UC Accelerate Program for Year 11 Students in 2011 

Applications close 24 February 2012 – Apply Now!

What is UCAP?

The UC Accelerate Program provides advanced classes in a university environment that result in significant benefits for high achieving Year 11 and 12 students in the ACT.

UCAP provides the opportunity for you to study an H Course. This is a year 11 and 12 course “designed and accredited by an Australian higher education provider and where successful completion of the course will be recognised towards an undergraduate degree with that provider” (ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies)…..that means it extends your T package and accelerates your university study here at UC.

What are the benefits?

Contributes a minor to your T package

• Counts towards your Year 12 Certificate
• Course scores contribute to the calculation of your ATAR score
• If you successfully complete the course you will get advanced standing unit credit in the relevant undergraduate courses at the University
• You will have the opportunity to receive an early offer of entry by the relevant UC faculty
• UCAP provides you with a comprehensive tertiary orientation and Academic Skills Support program which will really help you develop additional skills as well as understand how the university operates. This is to help you get the most out of your course and to be as successful as possible. There is lots of support available here at UC.
• Learning on the University of Canberra campus – what a great experience! You will also be provided with full access to university facilities and resources, experience outstanding teaching and receive specific feedback to help you succeed.

What subjects are on offer in 2012?

In 2012 courses will be available for Year 11 students in the first instance in two specialist areas:

• Accounting 
• Design Foundation.

These courses will be offered to both Year 11 and Year 12 students in 2013.

The programs have been developed by UC and ACT senior secondary teachers. They will be taught by UC Schools Fellows who are fully qualified, highly experienced, specialist ACT secondary teachers employed by UC, in close collaboration with staff from the relevant UC faculty.

Can students enrol in more than one course?

Normally students will enrol in only one course per year. In 2012 the courses will be offered on the same day and at the same time so it won’t be possible to do more than one course in 2012. From 2013 onwards there may be the possibility to enrol in more than one course, depending on the timetable.

When and where will the classes be held?

Classes will be held each Wednesday at UC in two hour periods from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. You will need to attend one two-hour session per week.

What is an H Course?

H classification is given to a year 11 and 12 course which is designed and accredited by an Australian higher education provider and where successful completion of the course will be recognised towards an undergraduate degree with that provider.

All courses in the UC Accelerate Progam (UCAP) have ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies H course classification and have been approved by the BSSS. When completed, they are equivalent to minors, are treated as stand alone minors and have the same identifier as the corresponding T course.

Scaled scores from H courses are available for inclusion in the calculation of the Aggregate Score within the limit that the maximum course weight is 2.0 within the same course area.

Who can apply?

If you want to apply to enter the UC Accelerate Program in 2012 you should have a confirmed enrolment at an ACT College or school (whether Government or non-Government) and must be completing Year 11 in 2012.

How do I apply?

Applications are being taken by UC now and up to 24 February, 2012. The application form is available here.

Are there any prerequisites or co-requisites for UCAP courses?

Yes there are. Please read these carefully.

College co-requisites for UCAP courses are:

Accounting

Students must be studying a T package in their home college and must also be enrolled in Accounting T at the time of study at the University of Canberra. It is also highly recommended that you be studying a minimum of Mathematics Applications at your home college as part of your T package, at the time of study at the University of Canberra.

Students undertaking this H course must not have studied the following units in the current BSSS A/T/V Accounting Course:

1. Corporate Governance (1.0) or the 2 underlying half standard units The Nature of Corporate Governance (0.5 standard unit) or Corporate Governance Compliance (0.5 standard unit)
2. Making Business Decisions (1.0) or the two underlying half standard units, Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis(0.5 standard unit) or Financial Statement Analysis (0.5 standard unit)

Design Foundation

Students are required to be studying a T package in their home college and must also be enrolled in Design and Graphics T at the time of study at the University of Canberra.

In addition, there is assumed knowledge of Mathematics being studied at your home college as part of your T package, at the time of study at the University of Canberra.

How does a UCAP H Course contribute to my ATAR & Year 12 Certificate?

Students can count up to two H courses to a maximum weight of 1.2 (equivalent to 2 minors) out of the required 3.6 in the calculation of the ATAR.

A maximum of 4 standard units from H courses can contribute to the minimum requirements for a Year 12 Certificate and Tertiary Entrance Statement.

Reporting of H courses on the ACT Year 12 certificate

Home college and H courses are reported separately, each with its own course type. A T classified major minor and H minor in the same subject are equivalent to a double major course type.

How many students will be selected?

The initial intake in each subject area will be a maximum of 20 students.

Who selects the students?

Students will be selected by a panel chaired by the UC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or nominee, a representative from the UC Faculty of Business and Government - Accounting discipline, a representative from the UC Faculty of Arts and Design and the UC Schools Fellows who will be the teachers of the courses. Selection will be based on selection test results, applications and an interview. Students applying for the Design Foundation course may submit a small portfolio of work if they choose to but this is not expected.

What is the cost?

All students from both government & non-government sectors, accepted into the UC Accelerate Program, will incur a fee of $750 payable to UC per student per subject per year. Year 11 and 12 students who are enrolled at UC Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra and who are successful in their application for a place in the UC Accelerate program will receive a UC Schools Scholarship which will cover the subject costs.

What is the timetable?

Term 1

24 February 2012 

Applications close

End of February 2012

Selection process including interviews proceeds

1 March 2012

An Academic Appraisal to be completed at UC

12 March 2012

Notification of outcome of selection process.
Orientation and Academic Skills program begins

Term 2

30 April 2012

Year 11 Extension Program classes commence at UC and continue through Terms 3 and 4.

Term 3

23 July

Extension Program continues

Term 4

15 October 

Extension Program continues

Term 4 2012

Results from UCAP will be scaled by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies to give a course score for the UCAP minor.

What will happen if students withdraw part way through?

If a student completes insufficient H units to form a course, then the units may be included in the home college course in the same course area but will not contribute to the course score.