QTAC Introduction to the Guide 2018 Glenn Collins

QTAC Introduction to the Guide 2018 Glenn Collins and Leanne Harvey Guidance Officers

Applications For Tertiary Courses • QTAC Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre - qtac. edu. au • Handles all applications for courses at Queensland universities and some northern NSW universities • Handles applications for Diploma courses at Queensland TAFE Institutes (some Cert IV also) • Handles some courses at private colleges (e. g. , Bond, JMC) • Universities and TAFE use either OP or Rank for Bachelor and Diploma courses

How QTAC Assesses Applications 1. Eligibility – Has the student met the minimum entry requirements? Pre-requisites, auditions, folios, interviews, exams, age, prior study. 2. Merit – If eligible, how competitive is the student compared to all other eligible applicants? For more information, refer to page 10 of your guide.

Teacher Education Requirements • If you are applying to study an education degree in 2019, you’ll need to submit a personal statement to demonstrate your suitability for teaching, as well as meet any other entry requirements. • Go to http: //www. qtac. edu. au/ • Look under the Courses and Institutions Tab

Contact Details • Be sure to ‘like’ QTAC – Important updates will be posted regularly. • Check out the website – qtac. edu. au • Download the App

Page 217 – Glossary Includes definitions for key terms: • • Assumed knowledge, recommended study Major Mixed mode learning Associate degree, bachelor degree

How to Apply • See page 12 of your guide • You will need… 1. An email account you check regularly – This can’t be your school email 2. Details of the courses you are applying for –We have a planning sheet to help you with this. 3. Details of your qualifications and experience – Most of your information will preload when you enter your LUI number. Apply at qtac. edu. au/applications

Page 13 Ordering Preferences 1 st and 2 nd Desired Courses These are the courses you would really like to study even if you feel your chances of gaining entry may not be good 3 rd and 4 th Back-up Courses These courses are less competitive. They should provide you with another way to the career you want or to a second choice career. They can be used to upgrade to your ‘ideal’ course once you’ve started 5 th and 6 th Pathway Courses These courses are the ones you would do if you miss out on your other preferences. They should be courses that in the past have been quite easy to get into (especially your 6 th preference). From these courses you may wish to upgrade in the future.

Upgrading Courses • One year of a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 4 (pass) = Rank 93 = approx. OP 4 • Completed AQF Diploma (competency based) = Rank 82 = approx. OP 9 • Completed AQF Cert IV (not sitting the STAT)= Rank 74 = approx. OP 12 NB: This information is based on 2017/18 schedules. There are no guarantees that these scores will be the same for 2019. Some universities and TAFE also have specific conditions. See the GO for more advice.

Ordering Preferences • Get this right and you increase your chances of getting an offer. • Avoid listing only “desired” courses. • Consider adding a Diploma/Certificate course as your last preference, especially if your predicted OP/Rank is expected to be above 15/69. • Don’t forget the smaller universities – ACU is traditionally much easier to get into and it’s just down the road. • Check offer dates. Early offer courses should be listed first. You can conditionally accept these and then re-order your preferences to be considered for the major round offer. This is the topic of the next slide. • Use the planning sheet provided to help you order your preferences

This student has made an error with their preferencing. Can you spot it? Preference # Course Name Start Month Major offer round date 1 B Commerce - Brisbane University Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 2 B Commerce - Metro University Feb 2013 17 Jan 2013 3 B Acting - Brisbane University Mar 2013 13 Dec 2012 4 B Acting - Metro University Feb 2013 13 Dec 2012 5 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 6 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Jul 2013 2 June 2013

Preferences have different major offer rounds Preference # Course Name Start Month Major offer round date 1 B Commerce - Brisbane University Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 2 B Commerce - Metro University Feb 2013 17 Jan 2013 3 B Acting - Brisbane University Mar 2013 13 Dec 2012 4 B Acting - Metro University Feb 2013 13 Dec 2012 5 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 6 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Jul 2013 2 June 2013

As all course preferences do not have the same major offer round date, the applicant re-orders his/her preferences according to major offer round dates Preference # Course Name Start Month Major offer round date 1 B Acting - Brisbane University Mar 2013 13 Dec 2012 2 B Acting - Metro University Feb 2013 13 Dec 2012 3 B Commerce - Brisbane University Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 4 B Commerce - Metro University Feb 2013 17 Jan 2013 5 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 6 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Jul 2013 2 June 2013

In the 13 December offer round, the applicant is offered his/her first preference of B Acting at Brisbane University. The applicant decides to ‘Conditionally Accept’ this offer and rearranges his/her preferences so that he/she is considered for the courses he/she really wants, which are offered in January. Below are the reordered preferences. Preference # Course Name Start Month Major offer round date 1 B Commerce - Brisbane University Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 2 B Commerce - Metro University Feb 2013 17 Jan 2013 3 B Acting - Metro University Feb 2013 13 Dec 2012 (conditionally accepted offer) 4 B Acting - Metro University Feb 2013 13 Dec 2012 5 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Mar 2013 17 Jan 2013 6 D Accounting - Accounting Institute Jul 2013 2 June 2013

• If the applicant is offered their new first or second preference in the January offer round, they will forfeit their place in B Acting at Brisbane University. If the applicant is unsuccessful in gaining a place in their new first or second preference in the January offer round, they will retain their original offer for the B Acting at Brisbane University. • It is important to note that course preferences listed below the offered course will not be considered.

