With HSC exams only a month away, TAFE NSW graduate Jasmine Fuentes says there’s more than one way to get into the university you want after school and is encouraging anyone with a desire to pursue higher education to consider studying at TAFE NSW. 

Jasmine recently moved back to Australia after living in Chile for four years, where she finished high school. She realised she was ineligible to apply to any Australian universities straight away, so she had to look for an alternative pathway. 

“I found the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation at TAFE NSW. I honestly had no idea what it was but luckily, I had the support of my brother-in-law who knew someone that had completed it,” Jasmine said. 

“With his help, I decided to go to the information night at TAFE NSW St Leonards and realised it was exactly what I needed.”

Jasmine enrolled in the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (TPC) at TAFE NSW St Leonards to gain entry to university and complete her degree. The TPC is aimed at providing mature age students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue further education at university as well as providing a recognised Tertiary Entry Score accepted by the University Admissions Centre. 

TAFE NSW Educational Pathways teacher Melissa Knudson said the TPC is first and foremost an academic course, teaching students how to learn, how to reason and how to research, in preparation for further tertiary or university studies. 

“The TPC is perfect for anyone who had an incomplete schooling experience, or wants to further their tertiary education or employment prospects,” Melissa said.

“It gives students the confidence and skills to be able to conduct research and write essays with the right referencing. It’s one year that sets graduates up with a great education foundation for the rest of their lives.” 

Jasmine passed the TPC with flying colours and has achieved her goal of studying the Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of Technology Sydney. She has also received the Graduate Women NSW City Branch award for successfully completing the TAFE NSW Tertiary Preparation Certificate in order to undertake higher education. 

She is encouraging anyone with ambitions to pursue higher education to consider the TPC at TAFE NSW.

“TAFE NSW has honestly provided me with one of the best learning experience that I have had so far. I had no idea about the TPC but now I try to talk to as many people I can about it as an alternate pathway.”

“I know some students are petrified of the HSC and not getting into their choice of university but it honestly isn’t the end if you don’t get the best ATAR. TAFE NSW has so many options that can get you to your goal. Thankfully, I was able to obtain my goal and for that I will forever be grateful.”

To learn more about Tertiary Preparation Study and employability pathways available at TAFE NSW head to www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601.   

Media contact: Alice Dalley, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, alice.dalley1@tafensw.edu.au, mobile 0402 528 210.