As school leavers across the state contemplate the next steps in their education journey, an Auburn local has proved that an ATAR is not the only way to get into university. 

18-year-old Wajeeha Batool (pictured right) studied a TAFE NSW Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation, where she received a score of 100 per cent and topped the state for both her calculus and chemistry Tertiary Entrance Score (TES) exams. She has now been offered a place at university where she will study a Bachelor of Engineering Mechatronics (Honors) thanks to TAFE NSW.

The Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation provides students with a TES and is an alternative pathway into higher education that does not require an ATAR.

Wajeeha settled in Australia from Pakistan in 2019 and said the course allowed her to hone in on the subjects she enjoyed studying instead of having to repeat year 12.

“The way the tertiary preparation course is designed and delivered made it easy for me to understand and motivated me particularly because I was able to choose the subjects I wanted to study,” Wajeeha said.

It’s a great time for Wajeeha to pursue a career in this field, with a 2018 Graduate Outcomes Survey report concluding that 83.1 per cent of engineering students gained full-time employment after their course. [1]

“I’ve always been interested in how things work, and I want females to feel empowered to grow in fields such as engineering,” Wajeeha said.

TAFE NSW Team Leader of Career Pathways and Employability Skills, Louis Maule, said the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation was perfect for mature aged students or school leavers to fast track their way into university. 

“Whether you didn’t get the marks you were after or you didn’t sit the HSC, the course is designed to pathway students into higher education without needing to do the HSC,” Mr Maule said. 

“TAFE NSW students like Wajeeha are shining examples of the success students receive when they study what they love. Students will be able to study a Diploma or higher qualification after completing the Tertiary Preparation course, so the options are limitless.” 

To enrol in Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation Certificate, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or call 131 601. 

Media Contact: Jessica Cortis, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 0456 170 211. 
 

[1] https://www.createdigital.org.au/new-data-outlook-engineering-graduates-job/