Applications for places at most public universities in NSW and ACT are made through the University Admission Centre (UAC). Some Universities will offer direct application and early entry pathways. Entry to particular courses is competitive, and offers of a place are made on the basis of the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) and other contributing factors, such as community engagement. Once each course quota is filled and a cut-off is established, no further applications are accepted. Students must accept an offer of a place by the due date; otherwise, the offer will lapse.
The UAC Guide, which contains course information from previous years and application procedures, is available to all online via the UAC website or via the link in the Canberra College careers Google Classroom. Information sessions to help with course selection and application procedures are run by the College. For states other than NSW and ACT, students must register online with the relevant state university admission centre
(VTAC/SATAC/QTAC, etc) Or check with the university.
In addition to meeting the ATAR cut-off, some tertiary courses require students to have studied certain subjects or achieved a minimum standard of attainment in Years 11 and 12. This is referred to as prerequisite study or assumed knowledge. Details of courses requiring this knowledge and achievement levels are available on the UAC website, in the UAC Yr 10 Guide or through the University of choice. This information is available via https://www.uac.edu.au
Some University and CIT courses, such as Art, Drama, Music, and Design, require students to have relevant skills, experience, and folios of work in addition to obtaining a Senior Secondary Certificate. Students may be required to attend interviews, auditions, and special testing as part of the application for each course. The UAC Year 10 Booklet and the UAC Guide (online only) contain information detailing these requirements. The Student Services/Careers Advisors can provide current information on any course.
Students requiring financial assistance to undertake tertiary study should consider applying for a cadetship or scholarship. These opportunities are advertised on the Universities' and industry groups' company websites, job sites like SEEK and INDEED, and the Government Jobs portal. An offer of assistance is based on academic achievement, and cadetship applicants are required to sit a test and have an interview. Details are available from the Student Services and Careers Advisors.
If you choose to do a post-college course through CIT, once you have selected your course, you will enrol to study at CIT. All enrolments are currently online through the CIT website. Enrolment Information: Canberra Institute of Technology (cit.edu.au). The College also offers opportunities for students to chat one-on-one with CIT around the enrolment process or with our qualified Careers team.
An Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) is an Australian Apprenticeship undertaken part-time while you are still at school. An ASbA provides you with hands-on industry experience and the ability to work towards or complete a nationally recognised qualification while undertaking your secondary school certificate. ASbAs are available in several industries. Students can consult the ASbA Coordinator/ VET Coordinator in the Careers Room. See more on page 15.
Students seeking on-the-job training should consider an apprenticeship or traineeship to develop both personal and job-specific skills. Employers offering these training programs advertise regularly through Apprenticeship centres and industry network providers; opportunities are also available online through job sites like SEEK and INDEED. Information is available from the Careers team and our qualified Careers Advisors.
This Certificate is issued at the end of Year 12 and shows the results obtained in all completed units. It is issued by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies. To receive this certificate at the end of Year 12, students must satisfactorily complete 17 standard units, including at least four accredited minors from at least three different course areas within their package. (See Glossary). Students are required to complete at least one English course to be awarded this certificate.
Students who wish to go on to tertiary study will also receive this statement, which shows each student’s ranking relative to all other students in the ACT, along with an Aggregate Score. It is issued by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies. This statement entitles those who qualify to be considered for admission to Australian tertiary institutions. The ATAR shows the University Admission Rank compared to all other students in Australia, which is the criterion used for tertiary entrance, and the Aggregate Score, from which the University Admission Rank is derived.
To receive this statement, students must complete a study program from A, T, M, E, H, and R (see Glossary) that accrues at least 20 standard units. There must be at least 18 A, T, M, and E standard units, and these must be arranged into courses to form either:
5 major courses
4 major courses and 1 minor course
3 major courses and 3 minor courses (of these, at least 3 majors and 1 minor must be T courses, and at least one course must be English)
In addition, students must sit the ACT Scaling Test (AST). This is held in September of year 12.
Students who have gained 17 standard units for an Accredited package by the end of their third semester or the middle of their fourth semester may apply to be released from the College ahead of other Year 12 students. These students are still invited to the Year 12 Graduation, Breakfast, and Formal.