Applying for uni as a non-school leaver: 3 tips

It's never too late to study at university! Did you know that more than a third of Australian students are over 24 years of age when they start uni, and tens of thousands are in their 40s?

While there’s no ‘automatic entry’ for uni applicants over 21 years, many non-school leaver applicants have spent time in the workforce or undertaken post-school studies that can help qualify them for uni entry.

Thinking of submitting an undergraduate application through UAC? Read on to find out our top three tips for how non-school leavers can apply for university with qualifications and experience other than the ATAR.

1. Contact the undergraduate admissions office

Call the admissions office at the institution you want to attend and ask them if your qualifications and experience meet the admission criteria for the specific course you want to study. The criteria for one uni will be different to the next, so consider all the institutions that offer your preferred course.

Some universities will consider all of your qualifications, studies, employment and professional experience and give each a different weight, while others might focus only on your highest qualification. If you don't qualify, ask them what else you need to do to qualify for entry.

Each institution will assess your relevant work experience differently, but you can check out the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to learn more about how work experience is assessed.

2. Include all your complete and incomplete studies and qualifications

Make sure you include in your application your Year 12 studies and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certificate IIIs and above, no matter how old, as some unis will still consider them. However, only courses accredited by the relevant state/territory accreditation authority, or AQF certificates at level III or higher will be taken into account, so you do not need to include the following in your application:

• AQF certificates at levels I and II
• Statements of Attainment
• TAFE Statements
• courses delivered by Australian private providers that are not accredited (or accreditation can’t be proven).

3. Apply for a lower level – or pathway – course

If your current qualifications and experience are not enough to qualify you for a degree course, think about enrolling in a diploma or a tertiary preparation course. The admission criteria are usually less demanding and completing the course will help you develop the skills you’ll require to succeed in your bachelor degree, such as research and essay writing.

Speak to your chosen institution about the best bridging/pathway option. If you complete a diploma, you can use it to meet the admission criteria for a degree, and perhaps qualify for recognition of prior learning, which will reduce the time and expense of your degree. Even if you decide you don’t want to pursue further study, you’ll still walk away with a qualification.

You're on your way to uni!

Once you’ve met the minimum entry requirements for your course, you’ll still have to compete against other applicants for a place at uni. But if you do your research and follow our tips, you’ll give yourself the best chance of becoming one of the many mature-age students who apply for their dream course as a non-school leaver applicant.