Griffith University unveils early entry pathway for year 12 students

A leading Queensland university has unveiled a list of 60 degrees that don’t require an ATAR for entry – and some you could save a whopping $20,000 in course fees. SEE THE FULL LIST

Queensland Year 12 students can now gain entry into 60 University courses without an ATAR and some could even save themselves up to $20,000 under a new scheme at one of the state’s top institutions.

Griffith University today announced an early entry offer pathway in a bid to support Year 12 students after a “dreadful” final school year amid COVID-19.

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Under the scheme, students who want to study degrees with fees set to soar under the federal government’s proposed Job Ready Graduates legislation, such as those in the humanities, will be able to start one subject in November this year.

It means they won’t be subject to future fee increases under the legislations’ grandfathering policy for current university students.

The University estimates the scheme could those save students up to $20,000 in increased fees.

Griffith is also offering guaranteed early entry for eligible students to start in Trimester 1 of 2021 in more than 60 single and double degree programs ranging from study areas of Computer Science, Arts, to Aviation, Business and Sciences.

Admission requirements for QCE students include passing five General subjects, including English, and a minimum Grade B (70 per cent or higher) in two General subjects.

Students also have to nominate the Griffith degree first on their QTAC preferences and upload their Semester one report card before November 13 to receive an unconditional offer on November 20, the day they finish school.

Griffith University Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Debra Henly.

Griffith University Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor Debra Henly said the university recognised that Year 12 students had faced significant challenges this year and wanted to reduce their anxiety around gaining entry to tertiary study.

“It’s really important because we recognise this year is not a normal year, these students have been through a dreadful year, not only are they the first cohort going through the ATAR, and a new curriculum, they also have had the impact of COVID-19,” she said.

Professor Henly said they had decided to offer students the choice of starting their degree early so they could potentially avoid fee-hikes because students had made subject choices in preparation for University well before the changes, in Year 10.

“To then face at the end of year 12 significant changes to fees, we felt was very disadvantaging to those students, so we wanted to make the offer,” she said.

Participating students will commence a first-year academic writing course on November 30 held online or on-campus which will finish in December.

St Paul’s School Year 12 students Gracielle Manderson, 17 and Lachlan Carter, 17. Picture: Tara Croser

St Paul’s School Year 12 students Gracielle Manderson, 17 and Lachlan Carter, 17 said school leavers would be relieved there was less pressure on final exams.

“Obviously I’m looking everywhere for uni, but definitely with the up in prices it made me consider my options so if there’s a uni that is offering it for less I‘m obviously going to put that on my radar,” he said.

“Something that puts less pressure on the final exam as well, that’s really appealing.”

Miss Manderson said a lot of students would be feeling pressure around their final exams so the scheme would provide a lot of hope for some people.

“It‘s exciting that there’s a few more options to get into university with less pressure on our final results especially after the year we’ve had with COVID-19,” she said.

Admission requirements for early entry offers:

QCE: Passing grades in 5 General Subjects (including English) with a minimum grade of B (70% or higher) in two General subjects. Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programs will require higher requirements

IB: Passing grades in passing grades in 3 HL and 3 SL subjects (including English) with a minimum grade of 5 (70% or higher) in two IB subjects. Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programs will require higher requirements.

VET: Completed AQF Diploma

or Completed AQF Certificate IV plus evidence of attaining a minimum grade of B in a General English subject (Not applicable to Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programs).

or Completed AQF Certificate III plus evidence of attaining a minimum grade of B in a General English subject. (Not applicable to Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programs).

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Originally published as Griffith University unveils early entry pathway for year 12 students