Admission and Enrolment Policy

PURPOSE

This policy sets out the Leaders Institute (LI) requirements for course admission and unit enrolment.

SCOPE

All courses and units

PRINCIPLES

LI aims to ensure that students are appropriately prepared for their chosen course by:

• encouraging able that highly motivated students to apply to its courses, regardless of gender, race, national origin, marital status, or disability;
• ensuring LI is compliant under all relevant state and federal legislation, including the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code) and Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act);
• ensuring that international students satisfy the Genuine Student and Genuine Temporary Entrant Requirements;
• publishing on the LI website clear, current, and accurate admissions criteria in accreditation documents for each course;
• informing current and prospective students of their rights and obligations prior to enrolment and payment of fees;
• considering applicants for admission based on merit through prior study, but may be reconsidered on education, professional experience, or disadvantage grounds;
• ensuring admission decisions are fair, consistent, transparent, and made in a timely manner, based on professional judgement of academic achievement, ability, academic preparation, and English language proficiency criteria;
• deeming that all applicants graduating from Australian high schools and having a rank score will meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements, providing they meet course admission requirements;
• ensuring consistency of admission decisions across all delivery sites through online application form which is processed by the Admissions Team and approved by the Registrar. The processes for establishing applicant student identification are published as part of the student application process;
• ensuring original academic award documents (or certified copies) are sighted. It is a condition of application that the applicant must provide permission for LI to verify with the issuing institution the academic qualifications and/or transcripts(s) of academic record presented by the applicant;
• ensuring applicants are properly identified, usually through sighting of original birth certificate or passport (or certified copies);
• ensuring international applicants who apply based on overseas qualifications are considered for selection against standards that are comparable to the requirement for the relevant course for the year of entry;
• facilitating credit or recognition of prior learning where relevant;
• ensuring core and elective unit requirements and pre-requisites are clearly published in course material.

Applicants who provide false or misleading information on their application for admission, or who withhold information relevant to their application for admission to a course, may have their application for admission cancelled or, where an offer of admission has been made, have their offer of admission withdrawn.

DEFINITIONS

Attendance: The National Code defines scheduled course contact hours as: “The hours for which students enrolled in the course are scheduled to attend class, course related information sessions, supervised study sessions, mandatory and supervised work-based training and examinations.” Course contact hours and attendance requirements are communicated to students via LI’s Learning Management System in individual unit outlines.

Online learning: The National Code defines online learning as “primarily through digital means and does not require the student to attend scheduled classes or maintain contact hours”.

Offshore student: An offshore student is a student that who is studying at an overseas location and not at an Australian campus or at an Australian address.

International student: a student who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa. An international student holds an Australian student visa, whether they are within or outside of Australia.

PRISMS: Provider Registration and International Student Management System.

ADMISSIONS TEAM
The Admissions Team includes the Registrar, an administrative representative from each campus, a Marketing and Recruitment Department representative, and an academic staff representative. Meetings are led by the Registrar and are held fortnightly via video conferencing. An Admission Team Reconciliation Report is tabled monthly to Executive Management Team and quarterly to Governing Board.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

An applicant is qualified for admission to an LI course if they:

1. Satisfy all the relevant minimum requirements as prescribed in the course regulations.
2. Satisfy the requirements of an alternative pathway and/or hold a qualification approved by the Program Director (or delegated representative) to be at least equivalent to the entrance requirements. An interview with the Program Director may be required for alternative pathway categories to ascertain the student’s suitability for the course.
3. Have access to computer and internet facilities to view the unit content, undertaken research, and submit assessments. Applicants are advised before admission that computer and internet literacy and access are essential requirements and skills.
4. Comply with all the LI policies related to current and prospective students and comply with conditions placed on admission and enrolment.
5. Pay all relevant fees by the specified due date.
6. For international students on a visa, comply with the conditions of their visa.

ALTERNATIVE ENTRY

Admission criteria may be reconsidered on educational disadvantage grounds if the applicant meets one or more of the following criteria:

• carer responsibilities;
• financial hardship;
• language and/or learning difficulties;
• disrupted schooling;
• regional or remote disadvantage;
• long-term medical condition/disability or ongoing effects of abuse;
• First Nations Peoples descent where the normal entry path has not been followed.

Alternative pathway applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the relevant Program Director (or delegated representative). A student in this category may be placed on provisional entry for the first semester as deemed appropriate by the Program Director.

PROFESSIONAL ENTRY

A person may be considered for entry based on recognition of prior learning, prior employment in a relevant field, or the acquisition of a non-award qualification in a relevant field supported by a current curriculum vitae that summarises education and work history, a statement from at least one employer that describes the scope of management or leadership responsibility, and a statement of 500 words that outlines the reasons for enrolling in the course.

