VTAC - can anyone help me understand?

I am hoping to apply to Deakin University this year to study nursing/midwifery next year. I am a mature age student with UK qualifications which meet the minimum tertiary levels for entry (minimum level is 4 highers, and I have 5). I think what I need to do is:

Take the STAT test (sitting in October)
Fill in the pi form
Apply in the last round of applications in November, by which time I will have my STAT results.

However I have seen there is a SEAS for mature age students. I have looked through it but I can't see that there would be any benefit in my applying through this if I have already done the STAT and the pi form - am I missing something? Is there a benefit in applying through SEAS for someone like me?

Thanks in advance:D

Trav
xx

One more question, can I apply to the uni before I have my STAT results, or is it best to wait and apply with all the info together?

T, have you spoken to the university that you want to get into? They will probably be able to tell you what you need to do for the course you're interested in. I know you're from o/s, but I'm not sure about the need to sit any tests if you have existing qualifications. Which university are you applying to? Monash have specific advice on their website for o/s students. Minimum entry requirements for non current school leavers/mature age applicants

I'd try the university directly. No sense doing a whole bunch of things you might not need. I'm not sure that every university is the same either.

I did contact the uni ages ago and they said to do the STAT test, so I am fairly certain that is a requirement. However there is an open day next Sunday so I will hang fire applying until I have spoken to them fact to face.

I am just confused about the SAES which seems to be for supporting the application of mature age students, but I cannot see any benefit to me in using it. I'm just concerned that I am missing something major and want to understand before the open day so I don't look like a stoopid :lol:

I got in as a mature age student (way back when ;)), but I don't remember having any extra entry requirements, beyond filling in the normal forms. My school results were good and I'm obviously not from o/s, so it may have just been that I didn't need to, but if it can save you any work - for sure ask them! Ask if the SEAS is quicker/easier than the STAT/pi option too.

It's all a bit confuzzling though, from what I can see.

I don't think there's any need to apply now (I take it you're not going for mid-year intake). They only assess all applications once the date has closed, so you may as well wait until you have it all together.

Thanks Jennifer, my high school results were pretty good so it would be excellent if they were recognised in some way as part of the application. I will cross my fingers! It's also good to know that no applications are considered until after the very last application date, I wasn't sure if I was lessening my chances by doing it this way.

So now all I need to do is decide what to wear to the open day!

Found a small sentence hidden in the middle of a looooong page which says that STAT is required for all nursing courses if no tertiary study has been undertaken in the last 5 years. That's me! I knew there was some reason I thought I needed the test, so am off to apply. Thanks for your help Jennifer, the Australian system of university application is so very different to what I am used to, it's just taking me a while to get my head around it.

Was it hidden in 8 pt font in the third footnote on the 50th page? ;)

No wonder it's hard to get around! How does it work in the UK?

In the UK you apply to 6 universities on one form. For midwifery you would then get an interview. For mature age students you pretty much always need to have studied something in the past 5 years, even if it is a part time course in needlework, just to show your brain is still functioning :lol: Also each university has a clear page of: to get in you need to have these qualifications (for example 3 Highers at B level or above including one in maths or science) so you can tick the boxes and work out if there is any point in applying. The whole ENTER system has my brain confuddled!

Ahhhh we're a lot nicer to mature age students. The philosophy is that mature age students are much more likely to stay in their course and complete it, not like all of those high school leavers who do their first year and then disappear until they mature :hide:. Sounds like it's just a bit more complicated with the o/s thing. Although you can apply with more than one university at entry, although it's more like a first preference, second preference, and so on thing. We have rounds of offers then on that basis.

I finished my undergrad at UNE, which takes a lot of external mature age students. It was great to be in a course (studying literature) with people who actually had some life experience. The more mature age students in a course the better! You go, girl!

Yes it seems much easier to be a mature age student here. In the UK I was going to have to study for a whole year to get the science grade I needed so I'm quite happy only to have to do one multiple choice test (assuming I get a decent score).

I have applied now and paid, I sit the test on October 23rd at 9am:o:D And having read and re-read the information I am fairly certain that I would only need to go down the SEAS route if I didn't meet the minimum entry requirements, which I do, so no need to faff about with any of that.

At least when my kids get to the point of uni applications I will understand the system :lol:

Oooo Goodluck with your application.

thanks :D

Best of luck applying. Do you need to apply for a VTAC number?

Yes I applied for a VTAC logon and have applied for the STAT test, so I have my sitting date and time (23rd October, 9am EEK!!). I also need to send VTAC copies of my UK qualifications so need to find someone who will certify them for me. Does anyone know if I can get photocopies done in a library, I haven't been in one since I got back from Scotland.

You can get photocopies done at easily at officeworks.

thanks so much, I will head there tomorrow, so much to photocopy :D

good luck with your application.

I am applying for the same course as a mature age student but at the warrnambool campus. I have applied to sit the STAT test as well and am going to the open day on sunday. After I go to the open day I will apply through VTAC and fill out the PI form and send off everything else I need to. I'm a bit nervous about the whole process but am excited about it at the same time.

My understanding is that the SEAS is only if you don't meet the minimum application requirements or if you are disadvantaged in some way???

Fingers crossed for both of us.

Hi Hannahbannana, good luck with your application. I wasn't going to do the SEAS application but at the open day they stressed to apply for it regardless if you are a mature student. I'm going to do it anyway incase they don't recognise my UK qualifications. Getting my pi form ready, hoping to get my application in this week. Exciting times :D

I went to the open day on sunday and they said there to apply for SEAS too because they have to give a certain quota of SEAS places in the courses and they often struggle to fill their places. Gives you an extra tick in your box if you apply through SEAS ;)

I put my application in through VTAC tonight and now I'll have to get all my documentation certified and sent away then I'll tackle the Pi form and the SEAS application.

I am excited and nervous all at the same time. They also said at the open day that more often than not the mature age students get early round offers in november. It would be great to find out sooner rather than later.

I can't get into SEAS to apply, am going to call VTAC tomorrow and find out what I am doing wrong. We were told the same thing about applying via SEAS even if we didn't need to because it increases our chances. Fingers crossed!