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

Local Student Requirements

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Certificate IV Courses
• Evidence of VCE Year 11 completion or equivalent qualifications; and
• Interview (or Curriculum Vitae and Personal Essay)
• English Language Proficiency

All other courses

Diploma & Advanced Diploma courses:

1. Evidence of Year 12 completion or comparable qualifications; 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

COURSE FEES

	2009 Enrolments - Fees Per Year				2010 Enrolments – Fees Per Year
Courses	Years (Full-Time)	Part-time (Aust St’s)	Full-Time (Local)	Overseas Students	Part-time (Local)	Full-Time (Local)	Overseas Students
Interior Design Courses
Certificate IV in Arts (Interior Decoration)	1	5,700	10,000	10,500	5,700	10,500	11,000
Diploma of Arts (Interior Decoration & Design)	2	5,700	10,000	10,500	5,700	11,000	11,500
Advanced Diploma of Interior Design	3	6,700	11,000	12,000	6,700	12,000	13,000
Building Design Courses
Certificate IV in Residential Drafting	1	5,700	10,000	10,500	5,700	10,500	11,000
Diploma of Building Design & Technology	2	5,700	10,000	10,500	5,700	11,000	11,500
Advanced Diploma of Building Design & Project Administration	3	6,700	11,000	12,000	6,700	12,000	13,000

These fees are subject to change and will be confirmed when you enrol in your course. The course fees cover the full cost of tuition in accordance with the course structure. Repeating subjects will incur additional tuition fees. Fees for continuing students are assessed and invoiced before the beginning of each year and must be paid by the due date. 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.

CHARGES FOR ALL DIPLOMA COURSES

There are a number of costs associated with your studies as follows

Description	Amount AUD$	Payable	Type
Application Fee	50	With the Application for Admission form	Compulsory
Registration Fee	500	With First Year Enrolment Only	Compulsory
Health Cover	388.80*	Annually for Overseas Students Only	Compulsory
Contract Management Fees	15	Per Instalment – If taking the flexible payment option Only	Compulsory
RPL Assessment	60	Per subject	Optional
Supplementary Examinations	40**	Per subject – if option is offered by OPIE	Optional
Accommodation Assistance	100	With First Year Enrolment Only	Optional
Airport Pick-Up	100	With First Year Enrolment Only	Optional
Prescribed Books or Readers	250***	Spread throughout the course when required	Optional
Tools / Consumable Materials	800***	Spread throughout the course when required.	Optional

* Health cover rate is based on attainment of Medibank Private Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It is subject to change by Medibank Private.
** Supplementary Examinations are offered to students who have satisfied the folio component of a subject but were unsuccessful in the examination, as an alternative to repeating the subject. Conditions apply.
*** Approximate costs, depending on course studied and subjects undertaken. Please note that the purchase of Tools and Consumable Materials is normally much higher in the fi rst year than subsequent years. Please note, once commissioned by the student, these charges are not refundable unless circumstances are deemed reasonable by OPIE to warrant a refund.

HOLDING OF COURSE FEES

All fees are initially placed in an OPIE Trust Account. These fees are then withdrawn from the Trust Account on the following basis:
• the application and registration fee are withdrawn immediately;
• on commencement of the course, OPIE will withdraw 25% of prepaid course fees from the Trust Account;
• thereafter, course fees will be withdrawn weekly in arrears, the amount withdrawn being calculated on a pro rata basis over the period for which fees have been prepaid.

FEE INCREASES

The fees quoted above are current and accurate at the time they are provided to you. They will be confirmed when you enrol into the course. Fees will then remain fixed for the duration of your course unless there is some dramatic increase in costs beyond OPIE’s control. In this unlikely event, any increase in costs will be notified at least two months prior to their application.

REFUND POLICY

Applicable to All Students enrolled in diploma courses
• The Application Fee and Registration Fee are not refundable.
• OPIE agrees to refund, within 14 days, any Course Fees paid where the student’s Application for Enrolment is refused by OPIE.
• OPIE agrees to refund, within 14 days, any Course Fees paid, where a student withdraws or defers their enrolment no less than twenty-eight days prior to the course commencement date.
• OPIE agrees to refund, within 14 days, any Course Fees paid where OPIE cancels the course or where the commencement date is postponed for more than four weeks unless alternative arrangements are agreeable to the student.
• OPIE agrees to refund, within 30 days, any Course Fees paid, where, by reason or reasons beyond the student’s control, including but not limited, acts of God, acts of Government authorities, civil strike and riots, the student is prevented from attending the course.
• Where a student withdraws or defers their enrolment from the course less than twenty-eight days prior to the commencement date, OPIE is entitled to retain an amount of Course Fees equivalent to 4 weeks tuition. OPIE agrees to refund all remaining Course Fees.
• Fines incurred for late payment of fees and Contract Management Fees paid are not refundable.
• Where withdrawal or deferral from the course results from the applicant being offered a higher preference placement into another institution in second or third round offers administered by VTAC, OPIE agrees to refund within 14 days, all Course Fees paid. Evidence of VTAC offer will need to be provided.

Specific for Australian Students Only

• Where a student withdraws, defers or is expelled from the course after its commencement, OPIE will be entitled to ten weeks written notice of discontinuation, or in lieu of such notice, and in cases of expulsion, OPIE is entitled to retain Course Fees equivalent of ten weeks tuition. The balance of Course Fees will be refunded to the student.

Specific for Overseas Students Only
• OPIE agrees to refund, within 14 days, any Course Fees charges paid where the student produces evidence that the application made by the student for a visa was rejected by the DIMIA.
• Where a student withdraws, defers or is expelled from the course after its commencement, OPIE will be entitled to twenty weeks written notice of discontinuation, or in lieu of such notice, and in cases of expulsion, OPIE is entitled to retain Course Fees equivalent to twenty weeks tuition. The balance of Course Fees will be refunded to the student. Please note that these terms do not remove the right to take further action under Australia’s Consumer Protection Laws and do not remove the right to pursue other legal options.

DEFERRAL & COURSE FEE CREDITS

If you have made payments up-front and you cannot continue the course due to unavoidable reasons, any refundable amount (see Refund Policy), can be retained by OPIE, if you wish, as a credit to your account to be used to pay for the continuation of your course at a later date. Any credit of Course Fees held on your account will not be transferable to any other persons.

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. 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;

INTERIOR DESIGN & INTERIOR DECORATION

Application for Admission Form

- Local Students
- International Students

BUILDING DESIGN & DRAFTING

Application for Admission Form

- Local Students
- International Students

IMPORTANT DATES

	2009	2010
Second 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.