Applicants seeking professional entry must fulfil the English language entry requirements. Professional entry applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director (or delegated representative).

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Independent of LI requirements and expectations, the Department of Home Affairs sets out requirements for students to obtain a student visa. International students from countries determined by the Department of Home Affairs to require an International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) score or equivalent according to the admission criteria of each course when applying for a student visa. Processing a student requiring an IELTS or equivalent includes confirming the score meets the entry requirements for the course.

International applicants who are citizens of designated countries will be considered to have satisfied ELP requirements if they have completed senior secondary schooling (or higher) in a designated country demonstrating successful studies and proficiency in each of the English language skills.

ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW

An Admissions Interview (face-to-face or via video conferencing) is required for all onshore and offshore international student applicants regardless of IELTS score or equivalent. This interview is between a representative from the Admissions Team, relevant Program Director (or delegate), and applicant. The interview is to ascertain the applicant’s suitability for the specified course.

UNIT ENROLMENTS
Students are responsible for:

• managing their unit enrolments according to the terms outlined in the offer of admission, for the duration of their study at LI;
• enrolling in the correct units each semester according to their course structure on or before the census date;
• keeping their contact details current. International students must provide their overseas residential address to LI and keep this current throughout their enrolment, as well as maintain and update their Australian address and contact details within seven days of any change. They must also notify LI of any changes to their visa or visa conditions immediately;
• payment and/or deferral (where eligible) of all tuition and non-tuition fees;
• ensuring they meet the prerequisite unit requirements and assumed knowledge for units in which they enrol;
• meeting any study load requirements, such as international students who must maintain full-time enrolment in each compulsory period.

LI is responsible for:

• providing an enrolment period (either on campus or online) prior to commencement of each semester;
• allocating time for students to speak with the Student Support Officer and relevant Program Director to discuss their unit enrolment choices;
• ensuring course sequencing, pre-requisites, and major/minor requirements are clearly stipulated in course handbooks.

STUDY LOAD AND ATTENDANCE

A normal full-time study load is four units, or 40 credit points, per semester (80 credit points per year). International students on student visas must maintain a full-time study load. Commencing international students should undertake four units in their first semester. The ESOS Act also stipulates that international students may complete up to one-third of their course via online learning.

Any variations to study load must be approved by the Program Director and adhere to the Change to Course or Unit Enrolment Policy.

AUDIT STUDENTS
Audit students:

• are not required to satisfy any entry requirements before enrolling;
• are not enrolled in an accredited course;
• are enrolled on the student management system by the Registrar;
• may enrol in more than one unit in any study period;
• do not complete assessment tasks;
• are not awarded credit points;
• receive an ‘AU’ notation on the student management system, which then appears on the student’s Record of Results distributed at the end of the study period;
• incur audit fees;
• do not have access to LI’s library and information resources.

MICRO-CREDENTIALS
Micro-credential students:

• are required to satisfy entry requirements before enrolling;
• are not enrolled in an accredited course;
• are enrolled on the student management system by the Registrar;
• may enrol in more than one module in any study period;
• complete assessment tasks;
• are awarded credit points;
• receive verification of completion via metadata on digital certification such as a badge or other means;
• incur micro-credential fees;
• have access to LI’s library and information resources.

PROCEDURES

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

Step One:

• Applicant first submits the LI Application Form for the course;
• Processes for establishing applicant identification are published as part of the application process;
• The applicant must provide permission for LI to verify the academic qualifications and/or transcript(s) of academic record presented by the applicant with the issuing institution (except where LI has issued qualification and/or transcript).

Step Two:

• The Registrar (or delegated representative) will ensure mandatory sighting of original documents (or certified copies in some cases);
• In the case of an overseas applicant the age will be checked against the applicant’s passport;
• In the case of an onshore or offshore International Student applicant, the required Admissions Interview is conducted and the results documented in the applicant’s record;
• The admissions process will ensure satisfactory fulfilment of academic and other essential admissions requirements for the course as stipulated in the accreditation documents;
• If an applicant satisfactorily meets the above criteria and provides the relevant documents, they are sent a Conditional Offer.

Step Three:

• Meeting Conditional Offer requirement, the student is then offered an Unconditional Letter of Offer;
• To accept the offer, students must complete and sign the Unconditional Letter of Offer, then return it together with payment for the fees due in advance (if required);
• On receipt of a written offer of admission to a course, an applicant must follow the instructions on the written offer and: accept or decline the offer;
• Prospective students should refer to the Refund Policy before signing an acceptance of offer.

Step Four:

• When a student has successfully met the admission requirements and signed the Unconditional Letter of Offer, the student is admitted;
• For international applicants, LI will enrol the applicant on PRISMS, and issue a CoE letter, which is needed to apply for an Australian student visa.

The admission process is deemed completed when an applicant has accepted an offer of admission, signed a Student Agreement, and enrolled in units.

