Are American High School Certificates Recognised by Australian Universities?
- Written by News Pronto
The short answer is yes. But requirements can get quite specific. Read on to learn more about Australian university requirements and what to do if you don’t have the right qualifications.
What Do You Need to Apply for Australian Universities?
Requirements for entry may differ slightly between each Australian university and course, so be sure to check what exactly is required for your desired course. Generally, universities will accept qualifications considered equivalent to a completed Australian Year 12 education. This includes the International Baccalaureate (IB), General Certificate of Education (GCE) A Levels or US High School Diploma.
These high school qualifications don’t mean automatic entry to Australian universities, they are used to determine your selection rank. Selection ranks are numbers given to prospective students that are based off academic results and work experience, which help determine eligibility to university courses. Courses require a minimum selection rank, which can vary greatly between courses and universities depending on how competitive they are.
In Queensland and New South Wales, we use ATAR, which is a number between 0 and 99.95. Selection rank systems may be different from state to state, but they can be easily converted from one to another.
IB Diplomas is an internationally recognised high school course that gives students an IB score, which can be converted into an ATAR. Only certain schools around the world use this system.
A US High School Diploma along with SAT, ACT or AP test scores can also be converted to an ATAR. However, keep in mind that a GED is not considered to be equivalent to an Australian Year 12 certificate.
If you have completed at least a year of tertiary education, your grades will also be assessed as part of your application to university.
Remember, certain courses may have additional requirements like auditions, entrance exams or equivalent subject prerequisites. Subject prerequisites can include AP subjects or minimum SAT scores.
What if You Don’t Have the Right Selection Rank to Get In?
There can be many reasons why you can’t get admission to your dream course. You might not have:
- completed high school
- recognised high school accreditation
- prerequisite subjects
- a high enough selection rank.
But that doesn't mean you can’t go to university!
Some universities offer booster programs for prerequisite subject qualifications or non-ATAR bridging units or courses that help you get into undergraduate study. TAFE can also offer bridging opportunities with certificates or diplomas. Another option is to have your previous work experience and qualifications assessed through an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO), where you can fast-track your studies.
Work experience can also be combined with a Special Tertiary Admissions Test but be sure to look into the requirements and fees.
What Is the Quickest Way to Get Into an Australian University?
Through an RTO, you can access accredited online courses that can help you bridge into university study. The best thing about RTOs is that you can do a Recognition of Prior Learning certificate course. So, if you have any work experience or qualifications in the US, your skills and knowledge can be turned into course requirements. This means that you don’t need to do all the units of your course, taking you less time to complete your studies and start studying your dream university course.
The good thing about opting for RTOs is that they focus on getting you real world practical skills – and it’s all online. Whether you decide to continue onto university studies or straight into work, RTOs are a pathway that makes you feel equipped.