Who Should Apply Through TISC?
Only Australian or New Zealand citizens or those who have been approved or granted permanent resident status are eligible to apply through TISC.

Prospective permanent residents are not eligible to apply through TISC until permanent residence status has been approved or granted. If you have a student visa, temporary resident visa or visitor visa you are also not eligible to apply through TISC. Please contact the International Centres of the individual/respective universities.

Applicants for Medicine or Dentistry at The University of Western Australia in 2009 must have taken up permanent residency in Australia by 30 September 2008. 

Past and Current Students from WA Tertiary Institutions
If you have been enrolled or are currently enrolled in a Western Australian tertiary institution and you wish to re-enter the same institution, it is your responsibility to contact the institution to ascertain if you are a re-enrolling student. In many cases it will be necessary for you to apply to the university directly concerned for re-admission, rather than apply through TISC. You may miss re-enrolment deadlines if you incorrectly apply through TISC, and it may cost you unnecessary fees.

When applying, previous enrolment and student number must be declared, even if you withdrew from a course prior to the start of the academic year. Failure to declare the previous student number will create enrolment problems and may result in the withdrawal of any offer made.

The rules outlined by the universities in Universities’ Information normally apply. However, if you are in doubt as to the correct method of application, you should contact the Admissions Office of the university concerned, well before the closing date for applications.

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Western Australian 2008 Year 12 Students
All Western Australian 2008 Year 12 students who were born on or after 1 March 1989 can apply apply online before 11.00pm on 30 September 2008 for a charge of $20.00. After this date you may still apply online. Applications lodged after 11 pm on 30 September 2008 will incur a late processing fee of $110.00.

Mature age Year 12 students (born before 1 March 1989) also apply online. The application fee is $44.00 before 11pm, 30 September 2008. Applications lodged after 11pm, 30 September 2008 will incur a late processing fee of $110.00.

Other Applicants
All other applicants must apply online. The application fee is $44.00 before 11pm, 30 September 2008. Applications lodged after 11pm, 30 September 2008 will incur a late processing fee of $110.00.

A full schedule of fees and charges can be accessed at TISC Fees and Charges.

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The normal closing date for receipt of applications is 11pm Tuesday 30 September 2008. After that, a late fee of $110.00 is payable. The final closing dates for applications are shown under Calendar. 

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Acknowledgement of Applications

After submitting your web application please print off your Application Coversheet as a record that you have applied.

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Change of Address

It is important to inform TISC of all changes of address by writing, by telephone or online via the web. An official Change of Address Form is provided in the TISC Guide. Do not advise your change of address to the universities as this will not be recorded in the TISC system. Please advise TISC, and the universities will access your new contact details on the TISC database.

Do not rely on mail being redirected by Australia Post, as some universities use couriers to deliver offers of admission. Any delay could result in the loss of a place.

A change of address received after 12 noon on 19 December 2008 will not be recorded in time for the despatch of Universities Admission Advice Letters to TEE candidates. Advice of a change of address received after 12 January 2009 will be too late for the despatch of main round offers.

If you are currently sitting TEE subjects, you must also separately advise the Curriculum Council of your change of address.

Please also see What If I am Away From Home in January/February?, if this applies to you.

Police Clearances

Applicants for undergraduate courses in education, community health, health science, nursing or social work should be aware that many of these areas of employment require practitioners to have a police clearance. Additionally, students undertake external placement, clinical practice or practicum involving contact with the public as a component of the course. External agencies, such as government departments, non-government agencies and hospitals, may require students to obtain a police clearance prior to an external placement, clinical practice or practicum. Please note that external agencies can vary their requirements without notice and may not always advise the universities of changes.

A criminal record may not necessarily preclude a student from participating in any of the above. However, serious crimes;

• Of a violent or sexual nature
• Where the victim was under 18 years of age or elderly
• For dealing or trafficking in drugs
• Involving fraud, or
• Any offence which results in a jail sentence

may render a person unsuitable for employment and/or provision of services to clients.

Applicants should be aware that if they apply for a police clearance and do have a conviction for a serious offence, then this information may be placed on a national database and made available to other authorities.

Further details about obtaining the relevant police clearance will be issued to successful applicants by the university concerned upon enrolment, or included with an offer of a student place. Successful applicants should apply promptly for police clearance as their application may take time to be processed.

At this time the universities are aware that a police clearance may be required from students enrolling in the following fields of study:

• Education: Teaching
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Children and Family Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Welfare Studies, Youth Work.
• Health: Dentistry, Health Sciences and Technologies, Medical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Podiatric Medicine, Rehabilitation Studies.

The Department of Education and Training and Department of Health have their own screening programs. Contact the relevant Department for the course(s) in which you are interested.

For Education related disciplines contact:

Department of Education and Training Screening Project
Telephone: (08) 9264 4391
Email: screening@det.wa.edu.au.

NOTE: The Department of Education and Training has its own 'CrimTrac' police clearance system. The application form is available from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/screening/newapplicant.htm. [click on ‘Consent Form for a National Criminal History Record Check (CRC)’].

Health related disciplines:

For information or if you have any concerns about obtaining a police clearance please contact:

Criminal Record Screening Support Unit of the Department of Health
Email: CR.screening@health.wa.gov. au
Telephone: (08 92222353
Website: www.health.wa.gov.au/publications/crsu/crs00.htm

For double-degree students requiring both an education and a health police clearance, an education police clearance is accepted by the Department of Health.

Application for Working with Children Check

The Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 aims to protect children from harm by introducing a high standard of compulsory national criminal record checking for people wishing to do paid, unpaid or volunteer work with children in Western Australia. The Working with Children Check is being phased-in over five years and commenced on 1 January 2006.

