You must be 18 years and over to apply for admission into any of PIA courses. 

Undergraduate courses 

Bachelor of Business (Accounting) 

Bachelor of Business (Marketing) 

Bachelor of Networking & Telecommunications 

Entry Requirements 

• Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary qualification (or recognised equivalent) with the equivalent of a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60 and 
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard English; and 
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 3 Advanced Mathematics; or 
• NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard 2 Mathematics. 
• An equivalent secondary qualification overseas that also meets the mathematics requirement above; or 
• An accredited Tertiary Preparation Program or a Foundation Year Program offered by an accredited Australian provider that also meets the mathematics requirement above; or 
• One year of completed accredited full-time study at a registered institution of tertiary education at AQF level 5 or above that also meets the mathematics requirement above. 

Language requirements 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or 
• TOEFL: 575 or better; or 
• TOEFL IBT (International Benchmark Test): 91 or better; or 
• TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test): 235 or better; or 
• Academic PTE (Pearson Test of English): 58 or better; or 
• Cambridge English: CAE and CPE (from 2015): 176 or better; or 
• General Certificate of Education (GCE): A Levels with a C or better in English; or 
• KITE: all bands B2 with a result greater than 450 in each band; or 
• Duolingo: overall 115 with no band less than 110. 

 English Language Test results are valid for two years from the date of the results up to the date of commencement at the Institute. The most recent test supersedes ALL previous tests. 

 Postgraduate Courses 

Master of Business 

Graduate Certificate in Business 

Graduate Diploma in Business 

Entry Requirements 

Polytechnic Institute Australia’s courses have flexible entry requirements that apply to Master of Business. Students enrolling in in the Master of Business Degree program must meet the following entry requirements. 

General entry 

A recognised Australian or equivalent bachelor’s degree or higher 

Special or alternative admission arrangements 

• A minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, which includes at least three years’ management experience, or significant technical experience; OR 
• An Advanced Diploma or associate degree (AQF Level 6) or learning equivalent to an AQF Level 6 qualification and at least three years’ relevant work experience; OR 
• Completion of the Graduate Certificate stage at the Institute (or equivalent at a recognised HEP or University) 

International Students 

Must satisfy the English Language Requirements AND have a 

• Recognised Australian or equivalent bachelor’s degree or higher OR 
• An Advanced Diploma or associate degree (AQF Level 6) or learning equivalent to an AQF Level 6 qualification and at least three years’ relevant work experience OR 
• Completion of the Graduate Certificate stage at the Institute (or equivalent at a recognised HEP or University) 

Special and/or alternative entry: non-school leavers (mature-age applicants and/or those who do not hold their HSC or equivalent) – 

• a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, which includes at least three years’ management experience, or significant technical experience OR 
• An Advanced Diploma or associate degree (AQF Level 6) or learning equivalent to an AQF Level 6 qualification and at least three years’ relevant work experience OR 
• Completion of the Graduate Certificate stage at the Institute (or equivalent at a recognised Australian Institute of Higher Education, Australian University College, or Australian University). Foreign qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Language requirements 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or 
• TOEFL: 575 or better; or 
• TOEFL IBT (International Benchmark Test): 91 or better; or 
• TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test): 235 or better; or 
• Academic PTE (Pearson Test of English): 58 or better; or 
• Cambridge English: CAE and CPE (from 2015): 176 or better; or 
• General Certificate of Education (GCE): A Levels with a C or better in English; or 
• KITE: all bands B2 with a result greater than 450 in each band; or 
• Duolingo: overall 115 with no band less than 110. 

English Language Test results are valid for two years from the date of the results up to the date of commencement at the Institute. The most recent test supersedes ALL previous tests. 

Master of Information & Communications Technology 

Entry Requirements 

(a) Applicants must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree (AQF 7) or higher, awarded by a recognised university or higher education institution, in any discipline or equivalent. 

(b) Applicants who do not meet these entry requirements but who successfully complete a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma will be eligible for entry into this course. 

