Handbook 2008

Admission

Applicants for admission are asked to provide evidence of their suitability for a university education. In many cases this evidence will be based on previous performance at secondary or post-secondary level (for undergraduate studies). However, for those courses into which admission is very competitive, there may be additional criteria and there will be limits on the number of places available.

As requirements for admission to graduate-level studies can vary greatly, applicants are advised to refer to the Graduate and Postgraduate Courses section of this Handbook. The application process gives an applicant the opportunity to demonstrate suitability and to make the best possible case for admission.

Note that all applicants need to prove their competency in English language.

More specific details on application processes can be found below.

Mid-Year Admission

Murdoch University’s most significant intake of students occurs at the beginning of each year. However, in recent years there has also been a mid-year intake into some courses: these students commence their courses at the beginning of Semester 2.

Domestic students offered a place at the beginning of a year may commence their studies at the start of Semester 2 that year, provided that they enrol by the Semester 1 deadline; International students must enrol in the semester they have been offered. It should be noted that not all units are available in each semester.

Applications for mid-year admission of domestic undergraduates should be directed to the Prospective Students’ and Admissions Centre; international students should contact Murdoch International; research students should contact the Graduate Centre.

Extra Admission Requirements for Teacher Education Courses

The Department of Education and Training and the Western Australian College of Teachers (WACOT) have the right to determine ‘fit and proper persons’ to enter and practice in schools. For the protection of students Education authorities have the legal right to exclude people from school premises. This power will be exercised in cases of serious or frequent criminal conviction, and may also be exercised in cases where children are thought to be at risk for any reason.

For these reasons, all applicants offered a place in teacher education courses must obtain a police clearance through the WA Department of Education and Training’s screening agency, CrimTrac. Although a criminal record does not necessarily preclude an applicant from employment as a teacher, the WA Department of Education and Training has advised that convictions:

of a violent or sexual nature; or
where the victim was under 18 years of age; or
for dealing in or trafficking illegal drugs

will almost certainly rule out the possibility of teaching in a school, regardless of when the offence(s) occurred.

Information about obtaining a police clearance will be sent by Murdoch University to all successful applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) and (Secondary) and the Bachelor of Education (Graduate Entry) (Primary and Secondary) courses and for the undergraduate Education courses when they are offered a place. The University will require a successful applicant’s police clearance soon after enrolment. In particular, full-time Graduate Diploma or BEd students should note that their placement in a school occurs early in February, and so they should obtain their police clearance through the Department of Education and Training as soon as possible to enable enrolment. Applicants who wish to obtain a police clearance application form in advance of being made an offer may do so by contacting either the University or TISC. There will be a cost to the student in obtaining this clearance.

Applicants should note that if they apply for a police clearance and do in fact have a conviction relating to offences such as those above, the Department of Education and Training will place this information on a database and make it available to other authorities.

For further details about this requirement, on a confidential basis, applicants can contact the Department of Education and Training

Telephone (08)9264 4391

As well as a criminal record check, everyone applying to teach from the beginning of 2007 must have a Working with Children check as part of the legislative requirements of the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004. Application forms can be obtained from any Australia Post Office; the form must be signed by a Principal or Deputy Principal.

Murdoch University’s Working with Children Check policy is available at

https://www.murdoch.edu.au/admin/policies/Workingwithchildrencheck.html

For further information on the Working with Children Act and Working with Children Checks, see

http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/

screening@det.wa.edu.au

Advanced Standing

As part of the admissions process the University will consider previous post-secondary and tertiary studies for advanced standing, in accordance with the Rules on Credit and Exemptions.

Credit refers to a reduction in the points required to complete a Murdoch course on the basis of recognised prior learning. It usually shortens the time required to complete the course.

An exemption removes the requirement for a particular unit to be taken. An exemption recognises that a student has completed learning/study elsewhere that substantially duplicates the content of a Murdoch unit which is a requirement of their Murdoch course.

For further information, refer to the Advanced Standing web site.