Maria has both a TER and has completed the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), having met the eligibility requirements for special entry outlined in the SATAC Uni Guide. She is therefore eligible to be considered under both the year 12 and special entry sub-quotas, with her rank in each sub-quota considered independently of the other. Maria's TER is uncompetitive and insufficient to secure entry to her chosen program. However, she performed well in the STAT and has a competitive special entry rank against which her application would also be considered. Therefore, it may be that Maria gains entry through the special entry sub-quota, despite being ineligible on the basis of her TER.

Selection Criteria

Undergraduate programs: understanding sub-quotas

Undergraduate programs can have several different applicant pathways, or sub-quotas. The four most common for undergraduate programs are year 12, higher education, VET, and special entry.

Sub-quotas are not mutually exclusive. An applicant may meet the eligibility criteria for more than one sub-quota for a program. In these cases applicants are considered in multiple sub-quotas, with their rank in one sub-quota in no way affecting their rank in another. Applicants are automatically considered under every sub-quota relating to their listed preferences for which they are eligible (see this illustration). Eligibility for admission is based on the applicant's rank for the sub-quota in which they perform best.

Prerequisites and other Entry Requirements

Entry to programs is usually based solely on academic merit, though some programs list other requirements, such as auditions in the case of Music. Some programs list program prerequisites that must be met by all applicants for them to be eligible for consideration. Selection is competitive as the number of applicants generally exceeds the number of places available. Therefore applicants are encouraged to make full use of preferences to enhance their opportunity of receiving an offer.

Please see Program Finder for specific information relating to your chosen program.

Postgraduate programs

The minimum requirement for entry into postgraduate programs is generally a completed Bachelor's degree. However some programs require the completion of Honours or higher degrees, some require professional registration (e.g. Nursing, Psychology), others require work experience or the submission of additional information for assessment. Please see Program Finder for specific information relating to your chosen program.