University Admission 2011
Admission Requirements for School Leavers (2010 Year 12)

Last Updated 06 July 2009

Foreword

The following information is issued on behalf of the four Western Australian public universities. Its aim is to help Year 10 students to decide on their senior school subjects, so that they meet university admission requirements. Remember to choose subjects which will allow entry to a wide range of university courses.

Starting with the 2007 admissions year, university admission requirements reflect the changes occurring in senior schooling in Western Australia as a result of the implementation of the Western Australian Post-Compulsory Education Review Report, Our Youth, Our Future.

In determining the requirements for 2011 admission the universities have consulted the school sectors and the Curriculum Council, and taken account of changes announced in 2007 and 2008 by the Minister for Education and Training, and the Curriculum Council. At the time of publication, it is expected that TEE subjects will no longer be offered in 2010. All WACE courses fully implemented up to the end of 2010 will be recognised for the purpose of university admissions. There will be separate external examinations for stage 2 and stage 3 units in all WACE courses. To ensure the best possible chance of success in university studies, students intending to study WACE courses are strongly recommended to attempt stage 3 units (and in the case of mathematics courses, units 3C/3D) in Year 12, if they are capable of doing so.

For the remainder of this publication, in the context of Year 12 study, the term course(s) means both WACE course(s) and TEE subjects.

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
Since the late 1990s each state (except Queensland) has used a common measure to rank Year 12 students for university admission. In each state this measure has had different names. In Western Australia it was called the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER).

It has been agreed that all states and territories (except Queensland) would replace these different names with a common name, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), during 2009 and 2010.

In June 2009, the public universities in Western Australia agreed that there would be a phased introduction of the name change over this period, with the term TER (ATAR) replacing the term TER in 2009. From 2010, students will receive an ATAR. This is a name change only, and has no effect on students' ranking or the selection process for university.

This information applies to applicants who will be under 20 years of age on 28 February 2011 (ie students born on or after 1 March 1991). It is relevant only for admission in 2011 and is subject to change without notice.

Steve Hoath
TISC Executive Officer

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Requirements for University Admission

To be considered for university admission as a school leaver applicant normally you must -

1. meet the requirements for the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) prescribed by the Curriculum Council, and
2. achieve competence in English as prescribed by the individual universities, and
3. obtain a sufficiently high ATAR for entry to a particular course (Edith Cowan University may not require a ATAR for some pathways), and
4. satisfy any prerequisites or special requirements for entry to particular courses.

Portfolio Pathway to ECU
In addition to the requirements outlined above, Edith Cowan University offers an additional pathway for entry by school leaver students. Students will need to satisfy ECU’s competence in English requirement, as outlined below, and achieve a certain number of points determined by their school assessed results for courses and most Year 12 Common Assessment Framework (CAF) subjects (please check www.reachyourpotential.com.au for the CAF subjects acceptable for the portfolio pathway). Applications will be partially assessed prior to release of final results and applicants may be required to attend an interview. Applicants seeking entry via the Portfolio Entry Pathway should apply through TISC, but submit their Portfolio directly to ECU.

Detailed information about the requirements for the Portfolio Entry Pathway to ECU may be obtained from Student Recruitment on 134 328 or www.reachyourpotential.com.au.

Portfolio Entry to Murdoch University
In addition to the requirements outlined above, Murdoch University offers a portfolio pathway for admission to the Bachelors degrees in the Bachelor of Communications, Bachelor of Media and Bachelor in Digital Media. Students must satisfy Murdoch’s English requirement, and should apply through TISC but submit their Portfolio directly to the Prospective Students’ and Admissions Centre at Murdoch University. Portfolios will be assessed by academic staff in the relevant discipline. For more information see www.murdoch.edu.au.

Applicants for University Admission from Non-Standard Schools
Normally all school leaver applicants for university are required to meet the admission requirements outlined in this brochure. You may not meet these admission requirements if you are attending a school that does not follow the standard Western Australian school system. If so, apply for admission to a university course through TISC, but include with your application a statement giving full details of your upper secondary school studies. Your application will be considered on an individual basis. For The University of Western Australia, in some courses you may be in direct competition with non-school leavers. The WACE, awarded by the Curriculum Council, is not required by any of the universities for students from non-standard schools.