In 2009, for the purposes of their practicum, education students who are going to be working with children within the ages of 0-17 will require a Working with Children Check. An application for a Working with Children Check is made through Australia Post agencies. For further information on the Working with Children Act, see website: http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au.

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For 2008 WA Year 12 students, your TISC number is your eight-digit Curriculum Council number. This number is also repeated on your Application Coversheet that can be printed once you have submitted your application. .

For all other applicants your TISC number is an eight-digit system generated number which is printed at the top of your Application Coversheet.

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Choosing Preferences (Courses)

How many courses can I choose?
You may choose up to six courses. List them in order of preference, starting with the course you would most like to do. It is wise to include more than one preference, particularly if a similar course is offered at more than one university. All courses offer Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Remember, choose what you would really like to do, but be realistic in your choices. For information on whether you are likely to qualify for admission, contact the Admissions Office of the relevant university. If you were offered a place for 2008 but deferred your studies until 2009, and wish your deferred place to be held for you (even if you would also like to be considered for other courses), you must list your deferred course as one of your preferences.

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), is a university place in which the fees are subsidised by the Federal Government. If you enrol in a CSP, you will pay some course fees but not the full cost of your education.

For more information please see Paying for University Study.

Does the order of my preferences matter?
Yes. Enter as your first preference the course you would most like to do, then the course you would next prefer to do as your second preference, and so on up to your six preferences. Enter only courses for which you would accept an offer. You will be made an offer for the preference highest on your list for which you are eligible.

Are all preferences given equal consideration?
Yes. If you are not selected for your first preference, you will be considered equally with all other eligible applicants for your second preference, and so on. Your chance of being selected for a particular course is not reduced because you have placed that course as a lower order preference. If you have a higher ranking than another applicant who lists that course as a higher preference than you have, you will be selected ahead of that applicant.

Method of Study
The methods of study available for each course - full-time, part-time, or external - are shown in the Course Search facility. Make sure you take this into account when listing your preferences. You can only specify one method of study for each course code, but some universities allow you to change your method of study at enrolment. Contact the relevant universities for more information.

Full-Time Studies (F)
Students study a full-time load of units and enrol for classes on campus* for whenever the unit is timetabled. This may be in the daytime or the evening. Some units may be offered in more than one time-slot.

Part-Time Studies (P)
Many courses can be studied part-time. Classes are held on campus*. Applicants should be aware that part-time study does not refer to the attendance of evening classes but the undertaking of a lesser load of study than the normal full-time load.

External Studies (E)
External studies (off-campus) students do not normally attend classes on campus*. Course materials are mailed or are made available via the Internet. Some courses may be offered externally in full or in part. External study is available for some courses at Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University * and Murdoch University. External study is not available at The University of Western Australia.

*ECU does not use the method of study code 'E' for external studies, unlike other universities. It offers courses externally under an Off Campus course code. This means that, for ECU, the method of study codes 'F' and 'P' apply to full-time and part-time studies, both on campus and by external mode.

What else do I need to consider?
When choosing your preferences, think about what you would really like to do, balanced by a realistic appraisal of courses for which you may qualify for admission.

For applicants not doing Year 12 in 2008, cut-off ranks may not be applicable. Most universities take into account any or all of the following when considering your application: tertiary studies, secondary studies, post-secondary studies (i.e. TAFE studies), and in some cases other relevant factors such as life experiences, employment history, and special circumstances.

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Can I change my preferences?
Yes, at any time, subject to closing dates. You can change up to six preferences on any one occasion. Changing your preferences cancels all previous preferences.

If you are a Year 12 student, you should not need to change your preferences after initial application, unless your results are significantly different from expectations or you have changed your mind about your choice of courses. In any case, you are advised not to change preferences until after your results are available in late December (except for courses where earlier closing dates apply). However, so that important decisions are not made hastily, it is advisable that you have considered some of the possibilities well before then.

How do I change preferences?
Via TISCOnline:

• Access the homepage of this website and click on View/Change Course Preferences

What fees are involved?
There is no charge for changing preferences.

Closing dates for changing preferences
These dates are listed in the Calendar. There are different closing dates for applicants who are completing an Australian Year 12 in 2008 (or New Zealand equivalent) and applicants who are not.

Some courses have earlier closing dates. Check carefully whether any course you intend to add specifies an early closing date. Closing dates are strictly adhered to.

Will I receive an Acknowledgement/Change of Preference card?

Once you have changed your preferences online you will see a screen confirming the changes you have made, which you can print if you wish. You can access the web at any time to check your preferences.

Can I change my preferences between the main and second round of offers?
Yes, subject to closing dates. It is important that you understand the implications of changing preferences at this stage. Make sure you read the Offers of Admission to University section. Do not change preferences until you receive notification from one of the universities or from TISC advising whether an offer has been made. Changing your preferences at this stage may cause an offer to be cancelled. Consequently, changing preferences via the web is not possible between 2 January and 15 January inclusive.

Universities attempt to fill all courses in the main round of offers. Accordingly the number of offers made in the second round is usually very small. The rank needed to enter a course in the second round may therefore be higher than in the main round. In many courses no offers are made in the second round. Before you make a change of preference for the second round of offers, it is advisable that you contact the university concerned to ascertain whether you are eligible and if places are available in the relevant course(s).

Where can I get advice?
If you do not understand the procedure involved, or are unsure whether or not to change preferences, contact TISC or the Admissions Office at one of the universities any time after applying.

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