A transfer of student registration occurs after a student has commenced senior secondary schooling and changes learning providers. Students’ registration may be transferred between Queensland schools or from interstate or overseas schools.
To be eligible for a QCE, the set pattern of learning requires 12 credits to accrue from completed Core courses of study. Students transferring may be unable to continue the same courses of study and meet the completed Core required for a QCE. The QCAA provides processes for schools to support the provision of opportunity for transfer students to meet the eligibility requirements for a QCE. The processes used depend on the type and timing of the transfer.
For more information, see Section 2.1.3: Set pattern of learning.
QCE eligibility scenarios are available in the QCAA Portal Noticeboard.
2.5.1 Within Queensland
A student who transfers between Queensland learning providers during senior secondary schooling in Queensland should have a learning account. See Section 13.2.4: Students and registration and Section 13.2.5: Enrolments and results.
Any learning reported to the QCAA will be in the learning account. This includes eligible learning options, as outlined in Section 2.2: Categories of learning. If a student has not completed a learning option and is continuing in that course of study, the new learning provider will contact the original learning provider for evidence of previous learning and/or assessment.
When a student is not able to continue a course of study, the school may apply to the QCAA for relaxation of the studies that contribute to the completed Core. Relaxation is contingent on the student completing an approved learning option within the QCE requirements.
Before enrolment, schools should discuss with students and their parents/carers subject choices where there may be an impact on QCE credit. In some cases, students may not be able to continue an identical course of study at the new learning provider. These students may apply to the QCAA for relaxation of the completed Core requirement. For more information contact the QCAA Certification Unit at rocc@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
For more information, see the following sections:
- Section 2.1.3: Set pattern of learning
- Section 8.2.1: Engaging in learning and assessment
- Section 11.1: Determining results
- Section 13.2.5: Enrolments and results
- Section 13.3: Retaining records and student work
To apply for relaxation of the studies that contribute to the completed Core, see Transfer students and the QCE.
QCE eligibility scenarios are available in the QCAA Portal Noticeboard.
2.5.2 Interstate and overseas transfers: Non-Queensland studies
A student who transfers from an interstate or overseas learning provider needs to be registered by the new Queensland learning provider and have a learning account opened. See Section 13.2.4: Students and registration and Section 13.2.5: Enrolments and results.
Non-Queensland studies are courses considered equivalent to those courses usually undertaken during senior secondary schooling by students in Queensland. Students who have completed non-Queensland studies in the Core category and enrol in similar Queensland courses of study may be eligible for credit for previous studies and/or their contribution to set pattern requirement of the QCE including the 12 credits needed from completed Core courses of study.
On behalf of a student, a school can submit to the QCAA an application for credit for previous studies and/or relaxation of the completed Core of the QCE.
The QCAA decides eligible learning and whether a non-Queensland study is sufficiently similar to a Queensland course of study. Relaxation of the studies that contribute to the completed Core may be granted, provided that the student’s previous study demonstrates the depth and continuity required. The QCAA determines the conditions, the set amount of learning, the set standard, and the set pattern a student must satisfy to accrue credit to the QCE. The relaxation is contingent on the student completing an approved learning option within the QCE requirements.
When the QCAA approves an application, results are verified and entered in a student’s learning account.
Non-Queensland studies undertaken in interstate and overseas schools accrue one QCE credit for each component completed in a course of study, up to a maximum of three credits per completed or partially completed course.
When a student undertakes Queensland studies for the Unit 3 and 4 pair, and has completed previous learning in the sufficiently similar subject, a maximum of two credits accrue for the previous learning.
As part of the application process, transfer students must provide evidence of results and/or qualifications gained from their previous learning provider/s, meet the QCE eligibility requirements (see Section 2.1: Eligibility for a QCE).
For interstate transfer students, the evidence may take the form of school reports, official certification of results or certificates for completed or partially completed senior secondary school studies (i.e. Year 11 and 12); VET qualifications and/or any other senior studies or further education.
For international transfer students, this may take the form of a letter from the principal of the previous learning provider that confirms the dates of enrolment, year level at exit, and the certificate or diploma that the student was studying towards.
Schools considering enrolling international students should note that the academic years in the northern and southern hemispheres differ by six months. This may create potential issues for students beginning their education in Queensland after the beginning of the school year:
- studies in their previous country may not be deemed to contribute credit towards a QCE
- to receive a QCE at the end of the school year, the student must meet the QCE requirements
- entrance to a university course in some countries may require a QCE.
Students transferring from New Zealand are treated as overseas transfer students. For more information, see the following sections:
- Section 2.1.3: Set pattern of learning
- Section 8.2.1: Engaging in learning and assessment
- Section 11.1: Determining results
- Section 13.2.5: Enrolments and results
- Section 13.3: Retaining records and student work.
For advice related to QCE eligibility, email QCEforschools@qcaa.qld.edu.au. To apply for credit for non-Queensland studies, and to apply for relaxation of the studies that contribute to the completed Core, see Transfer students and the QCE or email the QCAA Certification Unit at rocc@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
QCE eligibility scenarios are available in the QCAA Portal Noticeboard.
Interstate VET qualifications and QCE credit
VET providers registered in Queensland are obliged to report the learning of Queensland students to the QCAA via the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training (DYJESBT).
Students who have completed or partially completed VET qualifications interstate and then enrol in a Queensland school may apply to the QCAA for credit to the QCE. An overseas student who enrols at a Queensland school may apply for credit for previously completed or partially completed studies as well as relaxation of the completed Core (see Section 2.1.3: Set pattern of learning).
2.5.3 Closing dates for applications
The final date for receipt of applications for QCE credit and relaxation of the completed Core is published in the SEP calendar. Applications received after this date may result in the student not being issued their QCE in the year of application.
Any application received after this time is processed at the discretion of the QCAA, but no later than in time for the July issue of the QCE in the following year.
