Entry Requirements

ACPE endeavours to make admission accessible to a diversity of students who demonstrate potential for success in tertiary study. Special consideration is given to applicants who have been disadvantaged in their education, but who exhibit strong academic potential

General admission to the college is governed by the overarching principles of fairness, transparency, and timeliness, and is based on a combined range of factors, including merit, academic performance, and a student interview.

General Admission Criteria

Applicants must meet at least ONE of the following criteria to be considered for admission –

1. A minimum NSW HSC (Higher School Certificate or interstate equivalent) average of 65 (calculated from the average of the highest 10 units completed), or a minimum ATAR of 68 or equivalent International Baccalaureate
2. A qualification from a recognised higher education provider
3. An Associate Diploma, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, or Tertiary Preparation Certificate from a TAFE or other recognised VET provider qualification
4. One year full-time or equivalent in a degree course at an Australian university
5. Satisfaction of entry requirements specified under formal articulation arrangements as determined by the ACPE Academic Board
6. A recognised overseas qualification with demonstrated proficiency in English
7. Demonstration to 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 academic achievement criteria (1) to (6)

Additionally

• Applicants for admission to the college are required to participate in an interview  and achieve a satisfactory outcome
• Applicants for the Bachelor of Dance Education course are required to attend an  audition and achieve a satisfactory outcome
• An Applicant for an undergraduate teacher education degree course, such as the  Bachelor of Education (Physical & Health Education) or Bachelor of Education (Dance Education), must provide evidence to the college that he or she has  attained an English proficiency of Band 4 or higher in the NSW High School Certificate, or equivalent
• An applicant who does not display this level of proficiency at the point of admission may be granted provisional admission on the understanding that he or she will only be permitted to progress into the second year of the course upon their provision of evidence to the college that he or she has achieved the required English proficiency level

The college will provide only limited support to students who enter degree studies without the Band 4 English pre-requisite and who have been granted provisional admission as specified at Item 7.2. The onus lies with the student to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve the required level of performance.

English Proficiency Criteria – Undergraduate Teacher Education courses

Additionally, an applicant for an undergraduate teacher education degree course such as the Bachelor of Dance Education must provide evidence to the college that he or she has attained an English proficiency of Band 4 or higher in the NSW High School Certificate or equivalent. An applicant who does not demonstrate this level of proficiency at the point of admission may be granted Provisional Admission on the understanding that he or she will only be permitted to progress into the second year of the course upon provision of evidence to the college that he or she has achieved the required English proficiency level.

English Proficiency Criteria – All other courses

• While there are no explicit English literacy requirements for admission to other ACPE degrees (such as the Bachelor of Applied Fitness, Bachelor of Health & Movement, Bachelor of Sports Business, and the Bachelor of Sports Coaching & Administration), applicants with an average mark of below 65 in Standard English, Advanced English, or English as a Second Language in the NSW HSC or equivalent will be granted Provisional Admission
• As part of the conditions of Provisional Admission, such applicants are required to successfully complete the Foundations of Academic Literacy course provided by the college. The Foundations of Academic Literacy seeks to maximise every student’s ability to succeed at tertiary level

Special Provision for Applicants unable to meet the General Admission Criteria

An applicant seeking admission who is unable to demonstrate that he or she satisfactorily meets the General Admission Criteria may apply to the college to be considered for Provisional Admission. An applicant should be aware that if he or she is being considered for Provisional Admission, he or she may be requested to provide evidence that will demonstrate to the Dean’s satisfaction that he or she has a reasonable likelihood of success in his or her studies with the college. They may also be required to attend an interview with the Dean.

An applicant should also be aware that conditions, as determined by the Dean, would normally be attached to a provisional admission such as:

• he or she must attain a minimum pass grade in all units of study undertaken in the first 2 semesters of enrolment in the course, based on a full-time study load. This is normally the equivalent of 8 units of study; and/or
• he or she shall only be permitted to attend a Professional Placement on successful completion of the first 4 units of study, which is the equivalent of one semester at a full-time load

Special circumstances considered in the determining of Provisional Admission, and the conditions of Provisional Admission, may include –

• Elite Athletes who can demonstrate that their training and/or competitive commitments have affected their academic achievement
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in recognition of the past exclusion and current disadvantage in these people’s experience
• Educational disadvantage due to circumstances beyond the applicant’s control. These disadvantages could relate to
  • disability
  • serious or chronic illness
  • disrupted education
  • lack of support for study
  • serious family problems
  • significant family responsibilities

Elite Athletes or Performers

The Australian College of Physical Education is recognised by the Australian Institute of Sport and the New South Wales Institute of Sport as an Elite Athlete Friendly Institution. This is a component of the National Athlete Career and Education (ACE) program. It signifies that the Australian College of Physical Education has responded to the specific needs of elite athletes by developing and promoting policies and practices that assist these athletes to undertake sporting opportunity whilst pursuing and achieving academic excellence.

The college recognises elite athletes who have been identified and recognised by one of the following organisations as an Elite Athlete –

• Australian Institute of Sport
• State Institutes or Academies of Sport
• AFL Players Association
• Australian Cricketers Association
• Rugby Union Players Association
• Rugby League Professionals Association
• Australian Professional Footballers Association
• National senior squad members from ACE supported sports

An Elite Athlete who falls outside of these organisations may still request recognition by the college as an Elite Athlete.

An applicant seeking recognition by the college of his or her Elite Athlete status should indicate this at the time of applying for admission to the college. The National Coach and Athlete Career and Education (NCACE) manager will act as a representative from the Australian Sports Commission to investigate and verify the Elite Athlete status claims and will make a recommendation to the college.

Recognition of Prior Learning

An applicant may apply for an assessment of their prior learning at the time of applying for entry to an award course of the college. Normally, in order to qualify for an award a student must, for undergraduate award courses, complete a minimum of the equivalent of fifty percent of the award course at the college. It is normally expected that students applying for credit will complete at least 50% of the final year of the degree.

Applicants for Cross-Institutional Study (ACPE Host Institution)

The college may permit a student enrolled in an award course or program of study at an Australian Higher Education Provider other than the ACPE to complete a unit or units of study at the ACPE, where the student can provide evidence of his or her home institutions permission for cross-institutional enrolment into the requested unit or units of study at the ACPE.

The information above has been drawn from the ACPE Admissions Policy (6th November 2007; ID: ACAD/010)

Admissions Application Form

• Admission Application Form
• ACPE Admissions Policy
• Postgraduate Admissions Poilicy