Guide
to your
Future
Created on 8/10/2021
All information in this guide was correct at time of creation.
Course information is subject to change. Please refer to QTAC
& institution websites for most up to date information.
QTAC | GUIDE TO YOUR FUTURE | USEFUL INFORMATION
Hi ,
You’ve just created your own personalised Course Guide for your future studies!
This is a great step in exploring your options and narrowing down your preferences.
What’s in this Guide
The first few pages of this Guide give you some of the important information
on applying for tertiary study through QTAC, with links throughout to assist
you.
You’ll find all your Favourited Courses in detail here as well, ready for you to
explore and research! We’ve also included a Glossary in the back to help you
understand common QTAC and related terms.
Good luck with your application!
QTAC Team
- Key Dates
- Applications
-
COURSE OFFER
DATES & VACANCY INFORMATION -
EDUCATIONAL
ACCESS SCHEME -
FIXED CLOSING
DATES - FEES
QTAC | GUIDE TO YOUR FUTURE | USEFUL INFORMATION
ATAR Information
FOR CURRENT YEAR 12 STUDENTS
ATAR is the primary mechanism used nationally for tertiary admissions and indicates a student’s position relative to other students. It is the standard measure of a student’s overall academic achievement in relation to other students where these students have studied different subject combinations.
ATARS are expressed as a number on a 2000-point scale from 99.95 down to 0.00 in steps of 0.05. So the highest ATAR is 99.95, then 99.90, then 99.85, and so on, down to 0.00. ATARS below 30 are reported as ‘30.00 or less’.
If you’re completing year 12 this year, you will need to register to get your ATAR.
MORE ATAR INFO:
If you are planning on applying for tertiary study, don’t forget to also complete your QTAC Application, which is different to the ATAR Portal.
Have the following personal details ready before you get started:
- Full name (as it appears on your QCAA learning account)
- Date of birth
- LUI number
- Personal email address (do NOT use your school email address)
Ensuring all of your personal details are correct in your registration is important for matching purposes. If your personal details are entered incorrectly, you may not receive your ATAR until any mismatches have been fixed.
QTAC | GUIDE TO YOUR FUTURE | USEFUL INFORMATION
Pathway Options
THERE’S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN GET
INTO TERTIARY STUDY
Upgrading Pathways
Upgrading is about improving your chances for selection into the course you really want. This information is for you if:
- you do not think you have a good enough selection rank to get into the course you want – find out about the selection process and entry requirements.
- you have already applied for a course through QTAC but were not selected because you did not meet the entry requirements.
Below is a list of the more popular upgrading pathways available. You should check with the institution directly to make sure you choose the appropriate pathway for the type of course you want to get into. This is because certain pathways might be more suitable if the course you want to get into has a very high OP/selection
rank cut-off.
STAT and employment pathwaysOther qualifications you can use to apply for further study. Generally not available to current
Year 12 students.
Enabling programs and bridging courses
Courses that help satisfy a subject prerequisite or improve selection ranks.
Competency-based training
Demonstrate your ability to perform a certain task.
Queensland Senior External Exam
Receive a Year 12 qualification without
attending high school.
Tertiary study
Study a different tertiary course to improve your selection rank.
Professional qualifications and defence and emergency services
Your professional qualifications may give you a selection rank.
Educational Access Scheme
The Educational Access Scheme (EAS) helps QTAC applicants whose recent study was impacted by financial or personal
challenges.
If your EAS application is successful, you
may receive adjustments to your QTAC
selection rank. This can help you compete
for tertiary study on a more equal basis.
If you are eligible for the Financial Hardship category, you may also get financial assistance from institutions, such as scholarships or bursaries.
Your information will be kept confidential
and only used to assess your eligibility for
EAS.
Anyone applying for tertiary study through QTAC can apply for EAS.
You do not have to be in Year 12 or currently studying to apply, but most EAS categories relate to circumstances that affected your most recent studies.
More EAS Info:
More Upgrading Pathways Info:
QTAC | GUIDE TO YOUR FUTURE | INSTITUTIONS
QTAC Partnering Institutions
CLICK THE LOGO TO LEARN MORE
DIRECT ENTRY INSTITUTIONS
Institution Profiles
Can be accessed here:
Sorry, there were no items that matched your criteria.
