You may gain entry to Griffith even if you don't have formal qualifications
No ATAR or selection rank? No worries. If you‘re 18 or older and don't have formal qualifications, you may still be eligible for entry into selected undergraduate degrees at Griffith through your employment experience or by completing the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).
Explore your options below and find the pathway that works best for you.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to tackling global challenges around poverty and reducing inequalities, striving for a more equitable and prosperous world for all.
Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
The STAT is designed for non-school leavers aged 18 or over who don’t hold formal qualifications, or whose work experience alone isn’t enough for entry into their preferred program. Formerly known as the Special Tertiary Admission Test, STAT is a two-hour test with 70 multiple-choice questions (50% testing verbal (English) skills and 50% testing quantitative (Math and Science) skills). You’ll receive a selection rank based on your STAT results, and gives an indication of your readiness for university study. Please note that STAT isn’t accepted for competitive programs.
Griffith accepts STAT results for most undergraduate degrees (see program exclusions below).
Standalone STAT
The table below provides you with details on what rank you may achieve, depending on your STAT score:
| Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test Score* | No other qualification |
|---|---|
| 171 and over | 88.95 |
| 166 | 88.00 |
| 162 | 85.00 |
| 159 | 83.00 |
| 157 | 80.00 |
| 155 | 78.00 |
| 153 | 75.00 |
| 152 | 73.00 |
| 150 | 70.00 |
| 149 | 68.00 |
| 147 | 66.00 |
| 146 | 63.00 |
| 144 | 58.00 |
| 143 | 53.00 |
| Below 143 | 50.00 |
* Tests taken from April 2010 onwards. Applicants who completed STAT prior to March 2010 should contact the University.
STAT in combination with other qualifications
STAT can be used in combination with other qualifications to increase your Selection Rank if you:
- have completed or partially completed the Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation
- are undertaking AQF competency-based VET studies
As a guide, the following table shows the maximum Selection Rank you can achieve by sitting STAT and in combination with competency-based qualifications. For more details on how STAT can increase the rank for your competency-based VET qualifications visit VET Pathways to Griffith:
| Qualification | Without STAT | Maximum with STAT |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate III (competency-based) | 68.00 | 82.95 |
| Certificate IV (competency-based) | 74.00 | 89.95 |
| Completed Diploma (competency-based) | 87.00 | 91.00 |
| Advanced Diploma (competency-based) | 93.00 | 98.00 |
Entry based on employment experience
Your work experience may also open the door to university study.
To apply using employment experience, you must be 18 years or older before the start of your trimester of intake and have completed at least six months of full-time paid employment.
Your experience doesn’t need to be related to your chosen program.
What to include in your application
Make sure you provide:
- details of any formal education completed including level reached, state/country, year, subjects and results
- information about other study, training or development courses undertaken since leaving school
- your employment history
- evidence of professional memberships or affiliations with recognised professional and semi-professional bodies.
Your employment details should include your employer names, duration of service, positions held, duties, details of current employment status and other employment information considered relevant. Your experience must be supported by a statement of service and it is up to you to submit these documents with your QTAC or UAC application.
You’ll receive a selection rank based on the skill level of your job and how long you’ve been working in that role. Selection ranks from employment experience generally range from 55.00 to 93.00, depending on your experience. In most cases, you’ll need around one year of full-time work experience to achieve a selection rank that meets the requirements for a Griffith degree. Please note that employment-based ranks are usually not high enough for competitive degrees, and some degrees don’t accept employment-based selection ranks at all.
Make sure you check program exclusions to confirm whether this pathway is right for your chosen degree.
A guide to selection ranks based on employment experience
The below are examples of how Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) skill levels, qualification types and job roles that may be considered equivalent.
| OSCA Skill Level | Qualification Type | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bachelor degree or higher OR 5 years of experience | Accountant, Chief Executive Officer, Farmer, General Practitioner, Lawyer, Principal, Production Manager, Registered Nurse |
| 2 | Associate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma | Architectural draftsperson, Café/Restaurant Manager, Enrolled Nurse, Lab Technician, Salon Manager, Web Administrator |
| 3 | Certificate III, Certificate IV, Trade | Bricklayer, Chef, Electrician, Fitter and Turner, Mechanic, Veterinary Nurse |
| 4 | Certificate II, Certificate III | Accounts Clerk, Barman, Child/Aged Care worker, Crowd Controller, Teacher’s Aide, Travel Consultant |
| 5 | Certificate I, Junior Certificate | Delivery Driver, Fast Food worker, Filing Clerk, Kitchen Hand, Salon Assistant, Telemarketer |
As a guide, the table below provides examples of how different durations of employment and OSCA skill levels can be combined to determine a rank for admission to an undergraduate program:
| OSCA Skill Level | Length of service: 6 months to less than 1 year FTE | Length of service: 1 year to less than 4 years FTE | Length of service: 4 years to less than 7 years FTE | Length of service: 7 years or more FTE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75.00 | 77.00 | 84.00 | 93.00 |
| 2 | 72.00 | 76.00 | 83.00 | 91.00 |
| 3 | 66.00 | 69.00 | 74.00 | 80.00 |
| 4 | 59.00 | 66.00 | 68.00 | 72.00 |
| 5 | 55.00 | 62.00 | 64.00 | 66.00 |
Meeting English prerequisite for all Laws Programs
Two (2) years of full-time employment at OSCA Skill Level 1 or 2 from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Unites States of America, Republic of Ireland, South Africa or Canada within two (2) years of commencement of your program will meet the English subject prerequisite for all Laws (Honours) programs.
Minimum requirements and program exceptions apply (see below).
Must be 18 years of age or over.
For more information visit Prerequisites and Assumed Knowledge.
Program exclusions
The following programs do not accept Selection Ranks based on employment experience or STAT:
- Bachelor of Medical Science
- Bachelor of Dental Health Science
- Any Advanced Standing or Graduate Entry programs.
Education programs do not accept employment experience or STAT to meet the English subject prerequisite.
Our pathway finder tool will steer you in the right direction. First, check the admission criteria for the degree you want to study, then use our tool to build your personalised pathway options into Griffith.
It takes less than two minutes.