The University Preparation Course (Education Assistant Program) is an enabling program that provides an alternative entry pathway to selected undergraduate teaching degrees at ECU. The course is designed to enable Education Assistants to understand how they can effectively support teachers in facilitating children’s learning in early childhood, primary or secondary school settings. The course is suitable for Education Assistants with experience seeking current professional development, those contemplating working as Education Assistants, and those wishing to pursue further studies in teaching who may wish to use the course as an entry pathway into University.

The University Preparation Course (Education Assistant Program) is open to school leavers, recent school leavers under 20 years of age and mature age applicants.

School Leavers

(2009 students)

For admission to the University Preparation Course (Education Assistant Program), school leavers must:

• Meet secondary graduation requirements of the Western Australian Certificate of Education and

• Meet ECU’s UPC English competency requirements and

• Have studied a minimum of four subjects which includes a combination of TEE and/or WACE courses (stage 2 or higher) and/or ECU approved Wholly School Assessed (CAF) subjects and achieved a minimum of at least 8 points from these subjects or

• Successfully completed a certificate IV as part of their 12 years of Schooling.

English competency can be achieved by:

English Course:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50 or

• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one English unit studies in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A or 3B OR

• A final school letter grade of A in both 1C and 1D English units studied in Year 12.

TEE English Literature:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50 or

• A final school letter grade of A,B or C studied in Year 12.

• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one Literature unit studied in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 3A or 3B (for 2011 entry onwards)

English as an Additional Language/Dialect:

• You must achieve a scaled mark of at least 50 or

• A final school letter grade of A,B, or C in one English as an Additional Language/Dialect unit studied in Year 12 from 2A, 2B, 3A or 3B.

Point Weightings for TEE, WACE and ECU approved CAF subjects:

TEE Subjects

• Final scaled mark of 70 and above or final school grade of A: 7 points

• Final scaled mark of between 60 and 70 or final school grade of B: 6 points

• Final scaled mark of between 50 and 60 or final school grade of C: 5 points (whichever is higher)

WACE courses

(Stage 2A, 2B,2C,2D,3A or 3B completed in Year 12)

• Final scaled mark of 70 and above: 7 points

• Final scaled mark of between 60 and 70: 6 points

• Final scaled mark of between 50 and 60: 5 points

• Final unit grade of A: 3.5 points

• Final unit grade of B: 3 points

• Final unit grade of C: 2.5 points

ECU approved CAF (WSA) subjects

• Final school grade of A: 5 points

• Final school grade of B: 3 points

• Final school grade of C: 1 points

• Note: Final unit grade of A in 1C and 1D English Course: 5 points

Non-School Leaver and Mature Age Students

Non-School Leaver and Mature Age applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria:

• Prior education qualifications which match current non-TEE entry requirements for school Leavers; or

• Minimum score of 115 (post Feb 2010) or 125 (prior to Feb 2010) in English and at least 110 (post Feb 2010) or 115 (prior to Feb 2010) in either the STAT Verbal or Quantitative components, or;

• Have successfully completed a TAFE Certificate III or;

• Applied via the Portfolio Pathway

Apply online at http://www.ecu.edu.au/student/admissions/apply/

A genuine interest in children and learning is required. All applicants need to meet ECU's minimum English requirements.

The University Preparation Course (Education Assistant Program) is a 60 credit point (4 unit) University Certificate course, that is studied in part-time mode over the course of a year. The course is delivered on the Joondalup campus. Students study the Program by attending classes conducted during weekend sessions.