Each university has different rules regarding who is eligible to compete in its special entry subquota - these rules are about your age, how much post school study you have done and when you last studied. The rules for each of the universities are shown below:

To be eligible to compete in the Special Entry subquota:

• you must be 19 years or over before 1 July 2011, and
   
• you must not hold a completed higher education level award, and
   
• if you were last enrolled in a course leading to a higher education level award in 2008, 2009 or 2010, you must not have completed more than the equivalent of one full-time year of study in that course.

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

To be eligible to compete in the special entry subquota:

• you must be 18 years or over before 1 July 2011*, and 
   
• if you have studied at higher education level and, in all attempts at higher education study, you have accumulated more than the equivalent of two full-time years of study, you must wait until two years have elapsed since you were last enrolled in a higher education course. For midyear 2011 entry, this means your last year of enrolment must have been 2008 or earlier.

*There is no age restriction however, if you have completed a recognised bridging or tertiary preparation course and wish to compete for a special entry place on that basis, rather than using the STAT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

To be eligible to compete in the special entry subquota for all programs except Music programs and the Diploma of Wine Marketing:

• you must be 18 years or over before 1 July 2011*, and
   
• you must not hold a completed higher education level award, and
   
• if you were last enrolled in a course leading to a higher education level award in 2009 or 2010, you must not have completed more than the equivalent of two full-time years of study in that course.

For Music programs and the Diploma of Wine Marketing:

• you must be 18 years or over before 1 July 2011.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

To be eligible to compete in the special entry subquota:

• you must be 18 years or over before 1 July 2011, and
   
• you must not have been enrolled in a course leading to a higher education level award in 2009 or 2010 for any period of time.
   

SELECTION CRITERIA

Each university uses a variety of selection criteria for ranking applicants in the Special Entry subquota including one or more of the following:

• performance in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT);
   
• assessment of a personal competencies statement provided by the applicant;
   
• details of employment experience;
   
• evidence of completion of a recognised bridging or tertiary preparation course (only for entry to Flinders University courses);
   
• other criteria such as performance in an audition.

Many courses offered by the three universities of South Australia use only the results of your STAT to make selections.  Others will also consider a personal competencies statement and/or your employment experience if you wish to submit them.  If you do submit a personal competencies statement or your employment experience, they will only be used to enhance your STAT rank - a poor statement or low employment experience rank will not reduce your STAT rank.  However, don't waste your time submitting a personal competencies statement or telling SATAC about your employment experience if the course you are interested in doesn't consider them. 

For courses offered by Charles Darwin University, any or all of the three selection criteria are considered which means you may choose not to sit the STAT but only to submit a personal competencies statement and/or information about your employment experience. The University, however, recommends that you sit the STAT in order to maximise your chances of selection.

See the course lists to see what your course uses to select its special entry applicants.  The lists also identify the small number of courses which have additional selection criteria, such as the need to submit portfolios or to have an audition.

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY

The selection criteria used in the special entry subquota are as follows:

• STAT is recommended;
   
• personal competencies statements and employment experience are also considered - for details Click here

FLINDERS UNIVERSITY

The selection criteria used in the special entry subquota are as follows:

If you have not completed a recognised bridging or tertiary preparation course (including the Flinders Foundation Course):

• STAT is compulsory;
   
• personal competencies statements and/or employment experience may be considered - for details Click here

If you have completed a recognised bridging or tertiary preparation course, you are not required to sit the STAT although you may choose to do so.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

The selection criteria used in the special entry subquota are as follows:

For all programs except Wine Marketing

• STAT is compulsory;
   
• personal competencies statements and/or employment experience may be considered - for details Click here

For Diploma of Wine Marketing

• either STAT or a personal competencies statement is compulsory;
   
• employment experience is not considered.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The selection criteria used in the special entry subquota are as follows:

• STAT is compulsory;
   
• personal competencies statements and/or employment experience may be considered - for details Click here