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Alternative Admissions

Decisions on alternative pathways to admissions are referred to the Dean of the relevant Faculty and are taken in consultation with other appropriate personnel. Each case will be considered on its individual merit. Alternative pathways to admission may include:

Previous Tertiary Qualifications



Admission may be obtained by the successful completion of an appropriate Certificate IV from a Registered Training Organization (RTO) subject to the requirement that normally an equivalent number of years have been spent in education as would be required to complete a High School program. Admission may also be obtained by the successful completion of an appropriate diploma from a TAFE college.

Foundation Studies



Admission may be obtained by the successful completion of a suitable program of preparatory studies course or a tertiary preparation course, such as Avondale’s Diploma of General Studies.

Mature Age Admission



Applicants who have not attempted the Higher School Certificate or its equivalent prior to the proposed entry but who have had work or educational experience beyond the usual number of years of secondary schooling necessary for completing the HSC (or its equivalent in other states) may gain admission upon satisfactory performance in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Students should lodge completed STAT application, Confidentiality Agreement and payment before the following dates:

  • For study at Avondale in Semester 1 - not later than 15 January
  • For study at Avondale in Semester 2 - not later than 30 June

Special Entry



Applicants of high academic potential who have completed High School but who have not achieved a result that has enabled them to be offered a place under regular admission criteria, and who can demonstrate or document the disadvantaging factors impacting on their HSC results may apply for special consideration. The following criteria have been identified by Australian government authorities as constituting possible grounds for special entry consideration. Students who wish to seek special academic entry admission on the basis of economic or social disadvantage will need to satisfy criteria in at least two of the categories set out below. Special entry circumstances could involve low income background, non-English speaking background, family disruption, interrupted schooling, lack of support for study, family responsibilities, geographic isolation, major illness, injury or disability, or refugee status.

Word Processing Competence



During the first two weeks of the first semester of study all commencing degree students will be required to demonstrate a working knowledge of practical computing. A student may meet this requirement in one of three ways:
  1. Provide certificates detailing keyboard input speed and accuracy and word processing competence from a recognised institution
  2. Take a speed test during registration (a speed of at least 20 wpm with a minimum 90% accuracy is required) AND pass a word processing challenge test
  3. Take the subject: Word Processing Competency (WP010).The challenge test is offered free of charge during the first two weeks of the semester. Before attempting this test students will need to be able to: create and save files to subfolders, enter and edit text, change margins and line spacing, indent text, spellcheck, use cut and paste, insert bullets, use headers/footers/automatic page numbering, and create tables.

A student who neglects these opportunities will need to make his/her own arrangements to satisfy these requirements. Use of the College word processing facilities, and graduation is dependent on demonstrating word processing competence.

Academic Bridging Program



Students entering a degree program who have not recently acquired a Higher School Certificate, or completed other study at tertiary level, are required to attend the Academic Bridging Program offered during the week prior to the start of first semester. Exemption from this requirement is possible only upon the provision of evidence of recent successful academic performance.

Certificate and Diploma Admission



Academic eligibility for admission to Certificate and Diploma courses is normally gained by completion of Year 12 of secondary sch