Local Students | International Students | Course & Tuition Fees | Application

Local Student Requirements

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Architecture Degree:

1. Evidence of Year 12 completion or comparable qualifications with a pass in

4 subjects, one of which must be English; and

2. Satisfactory assessment at Interview, (or Curriculum Vitae and Personal Essay)

INTERVIEW OR CURRICULUM VITAE

There are no secondary school subject prerequisites for entry into the courses. The OPIE Interview incorporates an aptitude test designed to indicate whether applicants possess sufficient literacy, numeracy and visual interpretation skills, to allow them to successfully complete the course. There is no need for revision or study preparation required for you to succeed in the aptitude test. Interviews are held at OPIE in Melbourne. If you live interstate or overseas but are intending to move to Melbourne during the application process or some time before enrolment, OPIE will exert every effort to arrange an appointment for an interview with you which is convenient. If you currently live overseas, or interstate, and are unable to visit Melbourne during the application process, you are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae including a Personal Essay of approximately 600 words introducing yourself and illustrating your wish to study the course at OPIE.

Please note that the Interview is the primary method of assessment for your entry into the course. Students living in Victoria must attend the interview to gain successful entry to the course.

VCE AND EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS

Students who successfully complete secondary school education in Australia, receive a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. In Victoria the certificate has been titled the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) since 1992, which is attained from Year 11 to Year 12 (5th and 6th year of secondary studies) and forms the basic educational requirement for entry into tertiary and vocational courses. Mature age applicants from Victoria who completed secondary school prior to 1992 will possess the Higher Education Certificate (HSC). Interstate Equivalent Qualifications The Senior Secondary Certificate of Education is known by different titles according to the Australian State and Territory issuing authority:

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)	ACT Year 12 Certificate
New South Wales (NSW)	Higher Education Certificate (HSC)
Northern Territory (NT)	Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE)
Queensland (QLD)	Senior Certifi cate
South Australia (SA)	South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
Tasmania (TAS)	Tasmanian Certificate ofEducation (TCE)
Western Australia (WA)	WA Certificate of Education

International Student Requirements

International Equivalent Qualifications

If your secondary school qualifications are from outside Australia you are required to provide evidence that your secondary school level attained is equivalent to the Australian VCE.

To do this you will need a Statement of Equivalent Qualification from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). Visit the website www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or directly enter this link:
www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/vcerecognition/equiquals/equivalentquals.html for more information.

To acquire an official Statement of Equivalent Qualification, you will be required to:

• Download an Application for Statement of Equivalent Qualification form;
• Attach certified copies of your original educational documents;
• Attach the processing fee; and
• Forward these to the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

VCAA states that your application should be processed within 2-3 weeks or within 48hour for an additional charge. If you do not have internet access, contact VCAA directly.

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
41 St Andrews Place,
East Melbourne
Victoria 3002
Australia
Telephone: +613 96514300
Facsimile: +613 96514324

If you have commenced studies at a University, or Tertiary College in a country outside Australia, you only need to provide certified copies of your most recent transcripts.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide evidence that you have the required level of English proficiency. This includes evidence that you have already studied a course where English was the medium of instruction and/or you may be required to sit additional assessment as part of your application for one of the following English Language tests:

• IELTS (International English Language Test System) (minimum score of 6.0) can be taken at the British Council or Australian Education Centre or visit www.ielts.org . Priority will be given to IELTS results.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) (minimum score of 550) and TWE (Test of Written English) (minimum score of 4.5) are available at the American Consulate or visit www.toefl.org . If you do not satisfy the English requirements you may apply to enrol in an English Language Intensive Course (ELICOS) to be completed prior to commencing your course at OPIE. This normally requires a minimum of six months additional study.

SPECIAL ENTRY & RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)

If you do not possess the documentary evidence specified above, or you consider that you already possess competencies identified in the curriculum, you may seek recognition for these competencies by applying for RPL.

Credit for whole subjects or modules may be granted if you present information clearly demonstrating that you already possess the competencies and skills taught in the module. After you have been made an Offer to study the course at OPIE, if you wish to be assessed for RPL, you will be required to complete an RPL Application form and provide evidence such as work reports, personal resume and/or documentary evidence provided on formal study previously undertaken. You may also be required to sit Classification Examinations. Contact OPIE if you require more information at this stage.

additional information for overseas students

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Absences

Punctuality and attendance to all lectures and classes, including tutorials, is a requirement of the Department of Immigration. If a major portion of class time is missed due to late arrival, absence will be recorded.
A 90% attendance rate is necessary to fulfill OPIE regulations. Records of absence will be compiled and will appear on term/semester reports. Where students do not meet the attendance requirement, OPIE is obliged to report this to the Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA). The specified attendance is 80% of classes.

Medical Certificates
Absences for medical reasons must be verified by the submission of a medical certificate.

Medical and Health Insurance

Student good health and current membership with an Overseas Student Health Cover Fund is insisted upon by the Australian Government, information for which is obtainable from Australian Diplomatic Missions.
The Overseas Student Health Cover Fund (OSHC) nominated by OPIE is Medibank Private. Fees to this fund are paid in advance and can be forwarded to OPIE together with the Enrolment Form after you have received an offer. This will ensure Australian Immigration criteria is met and facilitate the issue of your Visa.
Travel insurance covering baggage, cancellation of tickets and repatriation together with accident and property insurance whilst in Australia is also recommended.

