Get ready for uni - for students with disability who are planning for university

FAQ Sheet 13:

What is an alternative entry scheme?

Alternative entry schemes are processes for entering uni and can be described based on two basic categories. There are the pathways that use your ATAR score from your HSC performance to decide whether you meet the minimum entry criteria of a course. Plus there are programs that use alternative criteria not based on your ATAR score. These other entry processes take into account different qualifications and considerations.
The table below shows you the name used for the various admission processes and gives a brief explanation of each one.

Summary of uni admission processes

Admission process

Explanation

 

 

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank score (ATAR)

ATAR is the main process for HSC students to enter uni. ATAR gives a numerical measure to the overall academic performance of an HSC student compared to other HSC students across Australia.
Uni course places are awarded to applicants with the highest ATAR.

 

 

Educational Access Schemes (EAS)

EAS programs are designed to provide assistance to students who have faced educational disadvantage through year 11 and/or 12.
Essentially EAS programs allow entry to students with a lower ATAR than the usual ATAR cut off (the minimum ATAR score accepted for entry into the course). This aim is to balance the effect of the student's educational disadvantage on their ability to reach the marks needed to get into uni.
'Educational disadvantage' means something that has affected your ability to perform to your maximum potential at school. Educational disadvantage can be, for example, having a disability, living in a remote area, money problems within the family or a death or illness in your family.

Alternative Entry Schemes

Alternative entry schemes are designed for applicants not using an HSC as the basis for their application for entry into uni.
Instead individual unis set special entry criteria which do not rely on HSC results. These schemes are usually targeted at specific groups to help give applicants a better chance of getting into uni.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

Entry using STAT results involves sitting for a written test that assesses your uni-related academic skills.
The uni uses your STAT score to decide whether you meet the entry requirement for the course you have applied for.

 

 

University preparation courses

Some unis offer courses that help students develop the academic skills and/or knowledge needed for uni such as essay writing, reading academic material, analytical skills, statistics or physics.
Your results in such courses may be used by the uni to decide whether you meet the course entry criteria.

Non-award courses

These courses run by the unis are similar in content and assessment to units offered by the uni in its award courses (such as degrees, graduate diplomas, etc.).
Satisfactory performance in a set of these non-award units can be used to apply for entry into uni.
See individual uni websites for more details.

TAFE/Tertiary Preparation Certificate

This TAFE course is specifically designed to teach students skills and content needed to complete a uni course.
Satisfactory performance in this course can be used to apply for uni entry into many courses at most unis.
See TAFE NSW website (www.tafensw.edu.au) for more details.

Other courses - TAFE

There are specific TAFE courses that can lead you into a related uni course. A uni may take into account your results from TAFE courses that are relevant to the uni course you are applying for.
See TAFE NSW website (www.tafensw.edu.au) for more details.