Entry Requirements

All applicants seeking to enrol in a course with PIA are required to submit acceptable evidence that they meet the published entry criteria for their chosen course.
To satisfy the general entrance requirements for admission to a course, applicants must meet at least one of the following entry requirements:

• Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary qualification (or recognised equivalent) with the equivalent of a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60 and

Bachelor of Business

• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard English; and
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 3 Advanced Mathematics; or
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard 2 Mathematics.

Bachelor of Networking and Telecommunications

• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard English; and
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 3 Advanced Mathematics; or
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard 2 Mathematics.

• Successful completion of a qualification at an Australian registered institution of tertiary education, at AQF level 5 or above (or recognised equivalent issued in a country listed Appendix 2); or
• Satisfactory completion of an accredited Tertiary Preparation Program or Foundation Year Program offered by an Australian university that enables students to gain entry to an Australian university; and
• In addition, all students must be 18 years of age or over at the time that they commence the course for which they have applied.

Where there are higher education studies in addition to completed vocational qualifications the decision for admission will solely be based on the higher education academic results.

English Proficiency

Students whose first language is not English, must demonstrate competency in the English language. English proficiency can be demonstrated by providing certified evidence of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test result (or equivalent alternative test result, as follows), issued no more than two (2) years prior to date of application:

• IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0; or
• TOEFL: Internet (no section score less than) 80 (20); or
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Overall score: 57 with minimum communicative skill scores for Reading and Writing (57) and all other sections (50); or
• University of Cambridge – Advanced (CAE): Total score of 52.

Note that the most recent attempt at any language proficiency test supersedes any previous attempts or requirements
Other acceptable evidence of English proficiency includes:

• Successful completion of an AQF Level 5 Diploma or above with at least two (2) years of full-time study in English at an Australian registered vocational or higher education.

Applicants who do not meet the specified English proficiency requirements must enrol in an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) program at PIA or a provider of their own choice.
Where student have applied to undertake an ELICOS course through an alternate provider they must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) for an ELICOS program in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), for a duration of at least twelve (12) weeks for every 0.5 below 6.0 overall or subsection IELTS or equivalent result, prior to application, and evidence of successful completion must be provided prior to enrolling in the PIA course.

Special/Alternative Admission Arrangements

Applicants who are 21 years of age or over who have not completed Year 12 or its equivalent may gain entry to a course by addressing one of the following entry requirements:

1. Successful completion of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test administered by a tertiary admissions centre; or
2. Submission of a portfolio of prior and current academic and professional work; or

Applicants applying under special admission categories will be required to attend an interview with the Dean to assess the applicant’s capacity for higher education studies. The applicant should submit a portfolio of prior and current academic and professional work prior to the interview to assist in the assessment process.
The criteria used by the Dean when approving applicants for admission into a course under special or alternative admission arrangements include:

• capacity to pursue tertiary studies;
• motivation to pursue tertiary studies in the discipline of the chosen course;
• demonstrated potential for academic studies based on the applicant’s portfolio;
• relevant professional and industry experience; and
• specific consideration of access issues for ATSI’s.

The processes used to monitor the progress of students enrolled under special/alternative arrangements include:

• monitoring of the student’s progress by the Learning and Teaching Committee at the conclusion of each term in the first year of the student’s enrolment; and
• a “Review of Student Progress” meeting between the student and the Learning and Teaching Committee at the conclusion of the first semester of the student’s enrolment to review both the academic progression and student welfare.