Admission information
View all your entry pathways to study at ACPE
ACPE recognises that you are more than a number, that’s why our courses are not ATAR dependent. ACPE recognises applicants with a NSW HSC (Higher School Certificate) or equivalent, vocational education and training (VET) study, work and life experience, overseas qualifications, and more.
Quickly jump to a topic using the links below:
Finding your best entry option
To help you find the best entry program, select a category that best represents your current status from the list below. Alternatively, you can view all entry pathways.
Having trouble finding a suitable entry pathway?
How to apply
Places are limited and competitive. It is important to apply early before course commencement to secure your place at ACPE. For commencement dates refer to ACPE’s Student Calendars.
Domestic students can apply directly online. It’s quick and simple, and ACPE’s courses do not require an ATAR. You can enter our courses directly, provided you meet the entry requirements for that course.
If your qualifications are in Australia, ACPE and UAC will be able to retrieve your results directly from your Australian home institution.
Domestic students can apply directly online
OR
Apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Prefer to talk to us instead?
ACPE’s team of friendly Admissions Advisers are on hand to answer any questions and to assist with your enrolment.
Call us on 1800 501 775, we’re available Monday to Friday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm AEDST.
If you need more information, simply contact us.
International students wanting to enrol at ACPE will have to meet both academic entry requirements and English language proficiency requirements. In addition to these two criteria, you have to meet the inherent course requirements and any course specific criteria, e.g. For Dance degrees and Education degrees.
For more information on international student applications, refer to The application process section below.
Please note: If you are from an non-English speaking background or education you will have to meet the minimum English Language requirements. For more information about English Language requirements, please click here.
The application process
Here’s an overview of our domestic application process. To view the international student application process, please click here.
Step 1
Domestic student can apply directly online OR Apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
International Students – If you are currently studying or residing in Australia OR applying via an ACPE agent, submit an online application to ACPE here.
If you are currently overseas (not holding an Australian student visa or temporary visitor’s visa), download and complete the International Application Form and GTE statement along with your supporting documentation.
Step 2
Submit documents & complete application process. You will need to submit your support documents as well i.e. HSC or equivalent, and other post-secondary qualifications such as Certificates, Diplomas or Degrees.
Step 3
Applications are assessed based on criteria set out in the Admissions Policy. You can download and view our policies and procedures below.
Step 4
If you are a domestic student you can apply now. International Students (or if you require a Student Visa to study in Australia) can download the International Student Application Form by clicking here.
Please note: Year 12 students do not have to provide supporting documents now but will be required to provide a copy of their HSC or equivalent when available. For more information on entry requirements click here.
If you are applying for a Dance Degree, you will be required to also pass a dance workshop. Learn more by viewing the “Dance” tab under the Additional Admission Course Criteria section.
General Admission criteria
ACPE recognises that you are more than a number. Our courses are not ATAR dependent. The general admission criteria listed below shows the multiple avenues that you can undertake to get admission into ACPE.
You must meet at least ONE of the following criteria to be considered for admission
If you are unable to meet the general admission requirements below, there are pathways available. Further information can be found by clicking here.
- A minimum NSW HSC (Higher School Certificate) or equivalent. ACPE will review your HSC results to determine if you require any additional support in your studies. We will counsel you about the most appropriate course for you based on your previous studies and results
- Performance in relevant Year 11 results for early entry pending release of HSC results
- An Associate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or Tertiary Preparation Certificate from a TAFE or other recognised VET provider qualification (If you wish to enter through a Certificate IV, you must have completed Year 11 or equivalent)
- One year full-time or equivalent in a degree course at a recognised higher education institute in Australia or equivalent
- Satisfaction of entry requirements specified under formal articulation arrangements as determined by the ACPE Academic Board
- Completion of a Big Picture Education Portfolio at a Big Picture School, supported with a recommendation from the school principal
- A recognised overseas qualification with demonstrated proficiency in English. To learn more, click here
- Demonstration to the CEO or the Dean’s satisfaction of good selection prospects as a student (for example, relevant work experience and motivation to study), and ineligibility to compete for admission based on the above academic achievement criteria
- If you have post-secondary or tertiary qualifications, you may be able to receive credit for previous studies. To learn more, click here
Applicants to ACPE who have completed Year 12 must have a minimum NSW HSC average of 60 (calculated from the average of the highest 6 units completed), or equivalent. Applicants who have completed Year 12 with a HSC average lower than 60 may be considered eligible for entry with other post-school study (e.g. Tertiary Preparation Certificate, VET study, one year study at another higher education institution).
