Admission requirements

You may apply for admission to the University on the basis of meeting one or more of the General Entry Requirements.

General university entry requirements

Admission to many courses is available on the basis of a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences:

• Senior Secondary – one of: TCE (SA in at least four pre-tertiary subjects); Year 11/12 ITI/TER score; Interstate TER; International Baccalaureate Diploma, ACE, concessional entry; OR

• Completion of one of the following: TAFE/VET qualifications: Certificate III or IV or equivalent; Diploma; Advanced Diploma; TAFE articulation program; OR

• Prior university study, either completed or partially completed; OR

• Successful completion of all units in a university enabling program; OR

• Results from a relevant aptitude test (may include ACER admission tests, STAT); OR

• Provision of a supporting statement outlining evidence of capacity to succeed (see the Guide Insert for further details)

Some courses have additional entry requirements. For specific entry criteria, check the course information at the online Course and Unit Handbook at: http://www.utas.edu.au/courses. Applicants who have met general entry requirements but who do not satisfy course specific entry requirements will be considered automatically for courses which provide an alternative entry pathway to their preferred course preference.

Year 12 applicants

If you have already completed or are completing your senior secondary schooling (Year 12/13) in 2008, you can apply for entry on the basis of your senior secondary school qualifications.

For most courses you will be assessed solely on your Year 12 results. Special entry conditions apply for some courses, for example some of those in Visual and Performing Arts. Applicants will be contacted if they are required to attend interviews or auditions for their course preferences.

Tasmanian year 12 applicants

The minimum entry requirements are listed below:

• at least two years in post year 10 study for the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) (or another approved senior secondary program) requiring enrolment in a combination of subjects designed for Years 11 and 12; and

• a Satisfactory Achievement (SA) result or better in a minimum of four Senior Secondary pre-tertiary subjects, chosen from the schedule of subjects approved by the University (see page 12); and

• attainment of the minimum of four subjects in not more than two (not necessarily consecutive) sittings. The Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) will be calculated from the Tertiary Entrance scores obtained in the two sittings which satisfy the minimum entry requirements.

Selection of Tasmanian year 12 applicants for most courses will be based on the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER). The TE score is calculated by aggregating the scores of your best three Senior Secondary pre-tertiary subjects (from Year 12 or 13), together with the best score(s) of up to two other pre-tertiary subjects in that year or one other year. This score is then expressed as a percentile TER.

If you do not meet any of these requirements, it is still possible to gain entry to the University. Applicants who do not meet the above requirements will be considered for their course preferences on a concessional basis, or an alternative University entry pathway. To be considered for concessional entry an applicant’s performance in the TCE and any supporting evidence of their capacity to undertake higher education study will be assessed. Supporting evidence may take the form of advice from the relevant School/College/Principal or Careers Advisor.

Offers made in these circumstances will identify any conditions you may need to meet, including undertaking foundation study and/or academic performance in your initial studies, to allow you to transfer at a later point to your preferred course of study. For more information on alternative entry pathways, see Entry Pathways below.

If you wish to apply for an exemption from the ‘two years in post year 10 study’ component of the minimum entry requirements, you should submit a written application and forward it to the Admissions Office.

Applications based on Year 11/12 results will also be considered in the following circumstances:

• if you completed Year 11 in a state other than Tasmania. The application must include certified evidence of completion of Year 11. If you are considering an overseas exchange it is advisable to do so in Year 11 and, if appropriate, to apply for status at your Year 11 school in one subject and then to complete Year 12 and/or Year 13, in Tasmania. You would normally be expected to complete the minimum entry requirements in Year 12; or

• if you recommenced TCE studies after a break of one year or more due to employment or other circumstances. These circumstances may include such things as family responsibilities, overseas study or educational disadvantage. Your application must include documentary evidence of employment or other circumstances. You would normally be expected to complete the minimum entry requirements in Year 12; or

• if you are engaged in full-time or part-time employment or training while enrolled in TCE studies. Your application must include evidence of employment.

Recognition of other senior secondary studies (TCE and VET) for Tasmanian applicants

The University has approved arrangements for recognising senior secondary results (TCE and VET) for students who do not qualify for a Tertiary Entrance Rank through completing the required minimum four TCE pre-tertiary subjects for university entry. Applicants are allocated a notional TE score based on their studies and may gain entry to a number of Associate Degree programs offered by the University.

Interstate year 12 applicants

If you completed your senior secondary education interstate you will be considered eligible for selection if you have met the necessary admission requirements or course prerequisites and have qualified for admission to a higher education institution in your home state. You will be ranked with other applicants on the basis of your Year 12 Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER, UAI, OP or equivalent).

Applicants with other senior secondary education

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: If you completed the full diploma you qualify for admission to the University of Tasmania. For further details on admission guidelines for the International Baccalaureate, please see http://www.utas.edu.au/apply/guide.html

• Other overseas qualifications: Subjects passed overseas may be counted towards minimum entry requirements. You should produce original copies of results for subjects passed elsewhere, together with a certified translation (NAATI accredited translator or Department of Immigration and Citizenship – includes Translation and Interpreter Service), if appropriate. Detailed subject descriptions and method of assessment details are also required to assist in determining equivalence to Tasmanian subjects.

