Upgrade your way into your dream degree
Didn’t quite meet the selection rank for your preferred degree? Your degree is still within reach.
By starting university study in an alternative degree, you can improve your selection rank and open the door to the program you really want. You may be able to reapply or transfer once you reach the required rank for your preferred degree. Previous university study, at Griffith or another institution, may also be taken into account.
Take the first step towards your preferred degree
Choosing an alternative degree that aligns with your goals can set you up for success.
Before you apply, look for a degree with a similar first year to your first preference. This can increase the amount of credit you may receive – helping you save time and money. Use Degree Finder to explore degrees with similar first-year courses.
When applying through QTAC or UAC, make sure you include alternative degrees in your preferences.
If you don’t receive an offer into your first choice, an alternative degree can still give you the opportunity to upgrade your selection rank through successful study.
Maximise your chances of upgrading your selection rank
Check the lowest selection rank from the most recent intake for your preferred degree to understand the level of results you may need to achieve. You can find this information in the Degree Finder.
Keep in mind that selection ranks can change each year depending on the applicant pool, so previous intakes ranks should be used as a guide only.
For competitive degrees, studying full-time for at least one year in an alternative degree (80 credit points) is recommended to give yourself the best chance of achieving a selection rank high enough to reapply or transfer into your preferred degree.
To be considered for an offer, all required documents and results must be available by the document due date. For example, Trimester 3 results are not available in time for the January offer rounds for some programs. We recommend you contact Griffith University Admissions to confirm application and assessment timeframes for competitive or quota managed degrees.
For more detail about how credit can affect your selection rank, see the Credit and rank calculations section.
A guide to selection ranks based on your university studies
Successfully complete two or more bachelor-level courses and you could boost your selection rank. Your upgraded rank is based on how many courses you complete and the GPA you achieve. Use the table below as a guide to see how your study could work in your favour.
Overall GPA 7-point scale | 1 semester PTE or more 2 courses/20CP* | 1 semester FTE or more 4 courses/40CP* | 1.5 semesters FTE or more 6 courses/60CP* | 2 semesters FTE or more 8 courses/80CP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6.95 | 85.95 | 88.95 | 94.95 | 99.95 |
6.50 | 85.00 | 88.00 | 94.00 | 99.00 |
6.00 | 83.00 | 85.00 | 92.00 | 98.00 |
5.50 | 81.00 | 83.00 | 90.00 | 97.00 |
5.00 | 79.00 | 81.00 | 89.00 | 96.00 |
4.50 | 77.00 | 79.00 | 87.00 | 95.00 |
4.00 | 75.00 | 77.00 | 84.00 | 93.00 |
* Figures are based on Griffith courses (10 credit points per course) completed within one degree. GPA calculations may vary slightly from your transcript due to grade conversions.
Combining multiple study attempts to boost your selection rank
If you've completed studies of less than one year of full-time study, this is usually not enough on its own to reach the selection rank needed for competitive degrees. However, if you've completed multiple short periods of tertiary study, these may be combined to help you achieve a higher selection rank.
How combined study works
To make sure the process is fair and consistent for everyone, these rules apply:
- only study attempts of less than one-year full-time equivalent are combined
- when combined, your study must add up to at least one year full-time equivalent (1FTE)
- all study must be at the same academic level (for example, bachelor-level study)
- all short study attempts at the same level of less than one-year are included, regardless of where you studied or the GPA you achieved
This means that if you’ve completed short study attempts at Griffith and another institution, they’ll be combined as part of your assessment. These rules apply to everyone and don’t allow applicants to choose only their best results, helping ensure a fair and equitable admissions process.
Need help or have questions?
If you’re unsure how your previous study will be assessed, contact Domestic Admissions.
Any advice provided will be based on the information you share, so make sure you include details of all tertiary study you’ve attempted or completed, including study from other institutions.
When you apply, you must also declare all previous study. Failure to include all details may be seen as false or misleading.
Examples of rank calculations from combined study attempts
When are study attempts not combined?
- Attempts of one-year full-time equivalent (80CP) or more are not combined with any other study—these are awarded a rank on their own.
- Study attempts with a combined duration of less than one year full-time are not combined.
- Differing study levels such as Diploma and Bachelor-level study are also not combined.
See below examples of rank calculations from non-combined study attempts
Examples of rank calculations from non-combined study attempts
Credit and rank calculations
If you receive credit or advanced standing for previous study, this usually won't count towards your new selection rank.
If you need to complete one-year of full-time equivalent study to reach a high enough rank, you'll need to complete 80 credit points of new study at Griffith. Any credit you receive can still be applied to your degree, it just isn’t included in the rank calculation. This means you can keep progressing in your program while working towards upgrading your selection rank through new study and a strong GPA.
The only time previous study used as credit is included in your rank calculation is when it forms part of multiple short study attempts that are combined to calculate a selection rank based.
Examples of credit in rank calculations
How to move into your preferred degree
If you're a current Griffith student and are on track to complete, or have already completed enough study to improve your selection rank, you may be able to apply for an internal transfer into your preferred Griffith degree. Your application will be assessed based on your bachelor level study results.
If your preferred degree isn't available through internal transfer, you can still apply through QTAC or UAC (check current offerings to confirm).
For step-by-step guidance, visit Internal Transfer or check the relevant program entry on the Degree Finder to see how and when to apply.