Apply for TAFE Certificates and Diplomas

Start the online application process for your TAFE certificate or diploma directly from the course page or locate the most suitable link from the options provided below. Prior to commencing the application, ensure to review essential dates and other application information, including the arrangement of your Unique Student Identifier (USI).
Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb)
Depending on your level of education, after you submit your application, you will be emailed a link to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (bksb) literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy assessments. The bksb assessments are online, self-paced and take approximately 20-40 minutes to complete with the option to leave and come back if required. Your responses are not used to determine your entry acceptance, they will help us to determine your level of competency and what support you may need in your TAFE course so you can succeed.
Funding Eligibility Documentation
To Apply for our TAFE courses and to assess your application for Government Funding options you will need to provide a variety of documentation. You can easily snap a clear picture of the necessary documents using your smartphone and attached them to your application. Below is a list of the types of documents you might need to provide.
Photos of one of the following documents can be used as confirmation of your identity and show your date of birth:
- An Australian Federal or Queensland State Government-issued identification card containing the student's photo and date of birth.
- Official birth certificate
- Passport from any issuing country
Photos of one of the following documents must show evidence of your Queensland address. The address must match each document provided to show proof of your Queensland residency:
- An Australian Federal or Queensland State Government-issued identification document, or
- One of the following issued no more than six months ago:
- An Australian Federal, Queensland State or Queensland Local Government correspondence
- A bank statement
- An electricity, gas, phone, data or internet account
- An NDIS letter
- A property contract showing occupancy of the property
Photos of one of the following documents can be used as confirmation of your citizenship:
- A green Medicare card (must be a colour copy)
- An Australian or New Zealand passport
- An Australian or New Zealand citizenship certificate
- An Australian or New Zealand official birth certificate
- Eligible visa or work permit, as set out on the department's Visa eligibility VET investment programs section, contained on either:
- The student's passport; or
- Documents provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs
Government Co-Contribution Concessional Fees may apply to select government subsidy programs, such as Career Start or Career Boost, for eligible students to help reduce the cost of study and training. To be eligible for a concession fee, you must be eligible to access subsidised training, as well as meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria.
- Self-identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander upon application
- A Pensioner Concession Card - photo of the student's own card or named as a dependant
- A Department of Veterans' Affairs card - photo of the student's own card or named as a dependant
- Health Care card - photo of the student's own card or named as a dependant
- A Commonwealth Seniors Health card - photo of the student's own card or named as a dependent
If you are required to pay Student Contribution Fees as part of an apprenticeship or traineeship, you may be eligible for partial or full exemption. To be eligible for an exemption student must meet the following:
Partial Exemption
- The participant was or will be under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year in which the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) provides training, and the participant is not at school and has not completed year 12.
- The participant holds a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, and is named on the card.
- The participant issues the SAS with an official form under Commonwealth law confirming that the participant, his or her partner or the person of whom the participant is a dependant, is entitled to concessions under a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.
- The participant is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Acceptable evidence is as stated on the Training Contract and AVETMISS VET Enrolment Form.
Full Exemption
- Where payment of the student contribution fee would cause extreme financial hardship, then the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) may waive these fees.
- The fee waiver process should be in place at the time of the participant’s enrolment.
- For 2.6.3 (a) of this Fees and Charges section, the SAS must have a reasonable internal process to manage an appeal about the outcome of an application under financial hardship.
- Where the Queensland Government, as represented by the departmental officer responsible for the User Choice budget, advises in writing that fees are optional. On receipt of such advice, the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) may choose not to collect the student contribution fee. In this circumstance, any decision by the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) not to collect fees does not create a liability for the department.
The Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) may not apply for reimbursement by the department of fee revenue foregone. Refer to the User Choice Price List, for information on where fee exemptions are applicable. The Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) must apply a full exemption from the student contribution fee where the participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:
- where credit transfer/national recognition has been applied to a unit of competency/module.
- the participant is a school-based apprentice or trainee.
- the participant is undertaking a qualification as part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work – Work Skills Traineeship program.
CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services & CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services
“Students must be an existing worker in the Community Services and Health industry, which includes parents and unpaid carers of NDIS participants”.
- An official letter or email from the employer dated within the last 7 days:
- Stating the student's first and last name
- Stating the student's employment position
- Stating the student's employment status (full-time, part-time, contract, etc.)
- Stating the length of the student's current employment
- Confirming the student has been fulfilling work duties related to Community Services for the period of employment
- Current NDIS care plan letter listing the participant's carer.
BSB40320 Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business
“Students must be the owner, manager or employee of a small business in Queensland.”
- For managers or employees:
- Provide an official letter or email from the owner of the business dated within the last 7 days:
- Confirming the address of the business
- Stating the student's first and last name
- Stating the student's employment position
- Stating the student's employment status (full-time, part-time, contract, etc)
- Stating the length of the student's current employment
- Stating the number of employees
- Provide an official letter or email from the owner of the business dated within the last 7 days:
- For business owners:
- Provide an official letter or email from the owner of the business dated within the last 7 days:
- Containing evidence of their ABN
- Confirming the address of the business
- Stating the number of employees
- Provide an official letter or email from the owner of the business dated within the last 7 days:
To be eligible for most Queensland Government subsidies, you must not be currently enrolled in another qualification. If you are found to be enrolled elsewhere, you may be asked to withdraw from the qualification before your subsidy can be approved for the qualification you have applied for.
CQUniversity is required to receive proof of your withdrawal before offering a subsidy. This evidence must come from your previous Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and can be provided in one of the following ways:
- A confirmation letter on the RTO’s official letterhead, or
- An email from the RTO that includes their official email signature.
This confirmation must clearly state that you have been withdrawn from your previous qualification(s).
If you do not wish to be assessed for a subsidy you may choose to continue your application as a Fee for service student.
Find your application portal
Domestic Applicants:
If you are applying for any TAFE certificates or diplomas:
- apply online via CQU’s direct application portal.
If you are applying for an Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- Visit the Apprenticeships and Traineeship page for more information.
International Applicants:
- Apply for a TAFE certificate or diploma via iSTART.
Need help with your application?
If you would like a hand with your application, apply in person at any CQUniversity campus by finding the nearest location to you. You can also call us on 13 27 86 if you need help.
TAFE Subsidised Training
Learn about TAFE Subsidised Training options and reduce the fees you pay through a range of government subsidies. Free to low-fee TAFE course options available.


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Related Application Information
Important Application Dates
Find the application deadlines and key dates relevant to your study level and course.
TAFE Subsidised Training
Reduce the fees you pay with government subsidised training, from free to low-fee TAFE course options.
Unique Student Identifier (USI)
Find out more about why you need a USI and how to apply or search for an existing number so you can apply for a TAFE or university course.