LI reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission or cancel the enrolment of an applicant where an offer is made in error or is made based on incomplete, inaccurate, fraudulent, or misleading information supplied by the applicant or certifying authority. In such cases, fees paid may be forfeited.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION PROCEDURE FOR HIGHER DEGREE (HDR) RESEARCH

• Prospective inquiry: The HDR applicant contacts a potential principal supervisor to discuss the proposed research area and assess its suitability.

• Expression of Interest: In consultation with a potential principal supervisor, the applicant completes the Expression of Interest Form.

• Submission of application: The applicant submits the LI Application Form and Expression of Interest Form. International applicants also supply evidence of English proficiency and any additional information needed for visa compliance.

• Application review: the HDR Program Director reviews the application and interviews the applicant. The HDR Program Director decides based on the suitability of the research, the applicant’s research capability, and availability of supervisors and resources. This may involve additional interviews or further correspondence with the applicant to clarify aspects of the proposed research. All decisions consider the applicant’s merit as well as the availability of supervision and resources for the project. Meeting the minimum admission criteria alone does not guarantee an offer. Admission is competitive and subject to the considerations noted in this policy.

• Recommendation and decision: After review, the HDR Program Director or delegated representative makes a final decision on the application.

• Provisional candidature: Upon enrolment, the candidate’s provisional candidature begins. A principal supervisor (and co-supervisor) is formally appointed if not already assigned at the time of offer.

REVIEWING OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS

Where necessary, LI verifies the authenticity and Australian equivalence of overseas qualifications through Australian Education International (AEI) within the Department of Education. These are appraised under a twofold procedure:

1. Referral to AEI directories or officers for advice is the starting point for all applications for student admission that are predicated on overseas qualifications.
2. Where information or advice from AEI is either insufficient or unobtainable in relation to the relevant qualification(s), such applications are eligible for consideration under alternative pathways by the relevant Program Director.

ADMISSION REFUSAL

LI may refuse admission, even if the applicant has met the entry requirements, if the applicant has:

• been deemed unlikely to cope academically;
• outstanding fees with the Institute;
• been excluded from another educational institute;
• displayed conduct (including criminal activity or ethical misconduct) that would provide reasonable grounds to exclude the applicant.

Applicants who have met the entry requirements, but have been excluded from any other educational institution, will need to demonstrate that circumstances have changed such that they are likely to succeed in the course. The Registrar will send a letter to the applicant advising the grounds for refusal of admission to the Institute and advise of alternative pathway options.

APPEAL

If an applicant wishes to appeal the decision regarding their admission, they should refer to the Complaints, Grievances, and Appeals Policy.

DEFERRAL

All deferral requests must be based on compelling or compassionate grounds and will be assessed by LI according to the Changes in a Course or Unit Enrolment Policy. After that time, the offer may be withdrawn. International students shall be advised that deferral of their enrolment may affect their visa. Students must request a deferral of the commencement of their course prior to the course commencing by completing a Deferral of Studies Form.

International students should be aware that deferring, suspending, or cancelling enrolment on any grounds may affect their visa.

INTERNAL COURSE TRANSFER

For an internal transfer of course, a student must complete the Internal Course Transfer Form, including evidence of meeting the admission criteria for the course. If approved by the Registrar, a new Offer Letter is sent to the student. Once signed and returned by the student, the transfer is confirmed in writing by the Registrar. Any credit transfer will be assessed as per the Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

For international students (temporary entrants), the CoE certificate for the original course is cancelled and a new CoE certificate is issued by the Registrar once the student has returned a signed copy of the new Offer Letter and made any outstanding payments. Students are advised to contact the Department of Home Affairs to make any necessary changes to their student visa.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INFORMATION

Applications for admission from international students must be in English. Students should ensure that academic transcripts and all other supporting documentation have been certified as true copies and translated into English by a qualified translator. International students will need to pay an application fee.

International students must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the student and any of their family dependents accompanying to Australia for the duration of their studies.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

International applicants must satisfy the Department of Home Affairs English language and other requirements for visa applications. An assessment of English Language Proficiency (ELP) must be undertaken before an international student is accepted. Staff assessing ELP must check submitted documentation to ascertain if an international student meets English language requirements in one or more of the following ways:

1. English is their first language;
2. English was their language of instruction in their secondary and/or previously completed tertiary studies;
3. satisfactory level of performance was achieved in an English language unit at Year 12 or equivalent.

Unit Enrolment Procedure

• LI students must enrol in the required units during each relevant semester period.
• To enrol, students must complete the Unit Selection Form before the census date. The last date for dropping/adding units without academic or financial penalty in each semester is census date.
• If the student is seeking credit for previous study, they will also need to complete the Credit Transfer Form and return it along with the Unit Selection Form.