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Looking past your Overall Position

Looking past your Overall Position

This page contains general information on the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC), Overall Positions (OP) and, Tertiary Learning pathways, and TAFE Queensland.. For more details, telephone your nearest TAFE institute or our Tertiary Placement and Performance Unit on (07) 3259 4585.

Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre and Overall Positions
What happens if I don't get an offer?
School, TAFE and university
Improving your tertiary entrance rank

Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre and Overall Positions

TAFE Queensland institutes utilise the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) systems for full-time diplomas and advanced diplomas in key study areas. You can also apply to enter some courses by direct entry, for example most certificate courses, part-time diploma, advanced diploma study, and some full-fee-paying courses.

Here are some useful facts you should be aware of when deciding on a tertiary course:

• Each year TAFE offers a range of courses via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre. Details of available programs are published in the QTAC guide which is distributed to Year 12 students through schools and is also available at newsagents. For further information visit www.qtac.edu.au or telephone (07) 3368 1166 .
• If you undertake a TAFE course, it may improve your tertiary entrance rank.
• Successful completion of a TAFE diploma or advanced diploma can, in some cases, satisfy prerequisites for university entry. Check with the university for further details.
• Some TAFE courses are more popular than others, and therefore more competitive. It is a good idea to look at the cut-offs for a particular course across different institutes.

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What happens if I don't get an offer?

Many TAFE institutes make offers to all eligible applicants. Some courses are offered part-time and, in some instances, after six months' study, students may be able to transfer to full-time study. Also see Improving your tertiary entrance rank.

A number of TAFE diploma and advanced diploma courses have certificate level study embedded within them. Therefore, if you are unsuccessful in gaining an offer to a diploma program, consider enrolling at the certificate level of the program.

That way, you are still studying in the area of your choice, you increase your chances of gaining admission to the diploma in future intakes, and you will gain credit towards the diploma for the work you complete.

Contact your TAFE Institute for further details. Also see Improving your tertiary entrance rank.

School, TAFE and university

You may be able to study with TAFE while you're still at school. This may be achieved through direct enrolment into programs at TAFE, delivery in schools by TAFE or a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. Speak to your school guidance officer or teacher for more information.

TAFE graduates can continue their studies by articulation to university and in some cases obtain credit transfer to reduce the time it takes to complete their degree. Credit transfer arrangements are in place between TAFE Queensland and Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, Australian Catholic University, James Cook University, University of Southern Queensland and other regional universities across a broad range of vocational training areas.

For more information, refer to the Pathways to employment and further study page. 

Please contact your local TAFE institute and the relevant university to check details before enrolling. University graduates may also undertake TAFE Queensland studies to broaden and enhance their skills and knowledge for the workplace.

Improving your tertiary entrance rank

You can improve your tertiary entrance rank with successful studies across a wide range of TAFE courses. Certificate, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications provide applicants with a tertiary entry rank that can be used for entry to other tertiary institutions.

You may need to have specific pre-requisite subjects for the course of your choice. For example, Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation (1 year full-time) provides an educational program to meet prerequisite requirements and academic preparation for further study at a tertiary level.

A variety of tertiary entrance ranks can be achieved (possibly up to a rank of 98).
Tertiary entrance ranks for TAFE Queensland courses only:

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