Language requirements 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or 
• TOEFL: 575 or better; or 
• TOEFL IBT (International Benchmark Test): 91 or better; or 
• TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test): 235 or better; or 
• Academic PTE (Pearson Test of English): 56 or better; or 
• Cambridge English: CAE and CPE (from 2015): 176 or better; or 
• General Certificate of Education (GCE): A Levels with a C or better in English; or 
• KITE: all bands B2 with a result greater than 450 in each band; or 
• Duolingo: overall 115 with no band less than 110. 

 English Language Test results are valid for two years from the date of the results up to the date of commencement at the Institute. The most recent test supersedes ALL previous tests. 

Graduate Diploma in Information & Communication Technology 

Graduate Certificate in Information & Communication Technology 

Entry Requirements 

• Successfully completed a bachelor’s degree (AQF 7) or higher awarded by a recognised university or higher education institution, in any discipline or equivalent. 
• Successfully completed an associate degree or Advanced Diploma (AQF 6) awarded by a recognised university or higher education institution, in any discipline or equivalent, AND 
• have at least two- years full-time managerial and/or professional work experience in a related field. 
• a minimum of three-years full-time managerial and/or professional work experience in a related field. 
• a minimum of five-years full-time general work experience in a related field 

Applicants from a non-English speaking background must satisfy English language requirements set by the Institute. Details are published on the Institute website. 

Language requirements 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or 
• TOEFL: 575 or better; or 
• TOEFL IBT (International Benchmark Test): 91 or better; or 
• TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test): 235 or better; or 
• Academic PTE (Pearson Test of English): 56 or better; or 
• Cambridge English: CAE and CPE (from 2015): 176 or better; or 
• General Certificate of Education (GCE): A Levels with a C or better in English; or 
• KITE: all bands B2 with a result greater than 450 in each band; or 
• Duolingo: overall 115 with no band less than 110. 

English Language Test results are valid for two years from the date of the results up to the date of commencement at the Institute. The most recent test supersedes ALL previous tests. 

Advanced Standing 

Students may apply for Advanced Standing (credit for prior learning) at the time of admission. All applications are assessed under the provisions of the Advanced Standing Policy and Procedure. 

You must be 18 years and over to apply for admission into any of PIA courses.

Undergraduate

• Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary qualification (or recognised equivalent) with the equivalent of a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 60 and

Bachelor of Business

NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard English; and

NSW (or equivalent) Band 3 Advanced Mathematics; or

NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard 2 Mathematics.

Bachelor of Networking and Telecommunications

NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard English; and

NSW (or equivalent) Band 3 Advanced Mathematics; or

NSW (or equivalent) Band 4 Standard 2 Mathematics.

• Successful completion of a qualification at an Australian registered institution of tertiary education, at AQF level 5 or above (or recognised equivalent issued in a country listed Appendix 2); or
• Satisfactory completion of an accredited Tertiary Preparation Program or Foundation Year Program offered by an Australian university that enables students to gain entry to an Australian university; and
• In addition, all students must be 18 years of age or over at the time that they commence the course for which they have applied. Where there are higher education studies in addition to completed vocational qualifications the decision for admission will solely be based on the higher education academic results.
  

  Postgraduate

  Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit in accordance with the following admissions criteria:

  Master of Business

  a) a pass bachelor’s degree or higher qualification with a minimum credit average (or equivalent) at an institution approved by the Institute or

  b) a pass bachelor’s degree or higher qualification (or equivalent) and performance in an admissions test approved by the Business School to a standard considered satisfactory by the Institute; and

  c) satisfaction of the English language requirements; and

  d) any other minimum standards specified by the Institute.

  Graduate Diploma in Business

  a) a pass bachelor’s degree or higher qualification (or equivalent) at an institution approved by the Business School and graded at a standard acceptable to the Institute.

  b) satisfaction of the English language requirements; and

  c) any other minimum standards specified by the Institute.

  Graduate Certificate in Business

  a) a pass bachelor’s degree or higher qualification (or equivalent) at an institution approved by the Business School and graded at a standard acceptable to the Institute; or

  b) a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, which includes at least three years’ management experience, or significant technical experience, as determined by the Institute.

  c) satisfaction of the English language proficiency requirements; and

  d) any other minimum standards specified by the Business School.

