Entry Requirements
Bachelor of Theology
Advanced Diploma of Counselling
The following requirements are required from applicants for the Bachelor of Theology and Advanced Diploma of Counselling:
- Satisfactory completion of Year 12 in the Australian school system with an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 65 or above, or its equivalent, with English Proficiency; or
- Mature Age admission for those who have reached the age of 21, with English Proficiency.
- International students must be at least 18 years of age, must have an IELTS (or equivalent) of 6.5 or greater and with no score less than 6.0 in each band of the test.
Notes on English language requirements
A prospective student does not need to provide evidence of an English test score with his/her application if one of the following applies:
- Prospective student is a native English speaker.
- Prospective student is a citizen and holds a passport from Australia, UK, USA, Canada, NZ or Republic of Ireland.
- Prospective student has completed at least 5 years’ study in English in one or more of the following countries: Australia, UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or the Republic of Ireland.
- In the 2 years before applying for the student visa, the prospective student completed, in Australia and in the English language, either the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or a substantial component of a course leading to a qualification from the Australian Qualifications Framework at the Certificate IV or higher level, while the prospective student held a student visa.
Bachelor of Theology (Korean)
Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean)
The following Korean language requirements are required from applicants for the Bachelor of Theology (Korean) and Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean):
- Applicants who are Korean citizens and residing in Korea at the time applying:
- Graduation from a high school in Korea with a score that would enable the applicant to study in a Korean university, or
- Graduation, or partial completion, of a course in a Korean university.
- Applicants who are not citizens of Korea and not residing in Korea at the time of applying:
- Proficiency in the Korean language equivalent to level 5 on the 6 level Yonsei University Korean Language Test.
Note: This requirement does not apply for students articulating from other Iona Columba College programs; or for permanent residents of Australia who have reached the age of 21.
Notes on English language requirements for LOTE courses
Applicants for entry into courses in a language other than English (LOTE) are not required to demonstrate a minimum threshold of English proficiency. This includes students applying for entry and participation into the College’s Bachelor of Theology (Korean) and the Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean) which are delivered entirely in the Korean language.
For applicants applying for study under the Australian student visa program as international students (visa sub-class 500), where the College’s LOTE course is the student’s primary course, the Australian Department of Home Affairs exempts visa applicants from evidence of English language proficiency.
Nonetheless, the College encourages applicants into LOTE courses, to demonstrate a reasonable level of English proficiency to ensure that from a practical, cultural and safety perspective (e.g. contacting the ambulance in an emergency situation) students are not disadvantaged.
Should LOTE students wish to pursue further studies following completion of the College’s LOTE courses, the College encourages students to enrol in a registered English language course (ELICOS).
Set out below are reference points for assessing reasonable levels of English language proficiency the College will use for LOTE students:
| English Language Proficiency Reference Guide for LOTE students | Score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 5.5 |
| TOEFL internet based test | 46 |
| Cambridge English Advanced (Certificate in Advance English) | 162 |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 42 |
Advanced Diploma of Counselling
Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean)
Notes on course suitability requirements
The following course suitability requirements apply for applicants of the Advanced Diploma of Counselling and Advanced Diploma of Counselling (Korean) courses:
- Students must obtain a National Police Record Check and Work With Children Check in their first semester of enrolment.
- Students will work directly with individuals who are facing personal challenges and as such they need good interpersonal skills, a non-judgemental attitude, sensitivity and understanding, the ability to relate to a wide range of people and to remain calm in stressful situations. Students need a high level of emotional maturity due to the demanding nature of the role.
- Students are required to participate in a screening interview either by phone or in person to demonstrate they have the interpersonal skills and motivation to be successful in the course and the capacity for ethical behaviour and ability to reflect on experience, learn from it and be open to feedback.