This combination is recommended to those students who want the option of pursuing a university pathway or a TAFE course that is in high demand, but do not wish to do so using an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). This maybe the case for a student whose learning style is  more suited to practical subjects, seeking to reduce the number of courses that have an examination component, strength lies in assignments and portfolio assessments rather than testing content taught over a longer period of time or applying to TAFE but has an interest or strength in the content taught in some ATAR courses.

Please note that students studying this pathway must enrol in the Certificate IV in Business in Year 12 if they want the option of applying directly to university. The successful completion of a Certificate IV in Business and either a scaled score of above 50% in English ATAR or a relevant English qualification (see information below) will credit students with the minimum entry requirements into Edith Cowan University, Curtin University and TAFE. It will also allow entry into 6 month preparation courses at Murdoch University and Notre Dame University.

A student looking to obtain a Commerce degree post-secondary schooling, may also enter TAFE for one year to study the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Business and transfer directly into second year of a Commerce degree at Curtin University.  This combination would complement this pathway.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

Specific University Information for Students Completing a Certificate IV

Students can meet the minimum university entrance requirement if they do not complete English ATAR but have the following:

Curtin University
Certificate IV, a C grade in English General and successful completion of the STAT.

Edith Cowan University
Certificate IV, an A grade in General English and a submission of a portfolio.

Notre Dame
Certificate IV, a C grade in English General and successful completion of the written English section of the STAT only. The applicant must receive a written permission letter from the university to sit the STAT.

Murdoch
Certificate IV and a B grade in General English. If the applicant wishes to study Nursing, Teaching, Veterinary Science, Psychology, Law and Criminology they will also need to complete the STAT and obtain the minimum score specified by the course entry requirements.