Additional pathways
If you are not successful in obtaining a place in the tertiary program that most interests you, there are a number of ways to increase your chances of gaining a future place (often called "pathways" or "upgrading"). The appropriateness of any option will depend on such factors as whether you have already completed Year 12, the type of study you are most confident about (e.g. tertiary study versus secondary study), your confidence in your general academic ability, the proximity of an institution offering a suitable program, Centrelink implications and more.
If you successfully gain entry to your preferred program this way you may be eligible for credit. The amount of credit will depend on the study you have successfully completed and its relevance to the Griffith University program you plan to undertake.
The following information explains some of the options available to you.
University study
If you gain entry into a university program which is not your first choice, you may decide to complete the equivalent of one year of full-time study in that program to upgrade your Rank for entry into your preferred program.
If your average grades are at passing level, you would normally be eligible for the higher of your original Rank or OP and the one derived from your university study. The better your results, the greater chance you have of improving your Rank. The Graded Degree Study schedule provides you with an indication of the results you will need to achieve in order to gain certain Ranks. You should check the current cut-off required for your preferred program so that you will have some idea of how well you will need to perform to upgrade. Upgrading is also possible by undertaking less than a year of study. However, a relatively high level of achievement will normally be necessary.
TAFE studies
Successful completion of a minimum of one year of full-time study or its part-time equivalent in a TAFE or other approved private college Diploma or Advanced Diploma may sufficiently improve your Rank to gain entry into your preferred University program. TAFE Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas are listed on the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre website.
If your average grades are at passing level, you would normally be eligible for the higher of your original Rank or OP and the one derived from your Diploma or Advanced Diploma studies. The better your results, the greater chance you have of improving your Rank. You should note that the type of Diploma or Advanced Diploma studies you undertake and their relevance to the Griffith University program you are seeking entry to will not affect the Rank determined by the University.
Less than a year of study will also be considered for admission but very high levels of achievement would be necessary.
You should check the current cut-off required for your preferred program so that you will have some idea of how well you will need to perform to upgrade.
TAFE Partnership Admissions Scheme
The University also has a close relationship with particular partnership TAFE Institutes within the Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor through the TAFE Partnerships Admissions Scheme. Because of this relationship, this scheme allocates higher ranks for completed Advanced Diploma and Diploma qualifications from the five partnership institutes which are:
- Brisbane North Institute of TAFE
- Gold Coast Institute of TAFE
- Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE
- Skills Tech Australia
- Southbank Institute of Technology
Further information about this scheme can be found on the TAFE Partnership Admissions Scheme page.
Dual Griffith University/TAFE Qualifications
Griffith University, in conjunction with TAFE Queensland, also offers a number of dual Griffith University/TAFE programs. In most of these dual programs students study the first year at TAFE, then study subsequent years at both TAFE and Griffith University gaining both a TAFE qualification and a Griffith University degree. Dual qualification students are made direct offers into a Griffith University degree on satisfactorily completing their TAFE studies.
Open Universities Australia
Open Universities Australia offers everyone in Australia the opportunity to study university courses for credit towards a degree. There is no entry requirement and no prerequisites for registration with Open Universities Australia. No matter what level of education you have already achieved you will be eligible to study through Open Universities Australia.
Griffith University determines an admission level on the basis of Open Universities Australia courses in the same way to that for students undertaking studies in any approved degree.
Repeating Year 12
You may make a considerable improvement at your second attempt at Year 12 through a Secondary College or High School. You should note that you are assessed on the repeated year only. For more information you should speak with your Guidance Officer or School Counsellor.