Admission rules

2009 Admission Rules for Undergraduate Programs

Updated Senate 30 November 2009

Part 1 — Interpretation

1.1 Application

These rules apply to admission to —

(a) undergraduate programs listed in Schedule 1; and

(b) non-award programs and courses.

1.2 Dictionary

In these rules, unless the context otherwise indicates or requires —

1.2.1 applicant means a person applying for admission to a program;

1.2.1A associate dean (academic) means the associate dean (academic) of the faculty administering the program or course;

1.2.2 census date means the final date for enrolment for the semester as advised by the academic registrar;

1.2.3 deferment, for a person who is offered a quota place, means the right to postpone the person’s admission to the quota place for up to 2 years.

1.2.4 dual program means a program leading to two degrees for which there is a single set of program rules;

1.2.5 # means units;

1.2.6 executive dean means the executive dean of the faculty administering the program or course;

1.2.7 domestic student means a student who is —

(a) an Australian citizen; or

(b) a New Zealand citizen; or

1.2.8 fee paying place means a place in a program that is not a quota place;

1.2.9 field position or FP means a field position assigned to an applicant by the Queensland Studies Authority;

1.2.10 full year of tertiary study means #16 of tertiary study at a bachelor’s degree level or higher or an amount the academic registrar considers equivalent;

1.2.11 overseas student means a student who is not a domestic student;

1.2.12 next available semester means —

(a) the current semester, if notified to the university before the census date; or

(b) the following semester, if notified to the university after the census date in the current semester;

1.2.14 non-award student means a student enrolled to study one or more courses without being admitted to a program which leads to an award of this university or to an award at another Australian tertiary institution;

1.2.15 overall position or OP means the overall position assigned to an applicant by the Queensland Studies Authority;

1.2.16 place means either a quota place or a fee paying place in a program;

1.2.17 program means a program listed in Schedule 1;

1.2.18 quota place has the same meaning as ‘Commonwealth supported place’ in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth);

1.2.19 QTAC means the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre;

1.2.20 quota means the number of quota places available in each program;

1.2.21 rank means the admission score assigned to an applicant in accordance with Schedule 1;

1.2.22 sub-rank means a further division used to give greater precision to a rank.

Part 2 — Quota Admission

2.1 Quotas

2.1.1 The university sets the quota annually.

2.1.2 The university may set a sub-quota annually for a program or a field within a program.

2.2 Application, selection procedures and offers

2.2.1 An application for a quota place must be made through QTAC.

2.2.2 A quota place is offered under Schedule 1.

2.2.3 An offer will be made through QTAC or by the academic registrar.

2.3 Deferment

2.3.1 A deferment may be granted to an applicant who requests deferment within the time specified for the receipt of a reply to an offer of a place in a quota.

2.3.2 An approved deferment lapses if the applicant —

(a) enrols in a tertiary institution during the deferment period; or

(b) fails to enrol in the deferred program by the enrolment due date specified in the approval advice from the university; or

2.4 Program change in second semester

The associate dean (academic) may approve a program change for a student enrolled at the university in first semester to a program in second semester which is available then for commencement, without requiring the student to be offered a quota place through QTAC, if, at the date of being offered a program change, the student satisfies the admission requirements for a quota place in the new program as they existed in first semester.

Part 3 — Non-Quota Admission

3.1 Overseas students

3.1.1A The executive dean may provide advice to the university in relation to the maximum number of fee paying places for overseas students.

3.1.1 The university, after considering any advice given by the executive dean, will determine annually the maximum number of fee paying places for overseas students.

3.1.2 An overseas applicant must not be admitted to a quota place.

3.1.3 An application for admission will be assessed individually against selection criteria approved by the executive dean.

3.1.4 Only the academic registrar may make an offer of a fee paying place to an overseas applicant.

3.1.5 An overseas student granted permanent residency may request a change to a domestic fee paying place. The university will convert the status of the student to a domestic fee paying place in the next available semester.

3.2 Domestic students

3.2.1 If an applicant has been offered a fee paying place in one part of a dual program and a quota place in the other part of a dual program, the applicant will be admitted to the entire dual program in a fee paying place.

3.2.2 A student in a fee paying place may apply to QTAC to change to a quota place at the next QTAC offer round in which the relevant program is offered.

3.3 Non-award students

3.3.1 A person applying to become a non-award student must apply to the associate dean (academic).

3.3.2 An application will be assessed against selection criteria approved by the executive dean.

3.3.3 An offer will be made by the academic registrar.

3.4 Delegations

3.4.1 The executive dean may, in writing, delegate to a head of school, or an associate dean (academic), the functions and powers under rule 3.1.1A or 3.1.3.