School Leavers with AQF/TAFE Qualifications
Curtin University of Technology
At the time of update, Curtin University if Technology is reviewing eligibility of AQF/TAFE Certificate IV as a basis of admission to the University for school leavers. As a minimum, school leaver age applicants seeking entry via this pathway would be expected to have:

• successfully completed an AQF/TAFE Certificate IV; and
• achieved WACE; and
• met Curtin University of Technology's competence in English requirement.

For further information, contact the University's Admissions Office or telephone (08) 9266 7805.

Edith Cowan University
Students who have:

• successfully completed an AQF/TAFE Certificate IV as part of their Year 12 studies; and
• achieved WACE; and
• met at least Edith Cowan University's minimum University Preparation Course (UPC) competence in English requirement

will be considered for entry into Edith Cowan's University Preparation Course (UPC) only.

Murdoch University
Murdoch University will accept AQF/TAFE Certificate IV as a basis for admission to most courses, however school leavers using a Certificate IV achieved during their Years 11 and 12 must also have:

• achieved WACE; and
• met Murdoch's competence in English requirement.

The University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia will accept AQF/TAFE qualification at Diploma level as a basis of admission for a limited number of courses; however school leavers using a diploma achieved during their Years 11 and 12 must also have:

• achieved WACE; and
• met UWA's competency in English requirement; and
• met course prerequisite requirements.

Selection is based on academic merit and entry via this route is very competitive.

University Application Procedures
Information about applying to the universities and admission to undergraduate courses will be sent to Year 12 students at their schools in August 2010. Application will be via TISC's website.

The closing date for applications without incurring a late fee is normally the end of September. Offers of admission are made by the universities in the second half of January and in early February.

Any further information about application procedures may be obtained from TISC. Enquiries about mid-year entry, external studies, postgraduate studies, timetables and particular course requirements should be directed to the university concerned.

You need to apply for admission through TISC if you:

• are an Australian citizen,
• are a New Zealand citizen,
• have been approved/granted Australian permanent resident status.

If you are not one of the above, you are an international student and you need to apply direct to the International Office at the relevant university.

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Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)

It is essential for you to satisfy the requirements of the WACE to enter all four universities unless you are an applicant from a non-standard WA school.

Detailed information about the WACE may be obtained from the Curriculum Council, 27 Walters Drive, Osborne Park, 6017, phone (08) 9273 6300.

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For university admission purposes, usually you demonstrate competence in English by achieving the prescribed standard in one of the WACE courses: English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EALD), or from competence met in the previously offered subjects: TEE English, TEE English Literature or TEE English as a Second Language (ESL).

English as an Additional Language/Dialect can only be taken by students who meet eligibility criteria set by the Curriculum Council. If English as an Additional Language/Dialect is not available at your school, you should take English course and also contact the universities for details about alternative acceptable English tests.

You can meet the competence in English requirement with Year 12 results obtained in any calendar year.

English; Literature; English as an Additional Language/Dialect

Curtin University of Technology
Murdoch University
The University of Western Australia
You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50, in stage 2 or stage 3.

Edith Cowan University
You must achieve

• a scaled mark of at least 50in stage 2 or stage 3; or
• a letter grade of A, B or C in two units of English (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A or 3B) studied in Year 12; or
• a letter grade of A, B or C in two units of English as an Additional Language/Dialect (2A, 2B, 3A or 3B) studied in Year 12; or
• a letter grade of A, B or C in two units of Literature (2A, 2B, 3A or 3B) studied in Year 12.

All Universities
English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect sat on a private basis (if available) can be used to meet all universities' competency in English requirement (see Courses Studied on a Private Basis). In this case, you must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50, in stage 2 or stage 3.

Concessions

Curtin University of Technology
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University

(a)	If you have not met the requirement for one of these three universities, that university will concede competence in English to you if you have:
		achieved a standardised moderated numeric school assessment or standardised numeric examination assessment of at least 55 in stage 2 or stage 3 English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect.
(b)	If you have not met the requirement (a) above for one of the above three universities, but you have:
	1	achieved an ATAR above the minimum specified annually by the universities, and
	2	achieved a scaled mark less than 50 in stage 2 or stage 3 English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect,
	then you may demonstrate your competence in English for the above three universities by sitting the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) early in January.

