Entry requirements

All applicants must meet the English language requirements for entry into their preferred course.

For most certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses at The Gordon students are required to show:

• An IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5 (or equivalent); or
• Completion of Australian Year 12 certificate; or
• A qualification undertaken in Australia at Certificate IV or higher and completed within the past 5 years; or
• University studies in Australia of at least 1 year in duration and completed within the past 2 years.

To find out what other English tests or qualifications are recognised to enter the course you are applying for click here.

There are some courses that may require a higher IELTS score for entry.  Please check your individual course requirements by visiting the International Course page.

Applicants from specified countries may be exempt from English language requirements for admissions purposes. These students will still need to provide evidence of meeting minimum English requirements for visa purposes. Students from these specified countries undertaking courses that require a higher IELTS score (6.0 and above) will not be exempt from the English language requirement and must provide evidence of meeting the IELTS (or equivalent) requirement at the time of admission.

Each individual course at The Gordon Institute of TAFE has academic entry criteria that students must meet to be eligible for enrolment into that course.  Please check the entry criteria for your preferred course by visiting the International Course page.
In general, the minimum academic entry is:

• Certificate III course – satisfactory completion of Year 10 or equivalent
• Certificate IV course - satisfactory completion of Year 11 or equivalent
• Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas - satisfactory completion of Year 12 or equivalent

Depending on the preferred course you want to apply for you will have to show that you have completed the Australian equivalent of year 10, 11 or 12 for entry.

Most Foundation Studies Programs, particularly those offered by Australian Universities, are deemed equivalent to Year 12.  

Bangladeshi, Indian, Nepalese and Pakistan students need satisfactory completion of Year 12 or overseas equivalent at 60% in the top 4 subjects (excluding native language) for all courses (ie Cert III, Cert IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Associate Degree) if student has needed to re-sit for their exam provide all exam results.

*Not accepting Punjab State Board or Haryana State Board HS results only – need to present a Central Board result exam or a higher qualification.

Please visit the country equivalencies webpage for further information.

If your country is not listed please email: international@gordontafe.edu.au

Students must be 18 years or over at the time of course commencement. Mature age students (21 years or over) may be assessed by the relevant Program Manager for entry on a case-case basis and may be asked to provide a resume/CV to highlight relevant work experience.
 
Some courses require additional entry criteria, for example: a portfolio for graphic design courses. Visit the International Course page for additional entry criteria.

The Government has replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for student visas with a Genuine Student (GS) requirement. This is effective for student visa applications lodged on and after 23 March 2024.

This requirement does NOT apply to student visa applications lodged before 23 March 2024. We will continue to assess these applications against the GTE requirement.

All applicants for a student visa must be a genuine applicant for entry. They must stay as a student and be able to show an understanding that studying in Australia is the primary reason of their student visa. The GS requirement is intended to include students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence.

To be granted a student visa, all applicants must demonstrate they satisfy the genuine student criterion or the genuine student dependent criterion.

We strongly recommend that you read the Ministerial Direction 69 and use it to formulate your GS response.

In the online student visa application form, we will ask the applicant the below questions to address the GS criteria. 

• Give details of the applicant’s current circumstances. This includes ties to family, community, employment and economic circumstances. 
• Explain why the applicant wishes to study this course in Australia with this particular education provider. This must also explain their understanding of the requirements of the intended course and studying and living in Australia.
• Explain how completing the course will be of benefit to the applicant.
• Give details of any other relevant information the applicant would like to include.

Answers must be written in English, with a maximum of 150 words per question.

There is an additional question for those applicants who have previously held a student visa or those who are lodging an application in Australia from a non-student visa.

Along with the responses in the application form, the applicant must attach supporting documents to their ImmiAccount.

Generic statements unsupported by evidence are not given significant weight in the GS assessment. This means it is important to provide evidence to support a claim made by the applicant.

We consider an applicant’s overall personal circumstances when we assess whether they are a genuine student.