Page 15 - Educational Access Scheme Five categories… • Financial Hardship • Personal illness or disability • Home environment and responsibilities • Educational disruption • English language difficulty • Students apply for an EAS via their QTAC application in the “my details” section • Information regarding supporting documentation (if required) will be emailed to you. • QTAC assesses the degree of disadvantage and special provisions applied by the school and assigns a numerical rating • Adjustment Factors are awarded according to institutional policies • You can apply under multiple categories • Scan all documents and upload to your application. For detailed information about EAS, go to the QTAC website www. qtac. edu. au/Applications/Educational

Page 18 Offers – How they work • Open courses – You might get an offer as early at 17 November • Minimum OP/Rank Courses – Offers come out just before Christmas • Selective courses – You’ll be notified early if your OP/Rank is meeting the minimum to compete for a place. This allows you to make changes to your preferences if necessary. • How you compete for a place – Merit and quota based • You won’t get an offer until you complete year 12. • NB: Cut-off OP/Ranks listed in the guide are indicative only. They may change from year to year, depending on demand.

Page 19 - Responding to an Offer • • Accept Defer Reject Conditionally respond to your offer • You only have four days to respond to an offer. This is why it’s important to give authority for another person (parent) to act on your behalf.

Important Dates Page 20 Offer dates To ensure you receive an offer in the major round, you must submit your application by 14 December 2017.

Page 20 Key Dates • 2 August • 14 December • 16 November • 15 December • 20 December • 16 January 2018 Applications open Final date to lodge application to be considered in the major round offer First round offer date OPs released via Student Connect website Offer round for noncompetitive courses Major offer round date • Note the change of preference dates

Fees • $43 if your application is lodged before 28 February, 2019. But remember, to be considered for Semester One entry, applications need to be lodged by 14 December 2017. • You get three chances to change your preferences. After this, you pay $43 each time you make a change.

Pages 20 – 21 Fixed Closing Dates Ø Some courses require more than a QTAC application. Use these pages to see what additional requirements are needed and when tasks should be completed. Ø If you don’t complete the additional requirements, your application will NOT be considered.

Pages 26 -27 Open Days • Have all your questions answered by attending the open days of your preferred universities. • Don’t limit yourself to just one university. Have a look at what they all have to offer.

Page 14 Adjustment Factors • Year 12 subject bonus schemes • Regional preference scheme (1 OP or 2 selection ranks for USC if you live in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area) • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander schemes • Access and equity schemes Just how many additional points are awarded to you is up to the individual university. See GO for more information regarding these schedules.

Page 24 -25 Study Costs • HECS‑HELP is a loan scheme for eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth supported places to pay their student contribution amounts. It cannot be used for additional study costs such as accommodation or text books. www. studyassist. gov. au This website answers all questions relating to HECS, including information specific to NZ students.

Fees and Charges – VET Courses • VET Student Loans commenced on 1 January 2017, replacing the VET FEE-HELP scheme. • Certain Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas, delivered by VET Student Loan approved providers, are eligible for a VET Student Loan. Eligible students will be entitled for loans up to a capped amount. • For more information, including details of courses approved for Vet Student Loans, refer to the Study Assist website – www. studyassist. gov. au.

Courses - Tertiary Institutions with admission through QTAC • Page 31 – How to read the tables in the guide. THIS IS IMPORTANT. More about this on the next slide. • Page 32 – Course Index – Gives you an easy way to locate information on your preferred courses • Pages 32 – 187 These are the pages with all the important details about the courses you want to apply for. • Always check course details on the QTAC website. Sometimes new courses are added and others are withdrawn.

Course Descriptions and Entry Requirements • Page 31 - How to read course entries

Requirements and Terms • Pre-requisite Subjects • Assumed Knowledge • Recommended Study

Prerequisite Subjects • Subjects you MUST study in Years 11 and 12 to be considered for entry into a particular course. • Expressed as minimum exit achievement levels. • For example, English (4, SA) = You must have studied English over four semesters and exited on a Sound Achievement or better.

Assumed Knowledge • Minimum level of achievement in a Senior Subject considered necessary for success in your chosen course. • You can still enter this course if you have not studied these subjects at school, however, you may struggle with the course content unless you undertake a bridging program. • Your lecturer will assume that you have this level of knowledge. • For information on bridging programs, see the guidance officer

Recommended Study • Subjects recommended in order to complete a course successfully. • You can still apply for a course if you have not studied these subjects.

Pages 189 -198 Direct Application Instiutions • • • Bond University Australian College of Applied Psychology Health Skills Australia New York Film Academy Australia Torrens University

Pages 201 -216 Institution Biographies Information on: • Transport • Facilities • International exchange programs • Student support services • Scholarships • Residential houses/accommodation • Contact details

Important Reminders • You will need an email address that can be checked in 2018 and into 2019. You SHOULD NOT use your school email address. • You will need a Tax File Number to enrol at a University or TAFE. Apply for one now if you don’t already have one. • Be ready to respond and stay connected. • If paying by BPay, be sure to do this by the due date. Applications will not be processed until payment has been received. • Interact with your application regularly • Add QTAC to your Facebook contacts. Download the App. • Remember your PIN – Best to keep your date of birth

How we will help you • QTAC Application evenings for students who want assistance with their online application • Personalised sessions with the guidance officers – see Tracey in the office if you would like an appointment. • Preference check and discussion (targeted students only). The GOs will check all applications early in Term 4 and recommend changes where necessary to ensure you receive an offer.

If in doubt… Ask for help