Choosing the right study path

VET is a type of study focused on practical, hands-on skills that prepare you for specific jobs or industries. It is delivered through training providers such as TAFEs and registered training organisations (RTOs).

VET courses are developed in close consultation with industry, meaning what you learn is directly aligned with workplace requirements. Learning is typically job-focused, often including workshops, simulations, placements, or on-the-job training.

VET qualifications include:

• Certificate II

• Certificate III

• Certificate IV

• Diploma

• Advanced Diploma

Key features of VET study

• Practical, skills-based learning

• Strong focus on job readiness and industry-relevant training

• Courses linked directly to apprenticeships, or undertaken alongside an apprenticeship program

• Flexible entry requirements (many courses do not require an ATAR)

• Some VET courses also provide pathways into university-level study

While TAFE SA is primarily a VET provider, it also offers selected undergraduate courses in some areas.

In some courses where demand exceeds available places, applicants will be ranked for selection using predetermined criteria (often the date their application was received) which is why SATAC encourages students to submit their TAFE SA applications as soon as possible after cycle opening each year.

Some qualifications also require prior study or experience. For example, entry into a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment at TAFE SA requires completion of a Certificate III or higher. Always check the course requirements in Course Search to confirm your eligibility before adding a course to your application.

Examples of VET & TAFE SA applicants:

• Marcia has not completed high school and has no previous tertiary study. She applies for a Certificate III in Hospitality, a non-competitive course that does not require prior qualifications.

• Chelsea completed Year 12 but did not achieve the ATAR required for her preferred university course. She applies for a Diploma of Community Services/Bachelor of Social Work. She completes the diploma as a pathway into an undergraduate degree. In some cases, these pathways allow a person to enter the bachelor degree in second year, or receive credit for studies completed in their diploma.

Undergraduate study is generally entry-level university study, such as a bachelor’s degree, which you may complete after high school or as your first higher education qualification.

Undergraduate qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree with honours

• Associate degree

• Associate diploma

• Diploma

• Undergraduate Certificate

• Bridging and foundation courses

Who would apply for an undergraduate course?

• Someone who has recently completed Year 12

• Someone beginning university for the first time

• Someone returning to study to undertake a new qualification

Pathways into undergraduate courses

A common misconception is that an ATAR is the only way to secure a place in a university course, when in reality it’s just one of many pathways. 

Common pathways into undergraduate courses include:

• Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)

• Foundation or bridging courses

• Certificate III or higher

• Military pathway

• Work and life experience

• Skills for Tertiary Admission Test (STAT)

• Grade Point Average (GPA) (for those who have previously studied at university)

If you’re interested in applying for an undergraduate course and are unsure which pathway is right for you, we encourage you to contact us or the relevant institution for guidance.

Examples of applicants who may apply for an undergraduate course:

• Tash has just graduated from high school and has not previously studied at university. She is applying for an undergraduate degree in Secondary Teaching.

• Will graduated from high school three years ago and has since completed a Certificate III at TAFE SA. He is now applying for an undergraduate degree for the first time and may be able to use either his ATAR (which does not expire) or his Certificate III as a pathway.

• Maddie has completed one year of university study and would like to change degrees. She may be eligible to transfer using her ATAR/Year 12 results and her GPA from her first year at university.

Postgraduate study is generally the next stage of study for someone who has completed a bachelor’s degree and who is specialising further in a chosen field.

Postgraduate qualifications include:

• Master’s degrees

• Doctoral degrees (PhD)

• Graduate entry bachelor’s degrees

• Graduate certificates

• Graduate diplomas

Honours may also be considered a postgraduate qualification when undertaken as a standalone year of study following a bachelor’s degree.

In most cases, an undergraduate qualification (such as a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree with honours) is the pathway into postgraduate study. If you have not completed a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate study is generally not the appropriate level for you.

Some postgraduate courses have quite specific entry requirements. For example, certain nursing programs may require prior study in a related discipline and/or relevant professional experience.

Other postgraduate courses may offer alternative pathways to entry. In some cases, postgraduate business programs may consider significant professional experience in place of a bachelor degree.

Examples of postgraduate applicants:

• Ellen holds a Bachelor of Business and is now completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

• Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Accounting and is now using this undergraduate qualification to study a Master of Teaching.

• Alex is entering a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) program. He has a Bachelor of Arts already that allows him graduate entry.