QTAC | GUIDE TO YOUR FUTURE | USEFUL INFORMATION
Responding to an Offer
YOU’VE GOT AN OFFER FROM QTAC! NOW WHAT?
I’m happy & I’m ready to enrol.
ACCEPT
Check with the institution for enrolment details & dates.
I no longer wish to study this course.
REJECT
I’m happy but I’m not ready to enrol yet.
DEFER
Check with the institution for deferment details.
I’d like to be considered for my
higher preferences.
CONDITIONALLY RESPOND
Check in on the next offer round date to see if you’ve
received a new offer.
Visit qtac.edu.au/offers/
for further information.
for further information.
QTAC Glossary
TERMS USED IN THIS GUIDE
Admission pathway: any option available to prospective higher education students that will enable them to meet the entry requirements of their chosen courses
Adjustment factors: often referred to previously as bonus points, these are additional points that may be used in combination with an applicant’s ATAR or other rank to derive their adjusted selection rank. Adjustments only change ATARs or ranks for a particular course or courses
Advanced standing: a form of credit for any previous learning. Refer also to Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
AMEB: Australian Music Examinations Board
Associate degree: a qualification, usually involving two years of study, that gives students the basic technical and academic knowledge and skills needed for employment or further study in their chosen field
Assumed knowledge: the minimum level of achievement in Senior subjects considered necessary for successful first year tertiary study
ATAR: Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. The standard measure of a Year 12 student’s overall academic achievement in relation to that of other students, expressed as a number on a 2000-point scale from 99.95 down to 0.00.
Bachelor’s degree: a qualification usually requiring three or four years’ fulltime or the equivalent part-time study
Bridging course: a course designed to cover subject knowledge, which helps students gain knowledge in specialist areas that are a core component of a course. If a course requires a prerequisite in an area that students have not studied, a bridging course will help students bridge the gap in that knowledge and gain admission
Campus: the grounds of a university or other higher education institution
Combined, double or dual degree: a degree combining two fields of study, resulting in the award of two degrees or one degree encompassing two fields of study
CSP: Commonwealth supported place
Deferment: a process that allows you to delay the commencement of your studies
Direct application: an application made directly to a higher education provider rather than through a tertiary admissions centre
Distance education: study taken by students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Also can be called External
EAS: Educational Access Scheme
Enabling course: a course designed to provide students with skills needed for success in further study, to assist in the transition to tertiary education; for example, study techniques or English language skills. Successfulcompletion helps prepare a person to be admitted to a course that leads to a higher education award considered for entry
Enabling course: a course designed to provide students with skills needed for success in further study, to assist in the transition to tertiary education; for example, study techniques or English language skills. Successfulcompletion helps prepare a person to be admitted to a course that leads to a higher education award considered for entry
GPA: Grade Point Average
HELP: Higher Education Loan Program (formerly HECS)
Honours: advanced or specialised study, usually one year in duration, that students can take as part of or after a bachelor’s degree if they have outstanding academic results
Institution: an educational organisation e.g. a university, college or TAFE
Major: an area of specialisation that focuses on a particular field of study e.g. history
Mixed mode learning: a mode of study in which students learn through a combination of classroom-based and self-directed online learning, and workplace activity
Offer round: a date on which offers of higher education places are issued to applicants, whether through a tertiary admissions centre or directly by a higher education provider
Postgraduate course: a course studied after an undergraduate degree
Prerequisite: an entry requirement, such as a subject, portfolio, audition or interview, that an applicant must meet before they are considered for entry
Professional award: healthcare qualifications, creative arts qualifications or membership of professional associations that may be awarded a selection rank
QCAA: Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
QCE: Queensland Certificate of Education
Recommended study: non-compulsory subjects that institutions suggest students take while at school to give them a better understanding of course content
Recognition of prior learning (RPL): a process used to assess an individual’s relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the credit that may be granted towards completion of a qualification. Also known as credit transfer
Selection rank: a numerical score between 99.95 (highest) and 0.00 (lowest) used to compare applicants for the purpose of tertiary entry
Student contribution: the amount a student must pay towards a Commonwealth supported place
UCAT: University Clinical Aptitude Test
Undergraduate degree: a course such as an associate or bachelor’s degree,usually undertaken by a student who has not previously graduated from university
VET: Vocational Education and Training
