Find your path to uni as a non-school leaver

It’s never too late to enrol in a university degree as a non-school leaver or mature-age student. Often, you don’t even need an ATAR to get qualified for your dream job.

Whether you have no ATAR, are coming back after a break from study or have decided to change career direction, many pathways can lead you to university. Read on to find out more about some of your options, including TAFE courses, recognition of prior learning and the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test.

From TAFE to uni

One of the most popular and practical routes into university for non-school leavers is through TAFE. If it’s been a while since you last studied, the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (otherwise known as the Tertiary Preparation Certificate) offers a great way to build confidence in a classroom environment as it covers study skills as well as subject-specific content.

Many Australian universities also have formal agreements with TAFE institutions, meaning your previous study can count as credit towards a university degree. Completing any certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma at TAFE can not only give you practical skills in your area of interest but also prepare you for further academic study.

A TAFE qualification may also give you direct entry into a related university degree. For example, a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care can lead into a Bachelor of Education. A Diploma of Business can transition into a Bachelor of Business, or a Commerce degree.

Recognition of prior learning

If you have work experience in an industry relevant to the degree you are applying for, or have completed related study, you may be able to receive recognition of prior learning. This means you can receive credit towards a university degree for subjects you have already studied, making your degree both shorter and more affordable.

Prior learning is a common pathway for non-school leavers and adult learners. It consists of formal and informal education as well as experience-based learning that you may have gained in your current or previous employment.

Future students need to produce appropriate evidence of prior learning, which usually consists of a certified copy of your qualification or a letter from your employer. Universities may make an offer to non-school applicants who have work experience relevant to the degree they wish to study, if they are confident the applicants have a strong prospect of graduating.

Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test

The Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is a series of tests designed to assess a range of competencies considered important for success in tertiary study. It assesses your ability to think critically and analyse the material given, rather than testing your knowledge of specific academic subjects. There are two versions of STAT: Multiple Choice and Written English.

If you are a non-school leaver or an adult learner with no formal qualifications on which to base your application to a tertiary institution, you may be eligible to be considered for entry to a course by sitting a STAT. Institutions will consider your results in addition to any other information available when assessing your application.

In NSW and the ACT, STAT is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Dates, fees, locations and booking information for STAT test sittings in NSW/ACT can be found on the ACER STAT website. Also check whether an institution will accept STAT for the course you are considering, and which STAT versions you need to sit, by contacting the admissions office at the relevant institution.