Tertiary Studies Expo 2026

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank)

The nationally comparable rank, from 0 to 99.95, that Australian universities use to select school leavers. Queensland students receive an ATAR calculated from senior subject results, and universities publish the ranges they admitted on in previous years so families can benchmark a course at the expo.

2

QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre)

The central admissions centre that processes applications for most Queensland universities, TAFE Queensland and many private providers. Applicants order course preferences through QTAC and receive offers in scheduled rounds, which is why QTAC staff and application help desks are a fixture of the Brisbane TSXPO floor.

3

Tertiary studies

Any study after secondary school, covering university degrees, TAFE certificates and diplomas, and accredited private college programs. TSXPO gathers all three streams in one hall so visitors can compare them side by side.

4

TAFE Queensland

The state's public vocational provider, offering certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas across Queensland campuses, plus documented pathways into university degrees with credit for completed study.

5

VET (Vocational Education and Training)

The Australian training sector delivering competency-based qualifications from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma through TAFE and registered training organisations (RTOs). VET stands at TSXPO sit alongside university stands because many visitors compare a diploma-to-degree route against a direct bachelor offer.

6

Apprenticeship and traineeship

Paid training contracts that combine employment with a recognised qualification, usually three to four years for an apprenticeship and one to two years for a traineeship. Group training organisations and employer groups use the expo to recruit school leavers directly.

7

Prerequisites and assumed knowledge

Senior subjects a course requires (prerequisites) or expects (assumed knowledge). Queensland institutions list these against each course, and a missing prerequisite can often be resolved through a bridging subject or a pathway program discussed at the stand.

8

Adjustment factors (bonus ranks)

Extra rank points that some universities add for strong performance in particular subjects, equity circumstances, school location or elite achievement. Schemes differ by institution, so visitors usually compare them across several stands in a single visit.

9

Early offer or early entry

An offer made before final Year 12 results are released, based on Year 11-12 results, a portfolio, an interview or a school recommendation. Each institution sets its own criteria, opening dates and conditions, and TSXPO is where those differences are easiest to compare.

10

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and HECS-HELP

A government-subsidised university place where the student pays a capped contribution, either upfront or deferred through a HECS-HELP loan. VET students may access a VET Student Loan where eligible; admissions and fees staff explain the mechanics at the expo.

11

Gap year and deferral

A year between school and further study, often used for travel, work or volunteering. Universities set their own deferral rules, and gap-year and international exchange providers exhibit at TSXPO for visitors weighing a break against a direct start.

12

AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework)

The national framework that levels qualifications from Certificate I (level 1) through diplomas and bachelor degrees to doctoral study (level 10). It is the reference point for comparing how a TAFE qualification stacks up against a degree and how much credit a pathway may carry.

13

Portfolio or alternative entry

An admission route that assesses creative or practical work, an interview, a written statement or prior study instead of, or alongside, an ATAR. Often used by mature-age applicants, creative course applicants and students whose rank does not reflect their capability.

14

Credit and articulation

Recognition of prior study so a student can skip units or enter a degree at a later stage. Articulation agreements between TAFE, private providers and universities are usually documented and can be checked against specific course codes at the expo.