The facts about tertiary study applications

As Year 12 students move into the tertiary application period, we’ve set out to answer some of the questions you might have about your child’s application. Although school career advisers provide plenty of assistance during this process, it does help to have the facts in case your child has questions at home. Read on to find out what you need to know about course preferences, applying interstate and more.

• How are tertiary applications submitted?
  
• What are course preferences?
  
• How should course preferences be chosen?
  
• What if my child wants to apply to study interstate?
  
• When will my child receive their tertiary offer?
  

How are tertiary applications submitted?

Most undergraduate university applications are taken through Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs), which include the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) in New South Wales, the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) in Queensland and the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) in Victoria. Each TAC website provides a portal that students can log into during the application and admissions process, allowing them to submit their preferences, change their preferences (if needed) and receive tertiary offers from institutions. Applications to TAFE institutes and private education providers are usually submitted directly to the institution. These applications can usually be submitted online, but they can also be sent in the post or dropped off in person. There may be additional application requirements, depending on the course and institution, such as the submission of a portfolio or attending an audition or interview. Application fees are charged for applications submitted through Tertiary Admissions Centres and may also be charged for direct applications. The closing dates for UAC, QTAC and VTAC applications are at the end of September. Late applications may be submitted, but usually attract an additional late processing fee. Institutions that take direct applications, as well as some individual courses, may have a different deadline.

What are course preferences?

Generally, ‘course preferences’ refer to tertiary applications that are submitted through TAC websites for entry into higher education courses. Submitting preferences allows students to apply for several courses at once, without having to submit separate applications to individual institutions. There is a limit on the number of preferences that can be submitted — six preferences in QLD, nine in NSW and 12 in Victoria. We recommend that students submit the maximum number of preferences possible. This allows students to apply for back-up courses, which provides a good safeguard if they do not gain entry to their first few choices. It is also important that students put thought into how their preferences are ordered as they will receive an offer for the first course on their list for which they meet the requirements, even if they would rather study a course lower down on their list.

How should course preferences be chosen?

A preference list should include a broad range of courses as far as entry requirements go, especially if your child is seeking to enter a competitive field. The top preferences should include the courses that they would most like to study. Lower preferences should include courses with lower entry requirements that your child would also be interested in studying should they not gain a place in one of their top preferences. This might include similar courses at different institutions or related courses at the same institution that might allow for a course transfer after the first year of study. For example, a student who is interested in law might choose a more accessible humanities course as a lower preference. If they do not gain admission to law, they may be able to commence the humanities course and transfer into law after one year (subject to maintaining an appropriate academic average) or pursue law through postgraduate study. Because students submit their applications well before they receive their ATAR or OP, the TACs in each state offer a ‘change of preference’ period, which allows students to change their preferences once ATARs are received, as well as between offer rounds. This is helpful if students gain a score that is higher or lower than they predicted when they were submitting their applications. Entry cut-offs from previous years provide a rough indication of admissions requirements for the following year, but it should be said that requirements change each year.

What if my child wants to apply to study interstate?

If your child wants to study at an institution interstate, they will need to investigate their chosen institution’s application process. If the institution requires students to apply through a TAC, they usually need to submit their application through the TAC site in the state where the institution is located. For example, a Victorian student wishing to study in Queensland would typically apply through QTAC. In some instances it may be possible to apply for an interstate institution through your local TAC. Direct applications are completed in the same way, whether a student is a local or from interstate.Travelling to the institution may be necessary if an interview or audition is required, although processes may be in place to use an online communications service such as Skype or to submit an electronic recording.

When will my child receive their tertiary offer?

There are multiple offer rounds in each state for students who have submitted applications through a TAC. In addition to the main round in January, there are also early offer rounds starting in September and late offer rounds up until February (depending on your state). Most students who are eligible for a tertiary offer will receive one during the first (main) round. Students can only receive one offer per round, which will be for the highest preference on their list for which they have qualified for admission. Students may still receive an offer that is more favourable in a later round, even if they accept an offer they receive in the first round. Students who do not receive an offer in the first round may also receive one in a subsequent round. Additional course places often become available in later offer rounds because students who receive offers in the first round choose to defer or reject their place, or because institutions reserve places in individual courses for subsequent rounds. Students who have submitted direct applications should check with institutions to see when they can expect to receive an offer.

Further information: Parents seeking further information about their child’s tertiary study options should visit the Beyond school section. For more information about tertiary applications, visit the TAC website in your state or contact individual institutions.