General Entry Requirements

Admission to many courses is available on the basis of a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. You may apply for admission to the University on the basis of meeting one or more of the following General Entry Requirements.

• 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 How to complete your application form 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 (available September 2009).  Applicants who have met General Entry Requirements but who do not satisfy course specific entry requirements will be contacted by our staff to discuss other course options.

Senior Secondary

If you have already completed or are completing your senior secondary schooling (Year 12/13) in 2009, 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 and Nursing 2 Year Fast Track. Applicants will be contacted if they are required to attend interviews or auditions for their course preferences.

Tasmanian senior secondary 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; 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 senior secondary 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 will be contacted to discuss course options. 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. More information is provided in Entry pathways.

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.

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 senior secondary 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, ATAR, OP or equivalent).

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.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/admissions/forms_files/index.html

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.

Other senior secondary studies

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

TAFE /VET

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.

University Study

This includes applicants who have completed or are currently completing, or have previously been enrolled in a degree or diploma 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. 

University Enabling Program

Successful completion of all units in a university enabling program qualifies as meeting General Entry Requirements .

The University Preparation Program (UPP) is a pre-university program aimed at assisting potential students in their preparation for University study. The program has a number of delivery modes on each campus: face-to-face delivery, online and HELP sessions. Students can select from one to four units, depending on their needs. Students may enrol in one unit in order to address a specific skill need or may complete a semester or full year of UPP. Some of the units offered are Study Skills, Written Communications, Information Literacy, Bridging Maths, Preliminary Academic Activities and Using Technology.

Campus: Hobart, Launceston, Cradle Coast & Distance

Dates: Semesters 1 & 2

Contact: UPP Coordinator (03) 6324 3391 or (03) 6430 4914 or upp.course@utas.edu.au

Fee: For fees and charges see http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/fees/index.html

Web :http://www.futurestudents.utas.edu.au/UniversityPreparationProgram.html

Aptitude Test

If you are applying for admission based on completion of an aptitude test, you should provide formal results notification including the type of test, results, year, location of sitting, and whether the test was invigilated under supervision.

STAT Test

The University of Tasmania rarely requires an applicant to sit this test to gain entry. If you are in doubt please contact the Admissions Office on 1300 361 928 or by email Admissions@utas.edu.au before arranging to sit a test.

The STAT, written and assessed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) (http://www.acer.edu.au/stat/index.html), is administered for Tasmanian residents by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Testing sessions are usually held in Hobart during October and December each year. Other organisations which conduct STAT tests are listed on the ACER website.

Full details of STAT including dates, venues for testing sessions and registration fees, together with a copy of the VTAC application form which incorporates STAT registration, are in the VTAC Guide 2010. This is available from all major newsagents for $12.95 (inc.GST) or can be accessed on the VTAC website free of charge. If you need to discuss your requirements contact STAT Co-ordinator, VTAC, 40 Park Street, South Melbourne, Vic 3205. Ph 1300 364 133 or email stat@vtac.edu.au.

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 2010 online 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. Please see How to complete your application form for guidelines on completing the supporting statement. You should note that assessment of your application may be delayed if this statement is not provided with your application.

In some cases 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. Some courses may also involve a follow-up assessment and you will be advised if this is considered necessary. Applicants should check the requirements for each course by viewing the relevant website:

Faculty of Arts: http://www.utas.edu.au/arts/students/brochures.html

Applicants for the Bachelor of Music (including combined degrees) are required to attend an audition, interview, music theory and aural test.

Applicants for the Bachelor of Music Studies are required to undertake an admission written test and interview.

Applicants for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (including combined degrees) are required to attend an interview and submit a portfolio.

School of Nursing & Midwifery:  http://www.snm.utas.edu.au/

Applicants for the Bachelor of Nursing (2-Year Fast Track) are required to complete a UniSelect test.

Work qualifications, experience or other background/circumstances

A fully completed supporting statement providing evidence of capacity to succeed (see How to complete your application form for 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’.

Quota selection

Courses at the University may be subject to quota selection in 2010, 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, ATAR, 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
• Furniture Design
• General Studies
• Music Studies
• 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. UTAS has staff available who are available to assist all students, especially first year students, in their transition to tertiary study. Our Pathway 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 Pathway advice, please contact one of our Pathway Officers, on Hobart (03) 6226 1985 or Launceston (03) 6324 3525.

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/tafe-polytech

If you wish to be assessed for credit please complete the 2010 Application for Credit form available at http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/admissions/forms_files/index.html. 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.

Applicants who have participated in one of the UTAS College Programs (e.g. Higher Achiever Program, Prelude, Overture, Languages, Visual and Performing Arts or Philosophy) should talk to their faculty about credit.

Australian Maritime College seafaring applicants who are seeking credit for STCW95 Short Courses should provide certified copies of all STCW95 Short Course Certificates and Certificates of Competency including endorsements

Course Structures

Course structures

UTAS is implementing standard course structures for undergraduate degrees from 2010.

What does this mean for students?

Students who are beginning a new course in 2010 will be in the new degree structures.  In the transition phase, the majority of students who began their course pre-2010 will be able to transfer to the new degrees structures in 2011.

Some of the benefits are:

• greater flexibility within the degree rules, which will allow you to study subjects from different disciplines outside the degree schedule more easily through student electives, allowing you the choice of gaining a greater breadth of knowledge and skills from your degree
• standard structures which will allow you to manage your own enrolment more easily
• easier identification of majors, which, in conjunction with the introduction of a new student information management system through the SLIMS project, will allow majors to be identified on your academic transcript

New terminology

The terminology will be updated and applied more consistently.  To reflect the fact that subjects of all levels may be studied in different years of your degree and that many students study part-time, the terms will be:

Old names                                                    New names

First year unit                                             Introductory level unit

Second year unit                                         Intermediate level unit

Third/Fourth/Fifth year unit                     Advanced level unit

The components in degrees will be more consistently described as:

Major: a standard major will be 8 units: 2 introductory, 2 intermediate and 4 advanced level units.  In some degrees which require 2 majors there may be either two standard majors or a standard major and a reversed major, which will be 8 units: 4 introductory, 2 intermediate and 2 advanced level units.

Minor: 2 introductory and 2 intermediate level units.  A minor also usually forms the first half of a standard major.

Degree electives:

• units chosen from a schedule of available units from within the faculty. In some degrees there may be a limited number of units at one or two levels or mandatory units in the degree electives.

Student electives:

• Student elective units may be chosen from any unit offered by the University that is identified as a Student elective, which you are eligible to enrol in (usually by meeting the pre-requisite requirements), and for which, in the case of units with a quota on enrolments, there is a place available for you.
• When choosing Student elective units, the units must be within the minimum and maximum numbers of units required at each level (i.e. introductory, intermediate or advanced) within the degree.
• Some degree sample plans may provide suggestions on appropriate units to be taken as Student electives; you are not obliged to follow these suggestions.

The information on the Course and Unit Handbook for your degree will advise you of the modules and units available and what you need to study to complete the requirements for your degree.