TAFE/Tertiary Education Pathways

Western offers you a range of formalised Tertiary Education (TE) pathways into popular university degrees.

What is a TE pathway?

These TE pathways are established agreements between TAFE, private Vocational Educational and Training (VET) or higher education colleges that generally provide guaranteed entry and credit transfer from your vocational/higher education studies towards a related degree.  Credit transfer is sometimes also known as advanced standing or recognition of prior learning (RPL). For many popular Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas these pathways to the university are pre-negotiated, so you can find out in advance if an offer of a place is guaranteed and what credit you will be eligible to receive for your previous studies.

We have a large number of TE pathways to degree programs. All of these are listed in this TE Pathways and Partnerships website. Here you can check if your program has an established pathway and the credit attached. You can even apply for your credit online. Find out more by searching for the degree you would like to study, or by searching the VET program you have completed.

If you cannot see your program listed on the formal pathways section of this website do not be concerned, the university still considers VET and other higher education studies for admission, regardless of the area of study in relation to the degree being applied for. In other words, you should still lodge an application through UAC if you have completed VET/higher education studies and want to progress to university. If your application is successful and you receive an offer it is recommended, where your completed degree and chosen degree are in the same broad subject area, that you submit an application for Advanced Standing to be assessed for any credit you may be eligible to receive.

How pathways work

Below we give you a picture of how formal TE pathways work at Western Sydney University. It is important to note that, while guaranteed entry arrangements are in place for most formal pathways, students still need to apply for their chosen degree through the normal UAC process.

  • Student completes VET studies.
  • Student applies for Bachelor's Degree through UAC including Western Sydney University as preference.
  • Guaranteed offer is made, student accepts and enrols.
  • Student claims online for pre-agreed amount of pathway credit.

The process a VET or higher education college student who does not have an applicable formal pathway to follow is not vastly different, but does lack the advance certainty of a guaranteed offer and set credit amount. Nevertheless, a student entering the university with a VET or higher education college degree does have potential advance standing available to them. Their process is as below.

  • Student completes VET studies.
  • Student applies for Bachelor's Degree through UAC including Western Sydney University as preference.
  • If program entry requirements are met, offer is made. Student accepts and enrols.
  • Advance Standing application is submitted. Credit is awarded if appropriate.

What are the benefits of Pathways?

Articulated TE pathways are designed to maximise the benefit to students entering the university, take the pressure away from the application process as an offer is guaranteed and to ensure that all students who complete a VET or other higher education college degree receive the same credit.

As such, the main benefits of accessing formal pathways are that you know upfront that you are guaranteed an offer to Western Sydney University and that your studies (diploma and above) will earn you assured credit towards your degree. This means a saving in time and money as you will not have to complete university subjects where you have covered the same material in your VET or higher education program.

The knowledge that you will receive a guaranteed offer means that you can plan in advance your transition to university. You are able to prepare yourself for university as you study in your VET or higher education program and make use of available resources and preparation programs. There are many tools and guides you can access prior to commencing your degree studies and we provide more specific details on this for you in the Frequently Asked Questions for VET Students section of this website.

Claim your credit

All Tertiary Education pathways, diploma and above, include an element of credit. You can claim your credit online using our Pathways Credit e-form.

Your details have been uploaded to the university from UAC, so you can simply enter the applicable pathways code and submit the form.

In most cases there is no need to provide transcripts, and processing is usually instantaneous.

  • Accept your offer and enrol in your program in My Student Records (MySR).

    Complete all steps up to 'Majors and Subjects'.

  • If applicable to your program, select your Major/s in My Student Records. However, do not enrol in any Subjects as yet.

    If a major is required for your program. we need to know what it is in order to confirm your credit. However, do not enrol in Subjects yet, as once your credit is confirmed you may be able to select more advanced ones.

  • Locate and write down your Pathways Code
  • Log into e-forms and complete the Pathways Credit form. An email will be sent to your student email account confirming your request.

    If you did not have confirmation that your vocational or higher education program was complete at the time you received your offer, we may send an email to your student account asking for proof of completion before your credit can be processed.

  • When you receive the email confirming your credit, go back into My Student Records (MySR) select your Subjects and complete your enrolment.

Further information