Tertiary admissions
There are several ways you can apply to study a TAFE Queensland degree. To help make your higher education application process as simple as possible, select the applicant type that is most relevant to your study or work background. We also offer a number of degrees in collaboration with our partners such as the University of Canberra.
General admission information
To be eligible for admission to a TAFE Queensland Higher Education course, you are required to satisfy all entry requirements. These requirements include an age requirement, English language proficiency and, for most courses, unit of study prerequisites and an entry score (ATAR/selection rank).
Some courses have additional course-specific entry requirements. You can find this information on your chosen course's webpage.
- Admissions criteria
- Other admission pathway options
- Additional criteria
- Additional information
- How to apply
Admission criteria
Select from the below options for information on how your application will be assessed.
Additional criteria
In addition to ATARs/selection ranks, the following applies:
- Bachelor of Nursing course requires completion of an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) declaration.
Additional information
How to apply
Domestic students applying for undergraduate study apply through QTAC.
International students applying for undergraduate study should visit How to apply for international students.
To apply directly through TAFE Queensland please visit the relevant course page and simply click the ‘Apply Now’ button on the course you want to apply for. You’ll then be directed to login to the Student Portal using your TAFE Queensland Student ID.
If you’ve studied with us before you’ll already have a Student ID. For first time students, simply register your details when you start your application to receive your new Student ID number.

Scholarships
Achieve your career goals with our range of merit, access and equity scholarships. Ensure you check the scholarship's details carefully and apply before the due date.

Advanced standing
Advanced standing is a form of credit for any previous learning. If approved, it can reduce the number of units you need to study at TAFE Queensland, allowing you to complete your course earlier.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
At TAFE Queensland we understand the unique needs of our Indigenous student community, With dedicated Indigenous student support we are well suited to help you reach your education goals.

Orientation
Orientation is a great way to familiarise yourself with your each campus, meet other students, talk to teaching staff, locate rooms, and learn how to access library resources.
FEE-HELP available
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that covers the cost of your tuition fees on your behalf. If you're studying one of TAFE Queensland's degree programs you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.
Student profiles
TAFE Queensland is committed to providing transparent and clear admissions information to applicants. Learn more about the latest admissions information and student profiles of our higher education courses.
Terminology | Definition |
Advanced standing | A form of credit for any previous learning (Australian Qualifications Framework definition) – see also the definitions for “credit transfer” and “recognition of prior learning”. |
Applicant | An applicant is generally taken to be a person who has already lodged an application to study a specific course. |
Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) | In 2020, the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) will replace the Overall Position (OP) as the standard pathway to tertiary study for Queensland Year 12s. The ATAR is the standard measure of overall school achievement used in all other Australian states and territories. It is a rank indicating a student’s position overall relative to other students. The ATAR is expressed on a 2000-point scale from 99.95 (highest) down to 0, in increments of 0.05. ATARs below 30 will be reported as ‘30.00 or less’. |
Bridging course | A course designed to cover subject knowledge, which assists students to gain knowledge in specialist areas that are a core component of the course. If a course requires a prerequisite in an area that students have not studied or worked with before, a bridging course will help students to bridge the gap in that knowledge and gain admission. |
Credit transfer | A process that provides students with agreed and consistent credit outcomes for components of a qualification based on identified equivalence in content and learning outcomes between matched qualifications (Australian Qualifications Framework definition). |
Direct application | Application made to a higher education provider rather than through a tertiary admission centre. |
Enabling course | A course designed to provide students with skills needed for success in further study, to assist in the transition to tertiary education – for example study techniques or English language skills. Successful completion helps prepare a person to be admitted to a course that leads to a higher education award. |
Overall Position (OP) | The Overall Position (OP) refers to a Queensland student’s position in a state-wide tertiary entrance rank order based on their overall achievement in senior secondary subjects. It indicates how well a student has done compared to all other OP-eligible students in Queensland. Students are placed in one of 25 OP bands from OP1 (highest) to OP25 (lowest). Queensland students seeking admission to higher education in other states can have their OP converted to an ATAR. Interstate students looking to study in Queensland can have their ATAR converted to a Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) Selection Rank. Queensland will adopt the ATAR instead of the OP for students who commence Year 11 in 2019 and beyond. |
Prospective student | A prospective student is generally taken to be a person who is thinking about lodging an application to study a particular course but has not yet done so. |
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | A process used to assess an individual’s relevant prior learning (including formal, informal and non-formal learning) to determine the credit that may be granted towards completion of a qualification (adapted from Australian Qualifications Framework definition). |
Selection rank | The ranking that tertiary admission centres and most universities actually use to assess admission to a course. A person’s course Selection Rank can include their ATAR, any adjustments they are eligible for, such as equity or subject adjustments, other contributions calculated on the basis of work experience or previous non-secondary study, portfolio assessments, results of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, other supplementary tests, etc. |
TAC application | Application made through a tertiary admission centre, namely QTAC, UAC, VTAC, SATAC, TISC and University of Tasmania, in relation to applications to study in that state. |