  TEST	OVERALL	READING	WRITING	LISTENING	SPEAKING
  IELTS Academic	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
  TOEFL iBT	83	13	21	12	18
  PTE Academic	58	50	50	50	50
  C1A	180	169	169	169	169
  C2P	180	169	169	169	169
  OET	–	C+	C+	C/C+	C/C+
  KITE	B2	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)
  TEST	OVERALL	LITERACY	PRODUCTION	PRODUCTION	PRODUCTION
  Duolingo*	115	110	110	110	110

• Other acceptable evidence of English proficiency includes:Note that the most recent attempt at any language proficiency test supersedes any previous attempts or requirements

  Successful completion of an AQF Level 5 Diploma or above with at least two (2) years of full-time study in English at an Australian registered vocational or higher education. 4.7 Applicants who do not meet the specified English proficiency requirements must enrol in an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) program at PIA or a provider of their own choice.

  Where student have applied to undertake an ELICOS course through an alternate provider they must provide a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) for an ELICOS program in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), for a duration of at least twelve (12) weeks for every 0.5 below 6.0 overall or subsection IELTS or equivalent result, prior to application, and evidence of successful completion must be provided prior to enrolling in the PIA course.

• Postgraduate

  As well as meeting the admissions criteria set out above, all international candidates must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements. Candidates must provide certified documentation that they meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements.

  Below are the minimum requirements which must be demonstrated for entry into the postgraduate courses

  TEST	OVERALL	READING	WRITING	LISTENING	SPEAKING
  IELTS Academic	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
  TOEFL iBT	85	13	21	12	18
  PTE Academic	58	50	50	50	50
  C1A	180	169	169	169	169
  C2P	180	169	169	169	169
  OET	–	C+	C+	C/C+	C/C+
  KITE	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)	B2 (>450)
  Duolingo*	115	110	110	110	110

  * Under trial

  PIA may consider applicants who have successfully completed at least one full year of a higher education course (AQF Level 7 or above) at an Australian higher education provider within the last 2 years. PIA may also consider applicants who have successfully completed at least one full year of a Vocational Education and Training course (AQF Level 8 or above) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation within the last 2 years.

  All evidence provided and test results must have been officially obtained within two years of the proposed commencement date for the course.

  Advanced Standing

  Students may apply for Advanced Standing (credit for prior learning) at the time of admission. All applications are assessed under the provisions of the Advanced Standing Policy and Procedure.

Special/Alternative Admission Arrangements

Undergraduate

Applicants who are 21 years of age or over who have not completed Year 12, or its equivalent may gain entry to a course by addressing one of the following entry requirements:

1. Successful completion of a Special Tertiary Admissions Test administered by a tertiary admissions centre; or
2. Submission of a portfolio of prior and current academic and professional work; or

The criteria used by the Dean when approving applicants for admission into a course under special or alternative admission arrangements include:

Applicants applying under special admission categories will be required to attend an interview with the Dean to assess the applicant’s capacity for higher education studies. The applicant should submit a portfolio of prior and current academic and professional work prior to the interview to assist in the assessment process.

• capacity to pursue tertiary studies;
• motivation to pursue tertiary studies in the discipline of the chosen course;
• demonstrated potential for academic studies based on the applicant’s portfolio;
• relevant professional and industry experience; and
• specific consideration of access issues for ATSI’s.

Postgraduate

In exceptional circumstances the Institute may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the Institute, have qualifications and evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award. These may include:

1. a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, which includes at least three years’ management experience, or significant technical experience
2. completion of an Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree (AQF Level 6) or learning equivalent to an AQF Level 6 qualification and at least three years’ relevant work experience
3. completion of the Graduate Certificate stage at PIA (or equivalent at a recognised HEP or University)
4. any other entry pathway where PIA can demonstrate that the candidate has the appropriate English language proficiency, academic knowledge and acumen to successfully complete the course in which they enrol.

The processes used to monitor the progress of students enrolled under special/alternative arrangements include:

1. monitoring of the student’s progress by the Learning and Teaching Committee at the conclusion of each term in the first year of the student’s enrolment; and
2. a “Review of Student Progress” meeting between the student and the Learning and Teaching Committee at the conclusion of the first semester of the student’s enrolment to review both the academic progression and student welfare.