FAQs

What different applicant types are there?
What are the Clearly-In ENTER and the Fringe ENTER?
What is VTAC and what do they do?
How does the application process work?
What does ENTER mean and how is it calculated?
How should I order my preferences?
What are prerequisites and extra requirements?
Can I defer from a course at Deakin if I am offered a place?
What are Irregular Offers?
What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)?
What is a Fee-Paying Place?
Who can apply through Deakin’s Access and Equity Program?

What different applicant types are there?

Applicants are divided into two categories: Current Year 12 applicants and Non-Year 12 applicants. VTAC classifies these applicants as V types and E types respectively.

Current Year 12 applicants are those who fulfil at least one of the following:

> currently studying VCE
> currently studying Australian Year 12 in another state
> studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Australia in 2008
> an International VCE or IB student (studying in Victoria only)

Non-Year 12 applicants are those who fulfil one of the following:

> an Australian Year 12 qualification (either complete or not) from a year prior to 2008
> some (complete or incomplete) tertiary qualifications
> an overseas qualification
> no formal qualification

International Baccalaureate (IB)
The IB is an internationally recognised two-year program of study designed for university entrance. Local students studying the IB in 2008 are classified as Current Year 12 students and are required to follow the same application procedure. VTAC will calculate a notional ENTER, and results will be released in early January.

Interstate Year 12 students
Interstate Year 12 students are classified as Current Year 12 students. The same application and selection methods apply, although some dates may vary.

International students
International students are those who are:

> not Australian citizens or permanent residents; or
> are not New Zealand citizens; or
> may be waiting for a permanent residence visa (including refugees and asylum seekers) International students can contact Deakin International on +61 3 9244 5098 or visit the future international students website.

International Year 12 students studying in Victoria in 2008
If studying VCE or the IB in Victoria in 2008, applicants should apply through VTAC for an international Fee Paying Place. The application procedure is otherwise the same as that for Current Year 12 applicants, although some dates may vary.

Interstate and overseas international students
These students must apply directly to Deakin International for Fee Paying Places and therefore do not lodge an application through VTAC. For more information visit the future international students website.

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What are the Clearly-In ENTER and the Fringe ENTER?

The Clearly-In ENTER is the rank at or above which all ranked (eligible) applicants who applied for that course were offered a place.

The Fringe ENTER is the ENTER at or above which 95% of offers were made. Where the Fringe ENTER is higher than the Clearly-In ENTER, this indicates that 95% of offers were made above the Clearly-In ENTER.

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What is VTAC and what do they do?

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) acts on behalf of participating tertiary institutions facilitating and coordinating the joint selection system. Applications and documentation are received from applicants, processed and forwarded on to the chosen institutions. Once selection officers have made offers for course places, VTAC sends letters of offer to successful applicants.

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How does the application process work?

Every course in the VTAC system is represented by a 5 digit code:

> codes ending in 1 are for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) (for domestic students)
> codes ending in 2 are for Fee Paying Places (FPP) (for some TAFE places or private providers)
> codes ending in 3 are for international students who have studied in Victoria only (for international students)

Each applicant can list up to 12 preferences.

Students are not required to use all their 12 preferences, but it is recommended that they list a wide selection of courses. Courses should be listed in the order in which applicants wish to study them. Preferences should not be listed numerically or alphabetically.

For more information visit Deakin's applications and enrolments website.

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What does ENTER mean and how is it calculated?

ENTER is an acronym for the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank that is used to select applicants into tertiary study. The ENTER is a percentile ranking that shows the comparative placement of a VCE student against all students in that year. Put simply, an ENTER of 75.00 would mean that the applicants ENTER is equal to or better than at least 75% of the eligible VCE candidates for that year. ENTERs are determined by VTAC for candidates who have satisfactorily completed the Victorian Certificate of Education. The ENTER is developed from an aggregate produced by adding:

1. ENTER subject score in English, English Language, Literature or ESL
2. The next best three ENTER subject scores permissible
3. 10% of the fifth and/or sixth permissible ENTER subject score that is available

For further information please visit the VTAC website (external site). ENTERs are released by VTAC on Monday 17 December (7 am).

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How should I order my preferences?

Applicants should order their preferences from the course they most wish to study to the course they least wish to study – not in the order of the courses they most think they’ll be accepted into. Although some applicants may not have the ENTER to get into the course based on last year’s Clearly-In ENTER, this does not mean they should necessarily remove the course from their preference list.

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What are prerequisites and extra requirements?

A prerequisite is a subject that students must take at VCE level before being considered for admission into a course. Some courses require applicants to fulfil an extra requirement, such as an audition, workshop, or interview, in order to be eligible for the course.

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Can I defer from a course at Deakin if I am offered a place?

Deakin has a policy that deferments are possible for a maximum of 12 months in all courses (except Bachelor Medicine Bachelor of Surgery) for regular offers in first round and second round only. Applicants must complete the deferral form found in the Enrolling at Deakin booklet which is included in their offer packs. This form must be returned within 5 working days to the Admissions Office. With offers made at later rounds, deferments are at the discretion of the relevant faculty. Applicants should contact the faculty directly.

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What are Irregular Offers?

An application for an Irregular Offer can be made when applicants have:

> received an offer and wish to be considered for a course lower on their original list of preferences
> received an offer and wish to be considered for a course not previously listed. (All prerequisites and extra requirements must be fulfilled).
> not received an offer and want to apply for a course not listed on their preferences. (They must meet the prerequisites and extra requirements).

All applicants who wish to apply for an Irregular Offer need to visit the VTAC website (external site) and download the Irregular Offer form.

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What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)?

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is one which is subsidised by government funding. Students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. A loan system, called HECS-HELP, is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students to cover their student contribution amount. CSP students can pay upfront and receive a discount or use HECS-HELP to defer payment.

To be eligible for a CSP you must be:

> an Australian citizen; or
> a New Zealand citizen or
> the holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study.

All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) which entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a CSP. All units will be charged at the maximum student contribution rates, with those rates to be reviewed at the end of each year.

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What is a Fee-Paying Place?

A Fee-Paying Place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course. Fee-Paying Places are available only to new international students at an undergraduate level.

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Who can apply through Deakin’s Access and Equity Program?

Deakin University is committed to rural and regional engagement, life-long learning and equity and access. Deakin’s access and equity programs allow students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, indigenous students and those living in remote areas to have greater access to higher education programs.

Anyone applying for an undergraduate course at Deakin can apply under the Deakin Access and Equity Program. Applicants from the designated groups below may apply for special consideration through the Deakin Access and Equity Program.

> Mature-age entry
> Non-English speaking background
> Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
> Difficult family circumstances
> Disadvantaged socio-economic background
> Rural or isolated applicants
> Under-represented schools
> Disability or long-term medical condition

For more information visit the Access and Equity website.

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