Australian university admissions shake-up

14 June 2016 by News Desk   |   SHARE  

Australian university admissions should be improved in order to better help students in their choice of higher education.

Australian university admissions processes are currently different across the country and should be made the same, a leading education body says.

And the process used by universities should be made more transparent so students can make more informed choices about where they study.

That’s the view of education body Universities Australia who are calling for a shake-up of the admissions process and for universities to publish clearer descriptions about how the entry processes work.

Proposed changes include the adoption of common definitions so students can compare entry requirements between universities.

“Students should have clearer and more comparable information when making one of the most important decisions of their lives,” says Belinda Robinson, Universities Australia Chief Executive.

“Clearer and more accessible information will increase the level of public understanding and confidence in university requirements and processes.”

Proposals put forward include a standard model for all universities to make it clearer to students how they can meet course entry requirements.

“We need a diversity of admissions processes and policies to reflect the increasing diversity of students entering university,” says Ms Robinson.

The majority (around 60%) of students do not enter higher education directly from school and many can struggle with confusing choices when picking the right Australian university course.

Demand for graduate skills in Australia is rapidly increasing. The Government says Australia will need 3.8 million new skilled graduates over the next ten years.

Australian university admissions support

Students attending university who suffer financial hardship or have a low income may be eligible to receive government support.

The Australian Government provides a range of income support funding schemes such as:

• Austudy: for older students with low incomes
• Youth Allowance: for independent younger students with low incomes
• ABSTUDY: for Indigenous students

These programs provide valuable support for many students who may otherwise struggle to afford to attend university.

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