Open pathways to uni
A recent study by Cluey Learning shows that students are stressed about their ATAR, and understandably so.
It can feel like the culmination of your entire schooling career, and the deciding factor as to whether you get to attend university.
According to the study, 75 per cent of Australian senior students felt that their ATAR score would influence the rest of their lives, and 80 per cent felt that a score below 60 would be damaging to their life.
But the idea that university is only for those who achieved a high ATAR in secondary school is a myth. In 2018, just over half of the 279,000 people around Australia who received an offer to study did not have an ATAR. In 2019, 48 per cent of students were admitted to the University of Tasmania without an ATAR.
Achieving an ATAR is the simplest way to enter university, especially for some degrees, but there are many other pathways to university. Here are five of the many ways you can pursue your dreams and follow your path into the University of Tasmania.
Evidence-based entry
We understand that your ATAR isn't the only way to show you can be successful at university. There are evidence-based ways to demonstrate your capacity for study.
You might be eligible for concessional entry, which means if you can prove your ability for study, you can be assessed on a case-by-case basis with additional evidence. You may need to provide a reference from your school or college principal or careers advisor.
You can also sit an aptitude test, such as the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) to show your capability. If you already have experience out in the real world in work or life that you think is applicable to your studies, you can submit a personal competency statement.
Bridging and enabling programs
If you don't currently meet the entry requirements for your chosen course, we have two short programs to help you meet the entry requirements, the University Preparation Program (UPP), and the Diploma of University Studies. These courses not only help you learn the essential skills required for entry into a degree at university, they can also give you an advantage by giving you credit towards a degree.
TAFE/VET qualification
If you already have a VET qualification, and are looking for the next step up, a university degree is the natural progression. Undertaking a higher education qualification is an investment in your future self.
If you have completed an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV you meet the General Entry Requirements for university. Some courses also consider AQF Certificate III.
Associate degrees
Associate degrees provide an entry point to university for those seeking practical, hands-on study experiences with industry connections. They provide an alternative to a standard bachelor's degree and don't necessarily require an ATAR to enter. An associate degree provides a stand-alone university qualification and also gives credit into a bachelor's degree.
University Connections Program
This is an alternative pathway into early study for high-achieving Year 11 and 12 students. UCP gives you a taste of what university life is like, through completing introductory units at university while completing the TCE. These units can be credited towards a degree, meaning you'll be one step closer to finishing a degree.