• Tasmanian residents with interstate qualifications: If you are a Tasmanian resident but have been attending a secondary school interstate, you will be ranked with other applicants according to your interstate Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER, UAI, OP).

• Other senior secondary studies: Applicants with other senior secondary studies should provide original copies of results and curriculum information with their application.

Non-year 12 applicants

Non-year 12 studies, either completed or partially completed

• University study: This includes applicants who have completed or are currently completing, or have previously been enrolled in a degree, diploma, bridging or enabling course at the University of Tasmania or another higher education institution. It includes current University of Tasmania students wishing to transfer to another course and those applying for re-admission following exclusion from a tertiary institution. 

• TAFE or VET qualifications: Applicants who have completed or partially completed a Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma course at a TAFE college or other VET provider will be considered for entry. In a number of cases you may be eligible for credit. The University recognises successful TAFE/VET studies as an important entry pathway to higher education study.

Work qualifications, experience or other background/circumstances

A fully completed supporting statement (see Selection Criteria) will enable the University to consider your application if you have not completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have other relevant experience and background, e.g.:

• you have completed a professional or work-based qualification relevant to the course you wish to study. Applicants in this group will be assessed on the content of their supporting statement addressing the selection criteria and their professional qualifications. Certified evidence of professional qualifications must be included; or

• you have relevant study, work or other experience that supports a reasonable prospect of completing the course to which you seek admission; or

• you have suffered educational disadvantage owing to illness, lack of TCE subject opportunities or other adverse personal circumstances. Please include details in your supporting statement addressing the selection criteria. You should also provide documentary evidence where appropriate; or

• you have successfully completed relevant VET programs but have fewer than the minimum entry requirements of four Senior Secondary pre-tertiary subjects. Include details in your supporting statement addressing the selection criterion ‘Academic Background’.

Aptitude test results

Applicants who have completed aptitude tests, such as STAT and ACER testing for university entry, should provide results as supporting evidence with their application for admission.

Supporting statement

Applicants who are required to complete a supporting statement in order to meet general entry requirements are advised to relate the statement to the course(s) for which you are seeking entry. This statement may be completed as part of the 2009 Application for Admission or forwarded separately. The statement should not exceed two A4 pages in total and in some cases may only need to be brief.

All relevant criteria listed will be taken into account and it is in your interests to address them. Weighting of these criteria may vary from course to course. You should note that assessment of your application for your preferred course may not be possible if this statement is not provided.

In some cases, in particular for Visual and Performing Arts applicants, auditions, interviews and examination of portfolios may be required. Some courses may also involve a follow-up interview, require clarification of documentation or request that you sit an aptitude test. You will be advised if this is considered necessary. These supplementary assessment processes will be used to determine or refine your ranking against some or all of the selection criteria addressed in your supporting statement.

Credit

Some applicants will be eligible to apply for credit for previous study. An Application for Credit is an application to count a unit or subject already passed at UTAS or another educational institution, towards the course for which you are now applying. Restrictions on credit may apply depending on how long ago the studies were completed.

Several courses have credit articulation arrangements with TAFE and details of these can be found at http://www.futurestudents.utas.edu.au/tafetouni/.

If you wish to be assessed for credit please complete the 2009 Application for Credit form.  If all the documents required to assess your eligibility for credit are received on time, you may be advised of the result of your application for credit when offered a place.

Quota selection

Courses at the University may be subject to quota selection in 2009, as some courses have a limited number of places and high numbers of applications.

Selection of applicants with Senior Secondary school qualifications will, for most courses, be based on the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) or equivalent interstate TER (ENTER, UAI, OP). These applicants will be selected in rank order. Where selection is based on other than a TER, such as in Performing Arts courses, all applicants will be ranked in merit order, on the basis of selection criteria determined by the relevant Faculty Admissions Committee.

Entry pathways

UTAS encourages and supports people's desires and plans to study at University. For applicants who do not meet general entry requirements, we may be able to offer a pathway to Bachelor level study via the Associate Degree.

The Associate Degree (itself a formal qualification for 2 years of full-time study) is offered in a number of disciplines:

• Aquaculture
• Arts
• Business Management
• Computing
• General Studies
• Music
• Science

The Associate Degree, when offered as a pathway to bachelor level study, is a stepping stone process. It provides an opportunity for students to experience the requirements and demands of tertiary study, acquaint them with university life, and enable them to ease gently into study. Applicants offered a pathway option via an Associate Degree may only need to complete one or two semesters within the Associate Degree structure before being eligible to apply for admission to a bachelor degree.

Study in the Associate Degree may be full time or part time, and students can choose to study units from bachelor degree programs, as well as Preparatory and/or Foundation Units.

UTAS is committed to guiding and supporting all its students to enable them to achieve positive academic outcomes. Our Pathways Officers work closely with the Student Advisers, who are available to assist all students, especially first year students, in their transition to tertiary study. Our Pathways Officers will liaise with the relevant Student Advisers on behalf of Pathway students so that services, support, information and advice, is available and accessible if needed.

We strongly encourage all applicants to explore the wealth of information, services and opportunities that UTAS has to offer students. Our web pages are a great place to start.

For Pathways advice, please contact the Admissions Pathways Officer on (03) 6226 1985.