If you want to study a course at university you must meet the minimum entry requirements. Many universities require students to apply directly to the tertiary admission body/centre in their State or Territory or to the university itself. Tertiary admission bodies/centres administer the application process on behalf of participating universities and they produce the annual university course guide. Information on the method of application, requirements and application costs are published in this course guide.
Before submitting your application make sure that you understand the details of your course. Some courses require the completion of forms, the sitting of an aptitude test or the submission of a folio as part of the application process. Some universities also allow students to apply to have their previous education, work or life experiences credited to their application and to apply for special consideration/educational disadvantage based on equity grounds.
For further information see special entry requirements and tertiary admission bodies/centres.
To be selected for a course a student must meet the minimum entry requirements. Requirements vary greatly between courses so it is important that you identify them in advance and meet them prior to applying. Even if a prospective student meets the minimum entry requirements they may not be accepted in their course or program due to the limited number of places available. In some instances there may be more applicants than places available and some qualified applicants will miss out. To assist universities offer places to applicants they rank applicants according merit and set aside a number of different entry categories to admit students. For example year 12 applicants, tertiary transfer students, mature age applicants and applicants with TAFE qualifications.
Once an application has been received it will be assessed and assigned a selection rank, index or position number which will determine its success. If an applicant is eligible for entry into more than one of their chosen courses they will be offered the highest preference listed on their application form.
Prospective students cannot be assigned a selection rank, index or position number until they submit an application. However this ranking may be calculated prior to submitting an application to assist prospective students identify eligible courses. There is usually a charge associated for this service.
If you are selected for entry into a course and you accept an offer of a place you will be asked to enrol by the university. This requires you to provide administrative information to the university and to identify the subjects that you wish study. In some courses there may be subject choice and in others none at all. The university will send you information about their enrolment processes.
Before you enrol you will need to consider how many subjects you want to study at one time. If you are working and have family or other commitments or the nature of your disability means that the routine aspects of your life require great effort then you may explore studying part time. IMPORTANT indicate on your enrolment form that you would like to be contacted by disability staff to ensure that any study supports you may need can be organised before your course begins.
Key dates in the application process are listed on the websites of the tertiary admission body/centre in each State and Territory and in the university course guide. NOTE that the date for applications may vary between States and Territories. Broadly speaking to apply for a university course you must lodge your application by the end of September in the year before you wish to study. For example you must apply by the end of September 2008 to start your course in 2009. Applicants who apply after this date are subject to a processing charge that increases each month after the September deadline. The amount of this fee depends upon the tertiary admission body/centre processing the applicatio