Bringing children to Australia
If you are bringing school-age dependents with you to Australia, you will be required to pay full fees if they are enrolled in either a government or non-government school and must also be covered by your OSHC. DIMIA outlines visa requirements and instructions if you are bringing family members into Australia.

Visit www.dimia.gov.au

Financial Assistance
Due to laws governing rights under students Visa’s, International students are not eligible for financial welfare. You should become fully informed as to the Visa regulations on part time work and are encouraged to contact DIMIA.

Work Rights
With approval from DIMIA Students may be permitted to work up to twenty hours per week during their course and full time during vacations provided the work does not interfere with their studies. OPIE will provide assistance in locating appropriate work should Industry Placement be part of your course.

Other Visa Requirements
You must meet certain standards for the issue of an Australian Visa:
• Have sufficient financial capacity to cover all expenses during your entire stay in Australia, including return airfares and cost of living.
• Be genuinely seeking temporary entry for study purposes only and must agree to leave Australia when the course is completed.
• Be enrolled in full-time study.
• Be of good health.
It is crucial that you refer to the information provided by the Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), by visiting www.dimia.gov.au

Minimum Age
If you are an Overseas Student, you must be at least 18 years of age to make an application to study at OPIE.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Australian Banking Hours Generally 9:30am-4pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:30am-5pm Friday, but some banks offer extended hours and some are open on Saturday mornings. Travellers cheques are widely accepted, as are major credit cards VISA, Mastercard and (to a lesser extent) AMEX and Diners Card. Most banks will engage in foreign currency exchange.

Currency exchange rates
The currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar. Visit one of the following website for up-to-date information on exchanges rates with your home currency:
www.xe.com
www.oanda.com

FEE - HELP & COURSE FEES

	2009 Enrolments – Fees Per Year				2010 Enrolments – Fees Per Year
Courses	Years (Full-Time)	Part-time (Local)	Full-Time (Local)	Overseas Students	Part-time (Local)	Full-Time (Local)	Overseas Students
Architecture & Building Design Courses
Bachelor of Architecture Degree	6	7,500	14,950	16,000	7,935	15,870	17,000

The course fees cover the full cost of tuition in accordance with the course structure. The Part-time course fees depicted are for the set part-time timetable. Amount will vary depending on the number contact hours and subjects actually undertaken.

Click on the link below to gain access to the schedule of tuition fees. The schedule of tuition fees is within the period stipulated in the Higher Education Provider (HEP) Guidelines.

Attachment M (FEE-HELP) - EFTSL figures and course census dates

Procedure S1.1 - Review Procedure - FEE-HELP Re-credit

COURSE ASSURANCE

Statement of Tuition Assurance - International and Local Students

Local Government Services
For a thorough description of the local government resources open to students, including libraries, paid work allowances for international students, etc log on to:
• www.vic.gov.au (Local Government Services) or
• www.immi.gov.au (DIMIA)
• www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
(Studying in Australia Information)

Living & Studying in Australia Information
To find out more about living in Australia as an overseas student, you might like to log on to:
• www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
(Study in Australia website – very comprehensive)
• http://aei.dest.gov.au/
(Australian Education International)
• http://www.immi.gov.au
(Dept of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs)
• http://www.austrade.gov.au/StudyAustralia/index.asp
(Austrade)
• www.health.gov.au
• www.medibank.com.au
(OSHC information)

APPLICATION

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
If you have read the above and wish to apply to study at OPIE, follow the steps bellow to ensure your application is complete:
1. Ensure you have made an application through VTAC, if you are currently in Australia and the
application dates are still open. A VTAC guide may be purchased from most news agencies.
2. After reading this Course Information brochure carefully, if you have any questions, have them
answered by contacting a representative of OPIE.
3. If English is not your first language, arrange to partake in one of the English Language tests.
4. If you are an Overseas Student and have not studied at a University or Tertiary College previously, ensure that you submit evidence of equivalent secondary school qualifications (see VCE and Equivalent Qualifications).
5. If you live overseas or interstate and strongly believe you will be unable to attend the interview, ensure that you attach a complete Curriculum Vitae of your previous education, achievements, and any work experience, and a 600 word Personal Essay introducing yourself and illustrating why you wish to study this course at OPIE.
6. List on the Application for Admission form, up to three course preferences. If you are unsuccessful in qualifying for entry into your first preference, you will be considered for the subsequent preference.
7. If you are an Australian Citizen Complete the Application for Admission form and forward it to OPIE, after attaching the following:
• Evidence of Secondary School, equivalent, or higher qualifications;
• Your Curriculum Vitae and Personal Essay if you will be unable to attend the interview.

8. If you are an Overseas Student Complete the Application for Admission form and forward it to OPIE, after attaching the following:
• AUD$50 Application Fee
• Evidence of Secondary School, equivalent, or higher qualifications;
• Your Curriculum Vitae and Personal Essay if you will be unable to attend the interview.
• Evidence of English Proficiency, if English is not your first language;

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE DEGREE

Application for Admission Form

- FEE-HELP Approved (Local Students only)
- International Students

IMPORTANT DATES

	2009	2010
First Semester Intake
Orientation Week	23 February	22 February
Course Commence	2 March	1 March
Second Semester Intake
Orientation Week	20 July	19 July
Course Commence	27 July	26 July

• VTAC Applicants should adhere to the Application Dates published in the VTAC Guide each year.
• Applications to OPIE close at the commencement of Orientation Week.
• Open Days are held in August each year. Contact OPIE for the precise date and times.

STUDENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Rules and Regulations for Students 1 Jan 2010