Part 4 — General

4.1 Limitations on enrolment

An applicant may enrol in a program only if —

(1) the applicant has been offered a place in that program in that calendar year; and

(2) the applicant has accepted the offer within the time prescribed in the offer.

4.2 English language proficiency

4.2.1 An overseas applicant or a domestic applicant from a non-English speaking background must satisfy the English language proficiency requirement for the program in which the applicant seeks to enrol, prior to applying for a place.

4.2.2 For a domestic applicant from a non-English speaking background, this requirement may be satisfied concurrently with satisfaction of the English language prerequisite set out in Schedule 1. A domestic applicant will be informed by QTAC if the English language proficiency requirement is not satisfied.

4.2.3 For an overseas applicant, the English language proficiency requirement varies for each program, however the university’s minimum English language proficiency requirement is an IELTS score of 6.5 with a writing score of 6 (or equivalent).

4.3 Dual programs

An applicant seeking to enrol in a dual program must meet the admission requirements for both parts of the dual program.

4.4 Retaining a place in a program

To retain a place in a program for the following calendar year a student must —

(1) enrol in and gain credit for at least one course at the university in that program in the current calendar year; or

(2) satisfy the associate dean (academic) that special circumstances exist which entitle the student to retain a place in the program.

4.5 Special admission

4.5.1 The president of the Academic Board may, in exceptional circumstances, increase the rank assigned to an applicant, or authorise the offer of a quota place.

4.5.2 An applicant under Rule 4.5.1 may include an applicant nominated through an approved special admission program who has been recommended for the offer of a quota place by the associate dean (academic).

4.6 Admission appeals

Unless otherwise stated, appeals in relation to these rules, other than Rule 4.5, are determined by the president of the Academic Board.

4.7 Incomplete or inaccurate information

Where an applicant has been offered a place and it is later found that incomplete or inaccurate information was provided by or on behalf of the applicant, the academic registrar may withdraw the offer or cancel the student’s enrolment or both.

4.8 Applicants subject to suspension or refusal of enrolment

4.8.1 Any applicant who, as a student of the university, has been suspended or denied permission to enrol following unsatisfactory academic progress will not be eligible for consideration for admission into a program unless the suspension is terminated or the student is given permission to re-enrol following cancellation of enrolment following unsatisfactory academic progress.

4.8.2 An applicant whose results at another tertiary institution would have rendered them liable to show cause why enrolment should not be cancelled following unsatisfactory academic progress under the Enrolment and Academic Progression Rules if they had been obtained at the university, or who has been refused enrolment at another institution due to academic or non-academic reasons may be refused admission.

4.9 Power to waive compliance

The vice‑chancellor, after consultation with the executive dean, may, under exceptional circumstances, direct that strict application of these rules should be waived in respect of a particular applicant, subject to such conditions as the vice-chancellor may impose.

4.10 Savings

Nothing in these rules will —

(1) exempt a person from complying with any other provisions of these rules or any other rule of the university which specifies conditions for enrolment in the program; or

(2) limit the right of the university to refuse a person’s admission or enrolment.

Schedule 1

Prescribed subjects and selection procedures

S1.1 Selection

The selection criteria to be used for each program are set out in the table. Unless stated otherwise, OP and/or rank will be used to select eligible applicants for offers.

S1.2 Prerequisite requirements

S1.2.1 To be eligible for consideration for admission to a program an applicant must have —

(a) satisfied the prerequisite requirements; and

(b) met any other requirements set out in the table.

S1.2.2 Prerequisite requirements may be met by —

(a) obtaining an exit assessment in Queensland years 11 and 12 of not less than ‘sound achievement’ in 4 semester units for each prescribed subject; or

(b) completing equivalent or alternative qualifications approved by the associate dean (academic).

S1.3 Identification of OP or rank applicants

S1.3.1 Subject to rule S1.3.2, an applicant who has qualified for an OP in the year immediately preceding the year for which admission is sought, and who has not previously undertaken a full year of tertiary study, will be considered for admission on the basis of their OP. All other applicants will be considered for admission on the basis of a rank.

S1.3.2 A school-student who is eligible to be considered for admission on the basis of their OP may be assigned a rank under S1.4 if the applicant is eligible for a bonus rank in accordance with a scheme approved by the academic board.

S1.4 Assigning ranks

S1.4.1 Ranks are assigned by the university in a hierarchy according to the applicant’s qualifications, as set out below —

(a) if the applicant has previously undertaken a full year of tertiary study at bachelor’s degree level or higher, their rank is calculated according to Schedule 2;

(b) if Paragraph (a) does not apply, and the applicant completed year 12 as a full-time internal school-student in the year immediately prior to the year in which admission is sought if the applicant does not have an OP, their rank is calculated according to the relevant senior secondary level schedule which has been prepared by QTAC and approved by the academic registrar; or

(c) if Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, an applicant’s rank is calculated in accordance with relevant schedules prepared by QTAC and approved by the academic registrar or, if there are no relevant schedules, in a manner determined by the associate dean (academic).

