Once you’ve made the decision to pursue a
career in tax, the wait for course admissions to open each year can feel
lengthy or discouraging. Thankfully, mid-year intake provides many students
like yourself with the option of a flexible start date. So if you’re eager to start studying as soon
as possible, armed with the right information, you can take your first steps
towards making your career in tax a reality.
Mid-year entry is available across
most course levels – from undergraduate and postgraduate to honours programs. While all
universities have their own specific admission requirements, which may affect
the number of positions available during mid-year intake as well as the courses
offered, there are some general rules that can help during the application
process.
Mid-year programs
If you are commencing a program
mid-year, it is important to go to relevant faculty and school websites for
advice about course selection and information. Here, you will generally find
course-specific information such as, which courses offer mid-year intake, how
to apply, selection criteria and course prerequisites. For example, accounting and law are two courses that typically run a mid-year intake.
External providers
If you are seeking to study an
industry recognised course or subject but do not wish to attend university, a
good place to start is by researching other education providers, such as those
recognised by the Tax Practitioners Board Registered Training Association. The subjects taught at these
institutions can usually offer subjects and programs that may suite your tax
knowledge needs, such as The Tax Institute’ or single subjects. These institutes will also provide a flexible study intake and
an easier application process.
Mid-year single subjects
Undertaking a single subject
mid-year is an option available to students who are not yet ready to commit to
a program in full. This provides you with a taste for the program, and the
completion of the subject can be credited to your degree should you pursue it
full-time at a later date. To enrol in a single unit, this is usually completed
in direct correspondence with the university and is dependent on your ability
to meet course requirements.
Deadlines for mid-year programs
The program start date for mid-year
entry is July, however unlike the process at the start of the year, there are
several rounds of admission for mid-year intake. To be considered for this year’s undergraduate mid-year intake,
the final admission deadline for most NSW and ACT universities is 12 July 2016.
This date, however, is dependent on the specific course and university you are
hoping to enrol in.
For specific dates, please refer to
the Universities Admissions Centre’s key dates for offer rounds. In the event you are applying for
a university in another Australian state, your admission is dependent on the
tertiary education board for that state.
Application process for mid-year programs
Now that you have selected your
course, it’s important to
take the time to ensure you have everything you need for a successful
application.
Depending on any previous
qualifications or study you have completed prior to your application, you may
need to provide:
·
Australian
Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
·
Documents that
prove TAFE studies outside NSW and the ACT.
·
Documents that
prove overseas secondary or tertiary studies.
·
Academic
transcripts that include the title of the course undertaken, all subjects
taken, grades and proof of course competition.
·
Employment
experience that includes your job title, period of employment and a summary of
any job tasks.
To begin studying mid-year,
students applying to a NSW or ACT university will need to apply through the UAC. However, if you choose to enrol outside of a university, it is
best to contact the institute directly and enquire about their internal
application process.
Just because you begin a course six
months behind your cohorts doesn’t necessarily mean you will graduate six months later than them.
Universities and institutes offer every opportunity to accelerate your studies
so you can graduate alongside your peers. In addition, universities and
institutes also offer the chance for students to take additional classes or
attend summer school to help you speed things along.
Whether you’ve decided to change courses, opted
for an extended summer holiday or simply pursued other opportunities before
embarking on your university career, mid-year intake provides the flexibility
to start a career in tax when it suits you.
Thinking about starting your next move today? Visit taxinstitute.com.au/education for further information about our subject and program offerings.
