Year 12 students who think they could miss out on a place in their preferred courses should not lose heart, according to University of Queensland Courses and Admissions acting manager Claron Driscoll.
"There are ways students can achieve their aims if they didn't get the OP scores they wanted first time round," she said.
She said applicants who possessed the prerequisite subjects but not the entry scores necessary for their preferred courses had several options to improve their chances of gaining places.
They could repeat Year 12; undertake up to five External Senior subjects through the Board of Senior Secondary School Studies; or accept places in alternative university courses - those they were offered - and obtain the required level of results in at least one full-time year of tertiary university study.
"Students can then apply for entry in the following year to get into their preferred courses. This system is called upgrading," she said.
Completing one year of the course they were offered gave students a new score called a rank. Students could also "pick up" the prerequisite subjects for their preferred courses during the first year of study in other university courses.
Applicants who completed Year 12 and lacked subject prerequisites, but had an entry score they believed would be sufficient for future entry, could consider completing the missing subjects by External Senior studies (Contact the Board of Senior Secondary School Studies, telephone 07 3864 0299).
Alternatively, some students could wish to complete the missing prerequisite subjects by passing subjects at first year university level. Advice concerning this step may be obtained from University of Queensland Courses and Admissions.
Ms Driscoll said people aged 21 years or over who had not completed Year 12 were advised to consider:
o undertaking four External Senior subjects (for entry to more competitive courses that required three or four prerequisites);
o undertaking fewer than four External Senior subjects and sitting STAT or another approved Australian admissions test;
o or gaining admission to a less preferred tertiary course and after obtaining the required grades in one full-time year of study, applying for entry to the preferred course.
Ms Driscoll said the appropriate option differed for each person depending on personal circumstances and preparedness for tertiary study.
A full explanation of admission requirements for UQ courses is contained in the University's Admissions Guide. For a copy, or advice about upgrading or picking up prerequisites, contact University Courses and Admissions (telephone 07 3365 2203) email: AdmissionsEnquiries@mailbox.uq.edu.au