S1.4.2 The rank for an applicant who is eligible for a rank under rule S1.3.2 is calculated under rule S1.4.1(c) and adjusted under the scheme approved by the academic board.

S1.5 Order of offers

S1.5.1 The university shall annually determine the rank or ranks (the “rank group”) which correspond to each OP.

S1.5.2 All qualified applicants in each OP and corresponding rank group (together called the quota band) above that required to fill the quota will be offered places.

S1.5.3 Where a quota is filled part way through a quota band, and offers cannot be made to all applicants in that band, the number of offers made must reflect approximately the proportion of OP and rank applicants in the band.

S1.5.4 If it is necessary to choose between applicants with the same OP, places are allocated in order on the basis of —

(a) major field position (MFP) as set out in the table; then

(b) subsidiary field position (SFP) as set out in the table; then

(c) if it is necessary to choose between applicants with the same MFP and SFP, the associate dean (academic) will determine the order of offer, based on an applicant’s level of achievement in prerequisites and ‘core skills’ test grade.

S1.5.5 If it is necessary to choose between applicants with the same rank group, places are allocated in order on the basis of —

(a) rank; then

(b) sub-rank, then

(c) if it is necessary to choose between applicants with the same rank and sub-rank, places are allocated in a manner determined by the associate dean (academic).

Table (Schedule 1)

Programs (bachelor’s degree unless otherwise specified)	Prerequisite requirements	Other requirements or information	Selection procedure
					Major FP		Subsid FP
Agribusiness	English		OP/rank		C		B
Agricultural Science (St Lucia)	English Mathematics B Chemistry	Agricultural Science and/or Biological Science are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		C		B
Agricultural Science (Gatton)	English One subject from Mathematics B or Chemistry	Agricultural Science and/or Biological Science are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		C		B
Applied Science (Gatton)	English	Agricultural Science, Biological Science, Chemistry and/or Mathematics B are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		C		B
Applied Science — Food Science and Nutrition (St Lucia)	English Mathematics B Chemistry		OP/rank		C		B
Applied Science — Integrated Resource Management (St Lucia)	English Mathematics A, B or C		OP/rank		C		B
Architectural Design	English		OP/rank		Lower of B or C		E
Arts (St Lucia)	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Arts (Ipswich)	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Associate Degree in Applied Science (Gatton)		English, Agricultural Science and/or Biological Science are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		C		B
Biomedical Science	English Mathematics B and one of Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Biotechnology	English Mathematics B and one of Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Business	English Mathematics A, B or C		OP/rank		C		B
Business Management	English Mathematics B		OP/rank		C		B
Commerce	English Mathematics B		OP/rank		C		B
Communication	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Creative Arts	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Dental Science (1^st year entry)	English Maths B One of Chemistry, Physics or Biological Science	Applicants must provide current Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT: The UMAT is conducted by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER)) results.	OP/rank UMAT scores will be used as a secondary differentiator to differentiate between applicants on the same Rank or OP, followed by the UMAT Section 1 score as the third differentiator		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Economics	English Mathematics B		OP/rank		C		B
Education – Middle Years of Schooling – Primary	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Engineering	English Mathematics B and one of Chemistry or Physics	Both, Chemistry and Physics are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		D		B
Environmental Management (St Lucia) – Sustainable Development – Natural Systems and Wildlife	English	Agricultural Science, Biological Science and/or Geography are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Environmental Management (Gatton) — Natural Systems and Wildlife)	English	Mathematics B, Biological Science and/or Chemistry are recommended subjects.	OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Environmental Science	English Mathematics B Chemistry or Physics	Agricultural Science, Earth Science and/or Biology desirable.	OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Food Technology	English Mathematics B Chemistry	Biological Science is a recommended subject.	OP/rank		C		B
Health Sciences	English One of Chemistry, Physics or Biological Science		OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Human Movement Studies	English and one of Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank		B and C		B or C
Human Services	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Information Technology	English1	Mathematics B is a recommended subject.1	OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
International Hotel and Tourism Management	English Mathematics A, B or C		OP/rank		C		B
Journalism	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Laws	English		OP/rank		Higher of A and B		C
Marine Studies	English Mathematics B and one of Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank		B and C		Other of B or C
Midwifery	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank		B and C		B or C
Multimedia Design	English	Mathematics A or Mathematics B are desirable.	OP/rank		Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Music	English Music or a pass in AMEB grade 7 or higher, in a practical examination, and AMEB grade 5 or higher, in Theory or Musicianship, or equivalent results from another examination board, approved by the dean of the Faculty of Arts.	Applicants must arrange, with the School of Music, a test to take place between 1 September and 30 November of the year preceding admission. A program of not longer than 15 mins must be prepared. Details must be provided to the School of Music when the applicant arranges the test.	Order of offer is determined on the basis of — (a) availability of study resources and professional opportunities for the playing of the applicant’s instrument; and (b) the applicant’s — (i) result in an audition and test of practical musicianship conducted by the School of Music; and (ii) potential for professional performance as evaluated by interview; and (iii) academic record.
Nursing	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics.		OP/rank	B & C		B or C
Occupational Health and Safety Science*	English Chemistry		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Occupational Therapy	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics.		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Oral Health	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Pharmacy	English Mathematics B Chemistry		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Physiotherapy	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics.		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Psychological Science	English		OP/rank	Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Regional and Town Planning	English		OP/rank	Lower of B or C		E
Science	English Mathematics B and one of Chemistry or Physics	Students intending to study chemistry or physics will experience difficulty if both chemistry and physics have not been studied at senior level. Students intending to study physics will experience difficulty if Mathematics C has not been studied at senior level.	OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Social Science	English		OP/rank	Higher of A and B		Other of A and B
Social Work	English		OP/rank	B		—
Speech Pathology	English One subject from Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics.		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		Other of B and C
Veterinary Science	English Mathematics B Chemistry One Subject from Physics or Biology		OP/rank	Lower of B and C		C

