Entry and services for mature-aged students at UQ

A popular means of entry to the University of Queensland for mature-aged students is by sitting the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), according to Courses and Admissions manager Maureen Bowen.

Of the first-year undergraduate students commencing last year, 281 had sat the STAT test.

However, while a STAT test result was sufficient for entry into many humanities and social science courses, even a maximum STAT score of 88 did not enable entry into all courses, she said.

Another option was to undertake external senior studies through a Centre for Continuing Secondary Education or by completing a Certificate in Adult Tertiary Preparation through a TAFE college, she said.

'This is regarded as good preparation for university study particularly for those people who are returning to study after a long absence. Mature-aged students can get a good grounding in Year 12 subjects and develop their study skills. They can also enjoy the company of other mature-aged students,' Mrs Bowen said.

Subjects studied through Open Learning Australia (OLA) can be used as a means of scoring applicants for entry to University of Queensland courses, according to OLA co-ordinator at the University, Mardi Hardcastle, and can then be approved for accreditation towards study requirements in the course.

OLA is an education broker between students and educational providers, offering all Australians, regardless of age, location or educational qualifications, the opportunity to study university units and TAFE modules leading to degrees, diplomas and other qualifications.

The eight OLA shareholders are the University of Queensland, The Australian National University (ANU), Curtin University of Technology, Griffith University, Macquarie University, Monash University, RMIT and the University of South Australia.

The University now offers 19 subjects through OLA - 12 from the postgraduate certificate in health studies and the remaining seven from the Entomology, Studies in Religion, Management, History and Government Departments.

Ms Hardcastle said OLA often appealed to mature-aged students because of the flexible delivery modes such as printed correspondence, CD-ROM, the Internet and television and the fact that no entry qualifications were required for undergraduate subjects.

Only one of the 39 students enrolled in OLA subjects at the University of Queensland last year was aged under 21. Of the remainder, 18 or 47 percent were aged 31 and over. Of the 25 enrolments received so far in 1998, all are aged over 21 with 17 or 68 percent aged 31 and over.

For more information, contact Mrs Bowen (telephone 07 3365 1979) or Ms Hardcastle (telephone 07 3365 4835).