All applicants must attend a final admissions interview upon submission of their enrolment paperwork. Admissions interviews may be conducted face to face, by other verbal medium (e.g. teleconference or Skype) or a combination of these mediums.
All applicants for entry to any course must meet minimum computer literacy standards as determined by the College and have unrestricted access to the internet and a personal email account. Domestic applicants must be 18 years of age or turn 18 within their first semester of study. International applicants must be 18 years of age or older. All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements for their chosen course of study.
For courses that involve work integrated learning where students may deal with children (i.e. under 18 years of age) such as education courses, applicants must be aware that a valid Working with Children Check must be supplied to the College prior to the student undertaking the relevant coursework. If the applicant knows of any reason why they will not pass a Working with Children Check, they should not apply for entry to these courses.
Applicants with any previous completed or incomplete higher education study will be considered for admission on the basis of those studies.
If the higher education study was completed in a country other than Australia, the qualification must have been assessed as equivalent to an Australian higher education qualification. If you wish to apply for credit for previous study, you must submit an Application for Recognition of Prior Learning form along with all the relevant qualification and verification documents to support your claim.
Please send your completed RPL form and the accompanying documents to the enrolment advisor.
For information about Recognition of Prior Learning refer to: https://acpe.edu.au/admissions/educational-pathways/recognition-of-prior-learning/
Please note that admission will not be made to applicants who are currently suspended or excluded from any higher education course until the term of their suspension or exclusion has elapsed. If you have served the period of exclusion, your application will be considered.
Applicants who have completed an AQF qualification of Certificate IV or above or a Tertiary Preparation Certificate may be considered eligible for entry. Applicants with incomplete VET study may also be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.
If the VET study was completed in a country other than Australia, the qualification must have been assessed as equivalent to an Australian qualification.
If you wish to apply for credit for previous study, you must submit an Application for Recognition of Prior Learning form along with all the relevant qualification and verification documents to support your claim.
Please send your completed RPL form and the accompanying documents to the enrolment advisor. For information about Recognition of Prior Learning refer to https://acpe.edu.au/admissions/educational-pathways/recognition-of-prior-learning/
Applicants to ACPE who have completed Year 12 within the last two years will be considered for entry based on their performance in subjects relevant to the course they applied for; OR have a minimum NSW HSC average of 60 (calculated from the average of the highest 6 units completed), or equivalent. Applicants who have completed Year 12 but do not meet either of these two criteria may be considered eligible for entry with other post-school study (e.g. Tertiary Preparation Certificate, VET study, one year study at another higher education institution).
Applicants who may not meet the educational requirements outlined above but who can demonstrate some educational disadvantage in schooling, will be considered on a case by case basis.
Mature age students (21 years or over) who have not completed Year 12 and who have relevant work or life experience that indicates they would be able to manage the level of coursework required will be considered for admission on a case by case basis.
If you wish to apply for credit for industry experience relevant to your course, refer to https://acpe.edu.au/admissions/educational-pathways/recognition-of-industry-experience/
ACPE considers commonly accepted overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications that are equivalent to Australian Year 12 standard or an AQF qualification. See commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications at https://uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/overseas-qualifications
If you hold qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency. If you do not meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements you cannot be offered a place.
Unable to meet the general admission requirements? Don’t sweat it.
ACPE Student Profile Admissions
The below graph covers admissions for Semester 1, 2024 (click to enlarge)
ACPE does not admit students based on ATAR. Recent secondary education admissions are recorded in (D) (iii) above.
* The Bachelor of Physical Activity for Health provides a pathway to the Bachelor of Education (Physical and Health Education) for students who do not meet the entry requirements for the education degree.
** The Bachelor of Dance Practice provides a pathway to the Bachelor of Dance Education for students who do not meet the entry requirements to the education degree.