Schedule 2[b]

Rank for applicants with at least a full year of tertiary study

GPA[c]	Bachelor’s degree
	Group 1 institution	Group 2 institution
	Group 1 institution	Based on QTAC T4001
6.5+	99	99
6.25–6.49	99	98
6.00–6.24	99	98
5.80–5.99	99	97
5.50–5.79	98	97
5.25–5.49	97	96
5.00–5.24	96	96
4.50–4.99	95	95
4.25–4.49	94	94
4.00–4.24	93	93
3.75–3.99	88	88
3.50–3.74	85	85
3.25–3.49	82	82
3.00–3.24	79	79
2.75–2.99	76	76
2.50–2.74	72	72
2.25–2.49	67	67
2.00–2.24	60	60
<2.00	45	45

1. In this schedule —

Group 1 institution means one of the following —

University of Adelaide, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, and University of Western Australia.

Group 2 institution means a tertiary institution that is not a Group 1 institution.

2. (1) This schedule only applies to applicants who have undertaken at least a full year of tertiary study at a bachelor’s degree level or higher.

(2) Subject to the following provisions, applicants will be allocated a rank using the table and taking account of all previous tertiary study at a bachelor’s degree level or higher.

3. If at the time of application the applicant has completed at least a full year of tertiary study at a Group 1 institution as their most recent study, all studies undertaken at Group 1 institution(s) will be used to allocate a rank, unless a higher rank would result —

(a) under another provision of this schedule; or

(b) if all the applicant’s previous results, including those from Group 2 institutions (if any), were used,

then the highest rank is to be allocated.

4. When an academic record is from an institution that allocates grades but not units to individual courses, the average of the grades is to be used to calculate the GPA. If the grades are not on a 7-point scale, they must be converted to a 7-point scale using a method determined by the academic registrar.

5. Results obtained more than 5 years before application are not to be used to calculate an applicant's rank if —

(a) the applicant has since undertaken at least one full year of tertiary level study; and

(b) the rank under this provision is higher than the rank using all the applicant's previous results.

6. (1) An applicant is to be allocated a rank of 99 if they have obtained a —

(a) research doctorate; or

(b) research master; or

(2) An applicant who has obtained a coursework doctorate, coursework master or bachelor’s degree with class IIB honours is to be allocated a rank of 97, unless another provision of this schedule allocates a higher rank.

(3) An applicant who has undertaken tertiary study in a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master by coursework, doctorate by coursework or other postgraduate coursework program but who has not completed the program is to be allocated a rank on the basis of the table as if that study had been completed at bachelor’s degree level.

[b] This schedule may be reviewed by the university periodically.

[c] Grade point average (GPA) is defined to mean the average of the grade of results obtained by a student in all courses in which the student enrolled, weighted by the unit value of each course in accordance with the following formula —

GPA = S(GU)

S(U)

where G = grade of result in each course and U = unit value of each course. If a student is enrolled in a course but gets no result, G=0. GAR Part 1A, Division 5, explains how a non-graded pass (P) and a non-graded fail (N) are considered. Where ignoring a non-graded pass (P) disadvantages a student, a result of P should be treated in accordance with GAR1A.19.