This document provides information for school leavers applying to undergraduate programs at QUT, including how to apply through QTAC, entry requirements, admission schemes, ordering preferences, upgrading pathways, key dates, and additional resources. It defines terms like OP, rank, major, minor. It describes QUT's OP Guarantee and Entry Bonus programs, application of the Educational Access Scheme, and START QUT program. Real Decisions events are recommended for discussing upgrading options with QUT staff.

1. CRICOS No. 00213J
Getting in –
for school leavers
Clive May, Careers Counsellor
Information provided for
domestic students only

2. I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands where
QUT now stands, pay respect to their Elders - past, present
and emerging – and acknowledge the important role
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to
play within the QUT community.
of
www.reconciliation.qut.edu.au

3. CRICOS No. 00213J
Today’s session
• How to apply
• Entry requirements
• Admission schemes
• How offers are made
• Ordering your preferences
• Upgrading pathways
• Receiving your offer
• Key dates
Please note: the information provided today is for domestic undergraduate
students only.

4. CRICOS No. 00213J
Quick glossary
OP: issued by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment
Authority to current Queensland Year 12 students. Highest is 1,
lowest is 25.
Rank: derived from other studies (International Baccalaureate,
interstate Year 12, OP-ineligible students, former OP students,
TAFE students, applicants with tertiary studies). Highest is 99,
lowest is 1.
QTAC
• Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre – www.qtac.edu.au
• Process applications for Queensland universities and many
TAFE courses
• QTAC Guide distributed at school early in third term

5. CRICOS No. 00213J
Quick glossary (continued)
Undergraduate study
• The first level of study at university, usually a three- or four-
year bachelor degree or four-year honours degree
Double degree
• Two degrees studied in combination allowing you complete
both in shorter time than studying them separately. To deliver
this, secondary studies (such as second majors, electives, etc.)
are usually not available.
Subjects/units
• A set of classes run over a teaching period covering specific
subject matter. A full-time student would normally undertake
four units per semester.

6. CRICOS No. 00213J
Quick glossary (continued)
Major/minor
• A major is the primary area of study consisting of a
number of units covering the same area
- For example, the Bachelor of Business (Advertising) has
eight advertising units that comprise the advertising
major.
• A second major, minor, or electives are secondary areas
of study
- For example, an advertising student might take a minor in
public relations.

7. CRICOS No. 00213J
Applying through QTAC
• Apply from Tuesday 4 August online at www.qtac.edu.au
• On-time due date Wednesday 30September. Late fees
apply after this date
• Select up to 6 courses from across all institutions
• Ordered by preference
• Will only receive one offer for their highest eligible
preference
• Changes to preferences can be made for most courses until
early January.

8. CRICOS No. 00213J
Academic entry requirements
• Your application will be assessed at QTAC
• Minimum requirements: the lowest OP/rank at which
any domestic student may be considered eligible for an
offer in a course excluding special entry.
– Does not guarantee an offer will be made
– QUT’s lowest 2015 score was OP 15/rank 66
• English proficiency: if you are from a non-English
speaking background you will be required to formally
demonstrate your English proficiency and you may be
required to undertake an English examination
– Not required if you complete English or English for ESL
Learners (4 SA).

9. CRICOS No. 00213J
Admission schemes
Assumed Knowledge
• Indicates a minimum level of assumed knowledge
• Not a factor in receiving an offer, unlike prerequisites
• Students should complete subjects at school
• QUT bridging courses in Physics, Chemistry and Maths B
• From 2016, prerequisites for Bachelor of Education courses
will be introduced as follows:
– English (4 SA)
– at least one of Maths A, B or C (4 SA)
– additionally, for students entering Bachelor of Education
(early childhood) or Bachelor of Education (primary)
programs:
 at least one Science (4 SA) – Agricultural Science,
Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Marine Science,
Marine Studies, Physics or Science21.
• www.qut.edu.au/assumed-knowledge

10. CRICOS No. 00213J
Admissions schemes
OP Guarantee
• If a student achieves an OP 5 (or rank of 93, or IB score
of 33) or better, and meet the course pre-requisites
they are guaranteed a place into most QUT courses in
the major offer rounds
Entry Bonus
• Bonus ranks for engineering technology (when applying for
QUT Bachelor of Engineering or double degree), Maths C,
language subjects, university subjects while at school
• Must have achieved at least 4 SA
• Not used for scholarships or Dean’s Honours programs
• Calculated automatically by QTAC
• A rank is not the same as an OP band
• www.qut.edu.au/entry-bonus

11. CRICOS No. 00213J
Admissions schemes
Oodgeroo Unit
• Offers entry program and support services for students who identify as
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Students receive a guaranteed $1500 equity bursary, and are
encouraged to apply for additional scholarships
• www.qut.edu.au/oodgeroo
Educational disadvantage
• apply for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via QTAC
• bonus OPs/ranks for financial hardship, educational disruption, home
environment, English language difficulty, personal illness/disability
• financial hardship: guaranteed $3500 QUT Equity Scholarship
• www.qut.edu.au/special-entry
Elite Athlete Entry Program
• bonus OPs/ranks for elite athletes, sportspersons, managers and
coaches
• www.qut.edu.au/elite-athletes

