Course Selection: Tertiary Information

Entry to the University of Notre Dame

Admission – School Leaver

Notre Dame seeks to enrol students who wish to make a special contribution to society. To identify such students a comprehensive admission process that goes beyond the use of a single score is used.

The admission process considers:

• School results from Year 11 and 12;
• Australian Tertiary Admission Rank;
• A personal statement;
• References from school and work contacts; and
• Performance at an admissions interview.

Minimum Entry Requirements

1. Achievement of a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). Students should have fulfilled the Curriculum Council’s WACE requirements. See WACE Requirements in this handbook.
2. English Language Competency. Students should have achieved at least a ‘C’ grade in Year 12 English or English Literature (and for approved students, English as a Second Language) at ATAR level.
3. Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). Students should have achieved a minimum rank of 70.00 or higher. Offers of admission will be made to those students who have fully demonstrated throughout their Year 11 and 12 results that they have the capabilities to succeed.
4. Extra Curricular Involvement. In addition to meeting the academic minimum entry requirements, students are to specify leadership roles, community involvement in various clubs, teams, groups and organisations (including church organisations) and service to others.

Students with exceptional circumstances may be exempted from one or more of these requirements. Many courses with competitive entry and/or higher levels of academic rigour will require performance at levels exceeding the minimum entry requirements.

Alternative Entry

The university offers a number of alternative entry pathways. There is a Tertiary Enabling Program and Foundation Year available to prepare weaker students for the rigors of university studies. Please enquire at the University’s Prospective Students Centre on 9433 0533 or at future@nd.edu.au for further information on these options.

Training WA Entrance (TAFE)

Vocational education and training has become increasingly important to school leavers seeking to join the workforce. TAFE offers students an enormous range of subjects and courses to meet their specific career goals. Each year in Western Australia, some 150,000 people receive vocational education through TAFE. Of last year’s school leavers, approximately 25% went to one of the TAFE Centres.

The main study areas are listed below:

• Agriculture
• Applied Science
• Architectural & Building Studies
• Art, Design and Fashion
• Engineering
• General Studies
• Health & Community Care
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Management, Business and Commercial Studies
• Pre-Apprenticeships

TAFE qualifications are developed in conjunction with industry to ensure graduates are ready for the workplace, with knowledge and skills they can use on the job. Qualifications are at different levels, each involving an increasing degree of skills. There are pathways and links between them to increase opportunities for further education and training.

Diploma: This qualification gives the student a broad theoretical knowledge and/or technical or creative skills of substantial depth. Analysis, judgement and planning are involved across a broad range of technical and/or management situations. Graduates at this level are expected to work autonomously in complex technical operations or to coordinate their own work and the work of others.

Advanced Diploma: The highest qualification offered by TAFE recognises the ability to apply fundamental principles and complex techniques in a wide range of contexts. 

Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate: A small number of Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates are offered by the TAFEWA sector for students who have completed a university degree or have the equivalent of a degree through experience and other qualifications.

At this level the student is broadening the skills already gained in an undergraduate programme, or developing vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area.

Further Education Pathway

TAFE can be a stepping stone to further education. For example, the student can commence studies at TAFE, get credit for the work completed and apply for university entrance.

For 2021, entry to full-time award courses will be by application made the previous year.

TAFE Entry

Step 1: Demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills.

OLNA requirements at TAFE

To undertake study at all TAFEs in WA, you will need to have an OLNA. An OLNA is an Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment designed to enable students to successfully meet the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) requirement of demonstrating the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy.

There are several alternative pathways to TAFE for school students who do not achieve an OLNA:

• Vocational pathway (VET in schools): school students who complete a vocational course while at school can rely on their AQF qualification to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills (this is included in the guide) i.e. students can achieve an OLNA or a Certificate I, II or III to gain entry to a TAFE course (with the exception of qualifications within the Foundation Studies training package (FSK);
• TAFE Admissions testing: students can opt to sit the literacy predictor assessment and/or the numeracy predictor assessment managed by TAFE Admissions to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills;
• Alternative assessment: students can be referred to the learning area at their preferred TAFE college for a Learning Area Assessment;
• Students can enrol at any Certificate I level, as there are no entry requirements (this is included in the guide); and
• Students can enrol into one of the Foundation skills and equity courses.
• A prospective student who has not achieved an OLNA and submits an application to TAFE Admissions will be guided into a learning pathway.

For more information download the latest TAFE Admissions Guide for entry to full time courses.

Step 2: Provide evidence against the selection criteria for courses.

Selection Criteria

Applicants who can demonstrate minimum literacy and numeracy skills will be assessed and ranked against the following selection criteria. Offers will be made to applicants with the highest total point scores.

Selection criteria: Academic achievement (maximum 60 points). Academic achievement can be demonstrated through secondary education results or a completed AQF qualification. If documents for both secondary education and completed AQF qualifications are provided, points will be calculated for both and the higher points used to calculate the score for academic achievement. If more than one AQF qualification has
been completed, the one which awards the highest points score will be used. Points awarded for secondary education results Western Australian secondary education The score will be generated from the three completed full-year courses that award the highest points.

Overview

To maximise entry prospects to TAFE studies, particularly competitive courses and those at higher levels, students should:

• Undertake VET studies at school, particularly those which lead to a completed credential.
• Undertake workplace learning; keep records of any part time work undertaken 

Summary

• TAFE selection is very different to that for university.
• TAFE points can be maximised by selecting those subjects and courses which result in the highest grades.
• TAFE also considers aspects of work experience and employment as well as any completed credentials.
• A small proportion of TAFE courses are highly competitive.
• It is becoming increasingly possible for TAFE students to transfer to university courses, with substantial credit.
• Students will always maximise TAFE entry by enrolling in a Vocational Education and Training Program (VET) at school.

Other Key Contacts

School Curriculum and Standards Authority

303 Sevenoaks St, Cannington
Western Australia 6107
Phone: 9273 6300
General Email info@scsa.wa.edu.au
Website: https://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/

Catholic Education Office of Western Australia

50 Ruislip Street, Leederville WA 6007
Phone: 6380 5313
Contact: Senior Secondary Consultant
Website: https://www.cewa.edu.au/

Tertiary Institutions Service Centre

100 Royal Street
East Perth 6004
Phone: 9318 8000
Website: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/home.tisc

Curtin University of Technology

Bentley Campus, Kent St Bentley WA 6102
Phone: 9266 9266
Website: www.curtin.edu.au

University of Notre Dame Australia

19 Mouat Street, Fremantle WA 6160
Phone: 9433 0555
Contact: Liz Beal, Recruitment Officer
Website: www.nd.edu.au

The University of Western Australia

Admissions Centre, Stirling Highway
Crawley WA 6907
Phone: 9380 2477
Website: https://www.uwa.edu.au/home

Edith Cowan University

Centre for Prospective Students
Pearson Street, Churchlands WA 6018
Phone: 9273 8665
Website: www.ecu.edu.au

Murdoch University

South Street, Murdoch WA 6150
Phone: 9360 6538 Website:
www.murdoch.edu.au