Changes to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) selection rank schemes
With the introduction of the new senior assessment and tertiary entry systems (SATE), there are changes to how Vocational Education and Training (VET) is treated as part of the senior curriculum.
Under the new system, a completed VET award (eg. AQF Certificate III, Certificate IV or Diploma) may be used in the calculation of a student's ATAR where this is one of the student's best eligible study results. Currently, VET awards do not contribute to the calculation of the OP.
From 2020 onwards however, UQ will no longer allow school-leaver applicants to receive a standalone selection rank on the basis of a VET award alone. This change will only impact students applying for tertiary entry in the year immediately following Year 12.
Non-school-leaver applicants will still be able to use their VET qualifications to apply for entry to UQ in subsequent years, and this change will not impact students completing their OP in 2018 (current Year 12 students) or 2019 (current Year 11 students).
UQ have made this decision in support of the recommendation from the Minister for Education's Senior Secondary Assessment Taskforce to preserve the integrity of the ATAR by encouraging young people to stay within the secondary education system and not seek early exit. UQ will therefore not be considering 'alternative' qualifications from current school leavers for tertiary entry in the year following Year 12, with the exception of an IB Diploma.
Questions?
Contact UQ Admissions on admissions@uq.edu.au or call us on (07) 3365 2203.
UPDATE TO THE ABOVE:
Further information about applicant selection under the QLD ATAR
As previously advised, UQ has made the decision to not assess 'alternative' qualifications from current school leavers after the introduction of the new secondary school system. This decision has been made as per the Minister for Education's request to encourage young people to stay within the secondary education system.
Alternative qualifications include VET awards as well as Music, Speech and Drama awards such as those assessed by the AMEB. As such, school leaver applicants will not be able to use standalone entry ranks based on completed AMEB awards until at least one year after they have completed Year 12.
All non-school leaver applicants applying at least 12 months from the completion of high school will be able to use their AMEB qualifications to apply for entry to UQ.