The University of Western Australia

(a)	If you have not met the requirement for The University of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia will concede competence in English to you if you have:
		achieved a standardised moderated numeric school assessment or standardised numeric examination assessment of at least 60 in stage 2 or stage 3 English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect.
(b)	If you have not met the requirement (a) above for The University of Western Australia, but you have:
	1	achieved an ATAR above the minimum specified annually by the universities, and
	2	achieved a scaled mark less than 50 in stage 2 or stage 3 English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect,
	then you may demonstrate your competence in English for The University of Western Australia by sitting the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) early in January.

TEE English, TEE English Literature or TEE English as a Second Language (ESL) sat previously

All Universities
TEE English, TEE English Literature and TEE English as a Second Language (ESL) are no longer offered. However, if you have satisfied a university's competence in English requirement previously via results in TEE English, TEE English Literature or TEE English as a Second Language (ESL), then you have satisfied that university’s current competence in English requirement.

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Scaling and Increments
All course results will be scaled to ensure fairness to all students.

Unless otherwise specified, references to scaled marks in this brochure mean the final scaled mark obtained in either stage 2 or stage 3 of a WACE course, or in a TEE subject. The Average Marks Scaling Process will be used to scale marks obtained in stage 2 or stage 3 of a course in 2010, in the same way as TEE subjects were scaled in the past.

WACE courses except Mathematics and Mathematics: Specialist
As an incentive for students to study courses at the more demanding stage 3 if they are capable of doing so, an increment will be applied to stage 3 marks. After standardisation and statistical moderation has occurred, the combined unscaled marks at stage 3 will be increased by 15 marks per course relative to the combined unscaled marks at stage 2. After this, the marks in both stages are merged and scaled using Average Marks Scaling. No increments will be applied if a course is only examined at stage 3.

Mathematics and Mathematics: Specialist
Mathematics (with four unit pairs: 2A/2B; 2C/2D; 3A/3B and 3C/3D) and Mathematics: Specialist (with two unit pairs 3A/3B and 3C/3D) have six possible examinations. To encourage students to attempt the highest level of mathematics they are capable of, the following increments will be applied before scaling:

Calculation of the TEA
The ATAR is derived from the Tertiary Entrance Aggregate (TEA).

The TEA will be calculated by adding the best four scaled scores. These may be in any combination of courses and/or past TEE subjects, as listed below. No course or past TEE subject can be counted more than once. NOTE: stage 2 and stage 3 of the same WACE course cannot both count.

In calculating the scaled score, equal weight is given to the final school score and the final examination score, except where courses/subjects are taken on a private basis.

There are unacceptable course combinations whereby scores in both courses/subjects cannot both be used.

For all universities you may accumulate scaled scores which contribute to your ATAR over five consecutive years. Scaled marks from previous study of TEE subjects or WACE courses are on the same scale as scaled scores obtained from study in 2010 and will be used directly in the calculation of an ATAR, if applicable. You may use previous scaled marks back to 2006.

TEA to ATAR
TISC will construct a table to convert your TEA to an ATAR. The table takes into account the number of students with a TEA and the number of people of Year 12 school leaving age in the state. This table is constructed annually.

Prior Year ATAR/TER (ATAR)
If you have a ATAR or TER (ATAR) from a previous year, you will be given the benefit of the higher of your previous rank and your current ATAR. If you have not previously satisfied the WACE requirements or a university's competence in English requirement, you must satisfy current requirements. If your TER is prior to 2006 (2001 for Murdoch University) you should contact the Admissions Centre of the university concerned, as some universities may not allow this to override your current ATAR.

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Courses which are used to form the ATAR

NOTE: Students studying WACE courses are strongly recommended to attempt stage 3 units in Year 12.

Unacceptable Subject Combinations
You cannot use the following course combinations in calculating your ATAR. It may be possible to take both courses but the result in only one may be used to calculate your ATAR.

