Distance Education 2000 - Admission procedures

Admission procedures

Multiple applications

An application for admission form appears at the back of this handbook. Please take the time to read the information/instructions sheet before completing the application and credit transfer forms.
In general, timely applications received by 24 September 1999 will be given priority. However, please read course entries carefully as different acceptance and processing dates may apply.
Applications received after 24 September 1999 will be considered as they arrive. Early lodgement of applications is advisable as quotas apply to many courses, and it is possible that places for some courses will be filled by applicants who are made first-round offers.
Lodgement of an application does not indicate automatic acceptance. Apart from considerations of eligibility and selection criteria, quotas operate on courses and some individual subjects. When selecting your study program please keep in mind that a time limit applies to the completion of courses. You should aim at maintaining the recommended rate of progress for your course. Normally two subjects per semester ensures that you have a margin of safety in this regard.

Multiple applications

If you wish to apply for more than one course you will need to complete separate application forms with copies of all your documentation attached to each application.
Additional application forms and acknowledgement cards may be obtained by telephoning the Course Inquiries Centre on 1800 671845, or by sending an email message to course.inquiries@CeLTS.monash.edu.au
Instructions are included with the application form at the back of this handbook, listing the steps to be followed.
Students are not restricted to studying solely in one mode (ie distance education or on-campus). Subject to approval by the relevant academic unit, students may enrol in a combination of subjects in either mode or change from one mode to another.
If you wish to study at Monash University as a part-time or full-time on-campus student, you must apply through VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, 40 Park Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205. Telephone (03) 9690 7977).

Preparing your application

1 Read carefully the entry requirements for the course for which you are lodging an application, and remember that a separate application must be lodged for each course if you wish to make multiple applications. Note any special action you need to take - for example completion of a course administration form which can (if not provided with this book) be obtained from the Course Inquiries Centre by telephoning 1800 671 845, or sending an email message to course.inquiries@CeLTS.monash.edu.au. Please note whether the course requires any special documentation. This will become evident when you read the entry requirements and special requirements listed under the course.
2 Attach certified copies of documents from your previous studies (see section below) including evidence that you have satisfied the university's entrance requirements. Please note that English translations from another language must be certified.
3 Attach a certified copy of your change of name if any of your application documents is under another name (eg marriage certificate).
4 Attach documentation of work experience (eg reference from your employer) and any other factors which you consider relevant to the application, including any factors which you consider might enhance your chances of success in studying in the distance education mode. Please only supply certified copies of any documents, not originals, as documents will not be returned.
5 Print your name and address on the acknowledgement card (see back cover), and affix a postage stamp. (Several thousand distance education applications are received each year and it is not practical to advise applicants on the telephone whether their application has been received.) The card will be posted back to you as confirmation that your application has been received.

Providing legally certified copies of your previous studies

Please do not send original documents as they will not be returned.
Applicants must supply certified copies of documents from all studies undertaken which are relevant for admission purposes, including the final secondary school year in the case of applications for undergraduate courses. The copies must be legally certified as true copies of the original documents.
If any of your studies were undertaken under a different name, you must also provide a certified copy of the legal change of name (eg marriage certificate). If your documents are in a language other than English, you will also need to arrange for a certified translation to be provided.

Late submission of certified copies of previous studies

Consideration of incomplete applications may need to be delayed until all crucial documentation has been supplied. This could result in your failure to gain a place in a course because quota places have been filled in the meantime.
If your application is incomplete you will be requested to lodge outstanding information within a specific timeframe. If you have lodged multiple applications, you may receive multiple requests for information. Please ensure that you respond to each request together with the documentation required for each particular application.

How to have your documents certified

Make sufficient copies of your original documents for attachment to each application you intend to lodge. Take the originals and copies to the person who is to certify them. The following persons are authorised to certify photocopied documents and the certifier should be asked to ensure that their name, title (or other indication of their authority to certify documents) and date appear on each page of document certified:

a Justice of the Peace or a Bail Justice;
a Notary Public;
a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court;
a clerk to a barrister and solicitor;
the Prothonotary or a Deputy Prothonotary of the Supreme Court;
the Registrar of Deputy Registrar of the County Court;
the Principal Registrar of the Magistrates Court;
the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of the Magistrates Court;
the Registrar of Probates or an Assistant Registrar of Probates;
the Associate to a Judge of the Supreme Court or the County Court;
the Secretary of a Master of the Supreme Court or the County Court;
a person registered as a Patent Attorney under Part XV of the Patents Act 1952 of the Commonwealth;
a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (Victoria);
a member of the Police Force;
a Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff;
a member or former member of either House of the Parliament of Victoria;
a councillor of a municipality;
a town clerk or shire secretary;
a legally qualified medical practitioner;
a dentist;
a veterinary surgeon;
a pharmacist;
a principal in the teaching service;
a manager of a bank;
a member of the Australian Society of Practising Accountants;
the secretary of a building society;
a minister of religion authorised to celebrate marriage;
a person who holds office in the public service (of Victoria) that is prescribed as an office of which the holder may witness statutory declarations.

Credits/exemptions (advanced standing)

If you have studied previously at a college, TAFE or university you may be eligible for exemption from some course requirements and/or credit for specific subjects towards your course.
Please use the application for credit transfer form provided in this book if you wish to apply for credits and/or exemptions. Legally certified copies of academic transcripts of your previous studies will need to be supplied (refer to certification information above). In addition, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide details of course content, duration etc., and full details of the content of subjects for which specific credit is being sought (for example, extracts from relevant course handbooks). If any documents are in a language other than English, a certified translation will be required.
If the granting of credits and exemptions is likely to affect your nominated study program for the first year, it would be best to contact the relevant academic unit for advice on choice of subjects, before lodging an application for admission.
As a general rule, specific credits will not be granted for studies completed more than ten years prior to the date of enrolment in the current course.
Applicants are also advised to check the individual course entries for additional information pertaining to the specific course.
Please note that credits and exemptions are not normally considered until an application for admission is approved for offer of a course place.

Cross-institutional studies

Students who wish to enrol for one or more subjects for credit towards an award course concurrently being undertaken at another university may lodge an application at any time up to two weeks before the commencement of the academic year (or semester). Early applications are less likely to be affected by quotas.
Such applications must be accompanied by evidence that the home/awarding institution is agreeable to crediting the subjects upon successful completion (eg letter from the faculty concerned). Students must provide proof of payment of the student amenities fee at their home institution if they wish to have the amenities fee payable to Monash University waived. A HECS payment option form to cover the Monash enrolment will be required (if the subject is offered on a HECS liable basis). Further information will be contained in offer letters.
Note that continuing Monash students should contact their faculties if they wish to undertake a subject offered by distance education. A separate application for admission as a distance education student is not required.

Single subject studies (non-award studies)

This option is mainly used by applicants who wish to demonstrate academic potential for purposes of entry to an award course, undertake one or more subjects in order to gain recognition by a professional body, or who wish to study a subject for their own interest. In some cases students may wish to undertake a subject which is surplus to meeting the requirements of the course in which they are already enrolled. Please refer to the 'Fees' section below for cost estimates for non-award subjects.