Additional Admission Course Criteria
Some of ACPE’s courses will require additional criteria that applicants must undertake to gain entry. For more information on these additional admission criteria, please refer to the three categories below, which includes dance courses, Bachelor of Education (Physical and Health Education ) and Bachelor of Dance Education, and undergraduate certificates/
The Undergraduate Certificates are not intended for school leavers but are aimed at individuals who have been working in the health promotion, allied health, sport or related industry for at least 2 years.
You will have to meet the following requirements:
- At least 2 years’ experience working in the Industry – you are required to provide a resume and a reference from your employer confirming your employment, together with a personal statement about your readiness for undertaking higher education studies; and
- One of the criteria stated in the above General Admissions Criteria section
- You also have to meet the English Language proficiency requirements. Please view the specific requirements here.
- These courses are NOT available to International students.
Applicants for initial teacher education (ITE) courses must additionally meet BOTH the academic entry requirements of the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) or their equivalent AND be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the College their suitability for entry into an ITE program.
Applicants to ITE courses may be granted either direct or indirect entry.
Direct Entry
To be admitted directly into an ITE course, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- A minimum of three (3) NSW HSC Band 5 results, including one in English; or
- The completion of bridging units equivalent to a minimum of 3 Band 5 HSC results, including English, as approved by NESA; or
- The completion of a Bachelor-level or higher degree at an accredited higher education institution; or
- The completion of a NESA approved alternative entry pathway.
Indirect Entry
An applicant for an ITE degree who does not meet the above criteria for direct entry may be permitted to enrol in a linked undergraduate degree at ACPE and apply for transfer at the end of the first year of study under the following conditions:
- Pass all first-year subjects in the designated ACPE degree with an overall credit average; or
- If a credit average is not attained, have successfully completed all first year subjects of the designated ACPE degree and pass the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students (LANTITE) (at their own cost); or
- A credit average in a full year of academic studies at another institution in a degree with ACPE-equivalent units and relevant discipline area.
In addition, all applicants for ITE courses must sign a letter acknowledging that AITSL and NESA regulations require them to demonstrate literacy and numeracy capacities commensurate with the top 30% of the population through the LANTITE test by ACER (at their own cost) prior to commencing their final professional experience and complete a suitability for entry into an ITE program.
Suitability for entry into an ITE program The College reserves the right to refuse entry to any applicant based on an individual’s inability to demonstrate to its satisfaction suitability for entry into an ITE program.
To demonstrate suitability for entry into an ITE program, candidates must achieve a satisfactory outcome in the Suitability for Teaching Application. The College will assess the Suitability for Teaching Application on a Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory basis. A successful outcome will depend upon an applicant’s demonstration of reasonable prospects of success in the course and as a teacher, based on a combination of non-academic attributes.
Bachelor of Dance Education applicants will also be required to attend an audition. Further information regarding the audition process can be found in the ‘Dance’ tab above.
Applicants for dance degrees are expected to have experience and training in dance, which may include dance as a HSC subject. Students will be required to attend a dance workshop to assess the level of their dance skills and assign an appropriate level tutorial group. Students are encouraged to disclose of pre-existing injuries which may affect their study.
Step 1
Apply for the Bachelor of Dance Education, Bachelor of Dance Practice or Bachelor of Health Science (Dance) directly through UAC or by clicking here.
Step 2
After applying for one of the above courses, and reading our frequently asked questions below, you can book your dance workshop time with the button below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does ACPE require a dance workshop?
The dance workshop provides an opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to get to know us before you begin your degree. To participate in our dance degrees, you will need to pass contemporary dance technique assessments at first year level where you will be evaluated on your fitness for dance, alignment, coordination, and self-use. Therefore, whatever style of dance you have studied previously, we want to see ability to learn new movement material and your level of technical competence at this stage in your progression. You will continue your studies of dance technique each semester at ACPE and will have an opportunity to develop your skills further throughout your degree with our exceptional dance technique teachers.
What do I need to prepare before the workshop?
There is no preparation needed.
You will be required to participate in a 1-hour dance technique class. The class consists of contemporary dance techniques with composition and improvisation tasks.
Where are dance workshops held?
Dance workshops are held at the ACPE campus: 10 Parkview Dr, Sydney Olympic Park.
Click here for further information on how to get to the ACPE campus.
What do I need to bring for the workshop?
