science and Engineering Bridging Program: A bridging program to enable you to gain the prerequisites for UniSA's engineering programs and to prepare you undergraduate degree programs in applied science. Contact the Program Information Centre on 8302 2376.

Selection Exercises: Selection exercises are an alternative to the STAT test, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Contact The Unaipon School 8302 0573.

Diploma in University Studies: This access award is designed to give an alternative access to university to people who, for various reasons, do not have the educational background for traditional entry. Not available to school leavers. Contact Campus Central 8302 4511.

Diploma in Arts (Australian Studies): This is for people new to tertiary study. Also serves as a bridging program for students wishing to study at a degree level. Contact The Unaipon School on 8302 6781.

Variation in entry provision: In addition to the usual methods of entry this variation applies to people who may have been educationally disadvantaged as a result of a disability. Contact the Program Information Centre on 8302 2376.

Open Universities Australia

Successful completion of units offered through Open Universities Australia will improve your chances of receiving an offer from your preferred university via the relevant Tertiary Admissions centre.  Check with the university to see which units are most appropriate. Direct transfer is not available. http://www.open.edu.au/

There may be other pathways — contact the universities

This information was correct at the time of printing (August 2005).

Applicants are advised to check the information with the relevant institution, SATAC TAFE Admissions Service or SATAC University Admission Service.

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