Accounting and Finance with Accounting (TEE)
Ancient History with Ancient History (TEE)
Applicable Mathematics (TEE) with Mathematics 3C/3D
Art (TEE) with Visual Arts
Biological Sciences with Biology (TEE)
Biological Sciences with Human Biology (TEE)
Biology (TEE) with Human Biology (TEE)
Biology (TEE) with Human Biological Science
Calculus (TEE) with Mathematics: Specialist 3C/3D
Chemistry with Chemistry (TEE)
Chemistry with Physical Science (TEE)
Chemistry (TEE) with Physical Science (TEE)
Chemistry (TEE) with Integrated Science
Chinese: Advanced (TEE) with Chinese: Second Language (TEE)
Chinese: Advanced (TEE) with Chinese: Background Speakers
Chinese: Advanced (TEE) with Chinese: Second Language
Chinese: Background Speakers with Chinese: Second Language (TEE)
Chinese: Second Language with Chinese: Second Language (TEE)
Computer Science with Information Systems (TEE)
Discrete Mathematics (TEE) with Applicable Mathematics (TEE)
Discrete Mathematics (TEE) with Calculus (TEE)
Discrete Mathematics (TEE) with Mathematics 2A/2B, 2C/2D, 3A/3B
Drama with Drama Studies (TEE)
Earth and Environmental Science with Geology (TEE)
Economics with Economics (TEE)
English with English (TEE)
English with English Literature (TEE)
English (TEE) with English as an Additional Language/Dialect
English (TEE) with English Literature (TEE)
English (TEE) with Literature
English Literature (TEE) with English as an Additional Language/Dialect
English Literature (TEE) with Literature
French with French (TEE)
Geography with Geography (TEE)
German with German (TEE)
Human Biological Science with Human Biology (TEE)
Indonesian: Advanced (TEE) with Indonesian: Second Language (TEE)
Indonesian: Advanced (TEE) with Malay: Advanced (TEE)
Indonesian: Advanced (TEE) with Indonesian: Background Speakers
Indonesian: Advanced (TEE) with Indonesian: Second Language
Indonesian: Advanced (TEE) with Malay: Background Speakers
Indonesian: Background Speakers with Malay: Advanced (TEE)
Indonesian: Second Language (TEE) with Indonesian: Background Speakers
Indonesian: Second Language (TEE) with Indonesian: Second Language
Indonesian: Second Language (TEE) with Malay: Advanced (TEE)
Indonesian: Second Language (TEE) with Malay: Background Speakers
Indonesian: Second Language with Malay: Advanced (TEE)
Integrated Science with Physical Science (TEE)
Integrated Science with Physics (TEE)
Italian with Italian (TEE)
Japanese: Advanced (TEE) with Japanese: Second Language (TEE)
Japanese: Advanced (TEE) with Japanese: Background Speakers
Japanese: Advanced (TEE) with Japanese: Second Language
Japanese: Second Language (TEE) with Japanese: Second Language
Japanese: Second Language (TEE) with Japanese: Background Speakers
Modern History with History (TEE)
Music (TEE) with Music
Physics (TEE) with Physical Science (TEE)
Physics with Physical Science (TEE)
Physics (TEE) with Physics
Political and Legal Studies (TEE) with Politics and Law

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Courses Studied on a Private Basis

You may use results in courses sat privately in the calculation of your ATAR.

If you wish to sit WACE courses on a private basis you must enrol with the Curriculum Council. It is possible that not all courses will be available to private candidates. Your scaled score in courses you sit privately will be based on your course examination score only.

You will not be able to use results from courses sat privately to meet the WACE requirement.

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Prerequisites

Make sure that you satisfy the prerequisites for admission to the university course of your choice. Prerequisites are courses or special requirements that must be successfully completed for entry to particular university courses.

Generally a scaled mark of 50 or more in stage 3 of a WACE course or in a past TEE subject is required for prerequisite purposes, however mathematics prerequisites differ across university courses. See individual university course entries for details. Note that where a prerequisite is listed as ‘At least Mathematics 2C/2D’, Mathematics 3A/3B or Mathematics 3C/3D will also be accepted.

Prerequisites may be satisfied by results from the current year or previous four years. Where the following WACE courses have been indicated in individual university sections as prerequisites, a scaled mark of 50 or more obtained in 2006 or later in the TEE subjects shown will also be accepted.

Murdoch University does not require applicants to have undertaken specific prerequisite courses and instead provides introductory units to enable its students to become skilled in specific areas in which they may be lacking.

For some university courses the special requirements may include bridging/special course units, interviews, auditions, folio presentations, manual dexterity tests, aptitude tests, fitness requirements, etc. Detailed information is available from the individual universities.

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Disclaimer

The universities reserve the right to change the content and/or method of presentation and/or the method of assessment of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of study or programme which they offer, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or programme, and/or vary arrangements for any programme.  Enquiries regarding university admission requirements should be directed to the individual university(ies) concerned.

TISC and the participating universities cannot accept liability for any incorrect advice received from sources other than TISC, the universities or the universities' officially appointed agents.