There is no need to bring anything with you on the day however, we recommend the following clothing:
- Wear tightly/form fitting dance clothes, e.g. tights and leotard or a snugly fitting t-shirt
- Be prepared to dance in bare feet and bring along a pair of socks
- Tie your hair securely off your face
.
How do I register for a dance workshop?
Before registering for your dance workshop, please ensure you have submitted your application for your chosen course. Once this has been submitted, you can select a date to attend a workshop.
Still have questions about the dance workshop?
Please contact an enrolment advisor on 1800 610 493 and select “Option 1” or email newstudents@acpe.edu.au
Fees & Funding
Without a doubt, higher education is a valuable investment in your future. But the subject of fees and funding can quickly get confusing. We’ve laid out some helpful sections so you can track down the answers to your questions. For more information relating to fees and funding, please click here.
FEE-HELP available to eligible domestic students
If you are an Australian citizen, on a New Zealand Special Category visa (SCV) or permanent humanitarian visa holder and meet the residency requirements, then you may be eligible to apply for FEE Help.
Tuition Fee Information and List of Units
Click on the relevant link below to view tuition fees.
ACPE Admission FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Yes, ACPE offers various forms of financial assistance for both domestic and international students. Here are a list of financial assistance programs on offer:
• FEE-HELP – Domestic students studying any of our courses may be eligible to access FEE-HELP, a tuition loans scheme offered by the Federal government. FEE-HELP allows students to defer all or part of the cost of their study and pay it off through the taxation system once they are working full time. See our website for more information: https://www.acpe.edu.au/future-students/admissions/fee-help
• Austudy – ACPE’s degrees are approved for Austudy, for those students with a minimum 75% study load. See our website for more information: https://www.acpe.edu.au/future-students/admissions/financial-assistance
• Abstudy – Abstudy is a living allowance for Indigenous secondary or tertiary students, for which local ACPE students may be eligible. See our website for more information: https://www.acpe.edu.au/future-students/admissions/financial-assistance
Upon assessment of your application, applicants will be notified of your application outcome. Successful applicants will receive an offer letter via email.
To accept your offer and proceed with your enrolment, follow the instructions provided in the offer letter. International students must accept their offer of enrolment by signing and returning the Written Agreement.
Applications for advanced standing / academic credit / recognition of prior learning: submit an Application for Recognition of Prior Learning form along with all the relevant qualification and verification documents to support the claim. Send your application and all relevant documents to your enrolment advisor.
Domestic students wishing to defer your start date or suspend your studies after the start date should advise the College in writing by emailing Student Services at studentservices@acpe.edu.au.
International students wishing to defer your start date should advise the College in writing by emailing international@acpe.edu.au. International students should also refer to the following policies as financial penalties may apply, depending on the timing of your request to defer your start date:
- Deferring, Suspending or Cancelling Enrolment Policy – International Students
- Refund Policy – Domestic and International Students
All fees and charges for students are outlined on the website at: https://www.acpe.edu.au/future-students/admissions/fees.
- Fees Policy.
- Refund Policy – Domestic and International Students.
- Remission of Financial Liability Due to Special Circumstances Policy.
Fees are subject to change throughout the life of the course. Fee changes will be published with appropriate notice and will be made available on the website and relevant student documents. Financial assistance is available to eligible domestic students. Refer to https://acpe.edu.au/admissions/fees/ for details.
Yes. ACPE is very proud to award scholarships to commencing students to acknowledge achievement and recognise those who are willing to go above and beyond, who will ultimately succeed and become active contributors within our community. ACPE is committed to providing an equitable program that promotes success and inclusivity across a range of population groups.
For more information please click here.
Yes, ACPE supports elite athletes during their study at ACPE. To see more details about our Elite Athletes program, click here.
Yes, as inherent requirements are the essential tasks and activities necessary of a course or unit that you have to be able to do to demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit.
To allow you to make informed choices about your courses, we have identified the inherent requirements for your courses which you can view by clicking here.
ACPE offers a range of early entry and alternate entry pathways to help you enter a degree. If you are looking to turn your passion for sport, health, education or dance into a career, an industry-recognised qualification from ACPE will give you the foundation you need.
Learn more about our Early Entry program by clicking here.