12. CRICOS No. 00213J
Additional entry requirements
• Course specific requirements which you must also satisfy for
some courses. They include:
̶ audition
̶ portfolio
̶ interview
• Requirements are published in QUT course guides and QTAC
Guide
• In addition to your QTAC application:
̶ Register at QUT – you will need a current QTAC ID or QUT ID
number
̶ closing dates apply and are different to the QTAC application
due date
• Some courses have residency requirements
• The onus is on you to complete the registration by the due date.
Late forms are not accepted.
• www.qut.edu.au/additional-entry

13. CRICOS No. 00213J
START QUT
• Students are able to complete up to two QUT units
while completing Year 12
• Students who achieve results of 4 (pass) or better
receive one bonus entry rank per unit (maximum of two
ranks)
• START QUT results will be recorded on QCE
• Students must be on an OP (or interstate equivalent) or
IB Pathway and achieving a B average (or better) across
their subjects, with a B grade (or better) in English or
English for ESL Learners. This must be consistent
throughout their year 11 studies
• Applications for 2016 open on 1 August 2015 and close
on 31 October 2015
• www.qut.edu.au/startqut

14. CRICOS No. 00213J
Ordering your QTAC preferences
All applicants can select up to six preferences:
• Preferences 1 and 2: the courses you really want to
study
• Preferences 3 and 4: back-ups—may provide another
way into a chosen career or an alternative career
• Preferences 5 and 6: courses you can definitely enter
and are prepared to do if they miss out on other choices,
and can be used to upgrade.

15. CRICOS No. 00213J
Upgrading pathways
QUT recommends the following upgrading pathways:
• Degrees – complete one year full-time load and pass all
subjects you will get a minimum QUT rank of 93 (OP 4)
• Advanced diplomas – on completion you will have a
minimum QUT rank of 93 (OP 4)
• Diplomas – on completion you will have a minimum
QUT rank of 87 = OP 7
• Dual awards with TAFE – complete TAFE qualification
and automatically gain entry to QUT (specific courses)
with credit for your study.
- www.qut.edu.au/upgrading

16. CRICOS No. 00213J
Upgrading example
• John Citizen achieved an OP 7 (rank 87) in 2013
and applied for entry to QUT’s Bachelor of
Paramedic Science in 2014 (minimum OP 5, rank
92)
• He was offered his second preference, the
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (OP 8, rank 85)
• John completed one full-year of study (96 credit
points) and achieved a grade point average of 5.0
• He now has a new rank of 96 which allowed him
to transfer to Paramedic Science in 2015.

17. CRICOS No. 00213J
Evaluating your upgrading
options
• Am I committed to study the course?
• Can I get in?
• Will it give me advanced standing?
• Will it give me a high enough rank?
• What will I do if a year of study is not enough?
• Can I afford the costs (tuition fees, accommodation,
transport, etc.)?

18. CRICOS No. 00213J
Receiving your offer
• Offers are made through QTAC’s online services and
you respond using this service also
• If you accept at QTAC you will be able to directly enrol
online at QUT
• QTAC will email to advise an offer has been made
• You will not receive a mailed/post offer letter by QTAC
or QUT. However, you can downloaded your offer
letter from QTAC’s online services .

19. CRICOS No. 00213J
Deferring your offer
If you want to defer your offer:
• applicants are automatically granted one year of
deferment if requested
• defer via QTAC online
• available in all courses, except those:
─ with additional entry requirements
─ with different entry requirements in the following year
─ that will not be offered in the following year
• students on deferment will be sent enrolment
information by QUT Admissions in October to start
their studies in the following year—no further QTAC
application required
• www.qut.edu.au/deferment

20. CRICOS No. 00213J
Real Decisions
If you are looking at upgrading and course options,
come to:
QUT Real Decisions
- Tuesday 22 December, 9am–1pm, Gardens
Point campus
- Tuesday 22 December, 2pm–5pm, Caboolture
campus
Come along to discuss options with academic and
admission staff. These events are held after OPs are
released and you still have time to change your
preferences.

21. CRICOS No. 00213J
Key dates – QTAC
• 4 August 2015
– QTAC applications open
• 30 September 2015
– Due date for QTAC on time applications; late fees apply after
this date
• 17 December 2015
– Early offer round
• 19 December 2015
– OPs released on QSA’s Student Connect online service
• 29 December 2015
– Qld Year 12 students without an OP can find out their QTAC rank
• 6 January 2016
- Final date to change preferences for 14 January offer round
• 14 January 2016 – major offer round
– QTAC offers released via QTAC’s online services.

22. CRICOS No. 00213J
Key dates – QUT
• 11 September
– Closing date to lodge additional application to QUT for
Music, Dance Performance and Dance
• 9 October
– Closing date to lodge additional application to QUT for
Fashion, Acting, Technical Production, and Visual Arts
• 20 November
– Closing date to lodge applications to QUT for
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships and some other
scholarships
• 22 December – Real Decisions event
- 9am–1pm, Gardens Point campus
- 2pm–5pm, Caboolture campus.

23. CRICOS No. 00213J
Further information
• Talk to staff at the Admissions tent today
• Information on the website and in publications:
– Collect a copy of Real Choices
– Pick up QUT undergraduate course books at the information
tents today
– Detailed course information at www.qut.edu.au/study
– Check out the additional entry requirements website
www.qut.edu.au/additional-entry
– Match My Skills quiz at
www.qut.edu.au/study/undergraduate-study
• Become familiar with the QTAC website www.qtac.edu.au
• OP information at www.qcaa.qld.edu.au
• Government advice
– www.studyassist.gov.au
– www.humanservices.gov.au

24. Any
questions?
CRICOS No. 00213J