13 Dec 2017

Did you ever get the feeling that your school valued your ATAR more than you did? Or more than it valued you? This actually makes sense, because for schools, ATAR results can determine how many students enrol for the next year and how much funding they get from the government. It’s important to them.

And while the ATAR can certainly help you get into university, it stresses a lot of students out. We know this because Year13 conducted a study where we asked Year 12 students how they felt about the final year of school. Most of them said they were stressed and anxious. Some said they were frustrated, fearful and depressed. And only a few said they were excited and happy.

Overall, students felt that there was too much importance placed on the ATAR and that it stressed them out.

This sucks because stressing over the ATAR is actually pretty unnecessary. It’s not the be-all-and-end-all for getting the opportunity to study. There are so many options for when you finish school, a lot of which don’t even require an ATAR. For example, did you know that you can study a bachelor degree at TAFE NSW without an ATAR?

Getting a Degree From TAFE NSW

So if you opted out of getting an ATAR or your ATAR is not what you need to get you into the university course you wanted, don’t fret because there are heaps of degrees that you can study at TAFE NSW.

TAFE NSW offers practical, hands-on degrees in fashion, design, business, commerce, 3D art and animation, early-childhood education, IT and property valuation, to name a few.

Here’s the full list of TAFE degrees on offer:

  • Bachelor of Applied Commerce and Diploma of Applied Commerce
  • Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Community Services
  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care (Birth–5)
  • Bachelor of 3D Art and Animation
  • Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)
  • Bachelor of Fashion Design
  • Bachelor of Information Technology (Data Infrastructure Engineering)
  • Bachelor of Information Technology (Network Security)
  • Bachelor of Property Valuation
  • Associate Degree of Applied Engineering (Renewable Energy Technologies)
  • Diploma of Adult Education
  • Diploma of Sustainable Practice
  • Diploma of Sustainable Indigenous Communities

How Does It Work?

There are four different entry requirements for TAFE NSW bachelor degrees and you just need to satisfy one of them to be admitted. They are:

  • NSW HSC (Higher School Certificate) or equivalent (not ATAR, just the certificate)
  • Recognised Tertiary Preparation Certificate
  • Certificate IV level or higher vocational qualification
  • Completion of at least one year full-time study or equivalent in a degree course at a higher education institution

And if you don’t meet any of the four minimum entry requirements, you may be able to apply for entry under special admissions provisions including mature age or disadvantage. Or there are loads of pathway options to get you into the degree via a certificate or diploma.

When Does All This Start?

Enrolments are open now and a lot of these courses begin in February 2018, so go and check out the options at TAFE NSW asap by downloading their 2018 Course Guide.