Holmes Institute

1. Scope

This policy is applicable to all students applying for entry into a course of study at Holmes
Institute (Holmes) and the staff that are involved in the assessment of student admission
applications.

2. Admission Standards

2.1 Holmes is committed to providing transparent information about its admission
requirements and outcomes.
2.2 Holmes has stringent procedures in place that ensure consistent, fair and equitable
admission into Holmes courses. This involves assessing whether a student’s
qualifications, experience and English language proficiency are appropriate to study
in relevant Holmes courses.
2.3 In some instances, usually in the case of overseas students, Holmes may also assess
whether a student is a Genuine Temporary Entrant in determining whether an offer
of admission will be made. In reviewing whether a student is a Genuine Temporary
Entrant, Holmes may consider issues such as the student’s study history, financial
capacity and the student’s choice of course at Holmes.
2.4 Students applying for entry into a course at Holmes must complete the appropriate
Application Form and are required to provide the following supporting
documentation:

a. Proof that they meet relevant English language requirements for
admission into a specific course;
b. Proof that they satisfy academic requirements for entry such as copies of
transcripts and/or qualifications. Transcripts from foreign institutions
must be translated; and
c. Any additional supporting documentation requested by Holmes such as
resumes.

2.5 Overseas qualifications will be assessed for equivalence in Australia at the time of
application using applications and tools such as the Country Education Profiles
online tool made available through the Australian Government Department of
Education, Skills and Employment.
2.6 Overseas students who are made an Offer of Admission based on their status as an
overseas student may not change that status upon gaining residency until the
following trimester of study.

3. Diversity and Equity

3.1 Holmes is committed to diversity and equity in its admissions process and welcomes
applications from a variety of potential students regardless of age, sexuality,
gender, ethnicity, religion or disability or disadvantage.

3.2 Holmes particularly welcomes and encourages applications from Aboriginal and
Torres Strait islander peoples.
3.3 Holmes endeavours to make the admissions process welcoming, accessible and
culturally appropriate for students and potential students from all backgrounds.

4. Special Needs and Reasonable Adjustment

4.1 Students are given an opportunity to disclose issues which may affect their studies
at admission and at any time during their studies.
4.2 Accessible support services are in place for all students including individualised
support for students with specific needs. Holmes supports students with a
disability, while also ensuring that such students experience equal opportunities
relative to other Holmes students within the limits of reasonable accommodation.
4.3 Students must inform Holmes if they have any issues they believe will affect their
learning prior to beginning their studies. Holmes addresses each request for
reasonable adjustment on a case-­‐by-­‐case basis ensuring fairness and equal
opportunities are maintained.
4.4 Where a physical, learning, psychological or sensory impairment or, a serious
medical condition may impair a student’s ability to comply with the assessment
standard, this information should be disclosed at admission so reasonable
adjustments can be considered.
4.5 Late disclosure of an impairment affecting on time, on-­‐standard submission of work
may seriously affect the student’s grade and/or Holmes ability to respond to meet
the students’ needs or make reasonable adjustment.

5. English Proficiency Requirements

5.1 All students must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following
means.

a. Successful completion of studies in English, such as Year 12 at Australian
High School or an Australian Diploma or higher qualification;
b. Successful studies at a recognised Australian educational institution at an
equivalent study level based on at least a 50% pass rate in a recent
semester of study;
c. An English test score using one of the following English language Tests as
approved by Holmes:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Cambridge English qualification.

5.2 Holmes may also consider successful completion of English for Academic Purposes
(EAP) or an Academic English tertiary preparation program from another education
provider. Where this occurs, Holmes will determine if the student meets Holmes’
English requirements by administering Holmes English Placement Test.
5.3 Successful completion of Holmes English Placement Test.

English Language Entry Requirements for Specific Courses

Applicants whose secondary school education, undergraduate or postgraduate
qualification was not completed in English must demonstrate levels of English
proficiency as described below.
Diploma and Bachelor Degree Courses
An English test score with minimum requirements as follows:

• IELTS Overall 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5; OR
• PTE Academic Score of 46; OR
• TOEFL iBT Score of 60-­‐78; OR
• Cambridge English: Advanced from Cambridge ESOL (CAE) Score of 169, OR
• Equivalent as determined by Holmes English Placement Test.

Graduate Certificate in Business, Graduate Diploma in Business, and Master of Business Administration

An English test score with minimum requirements as follows:

• IELTS Overall 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5; OR
• PTE Academic Score of 46; OR
• TOEFL iBT Score of 60-­‐78; OR
• Cambridge English: Advanced from Cambridge ESOL (CAE) Score of 169, OR
• Equivalent as determined by Holmes English Placement Test.

Master of Business Administration (Professional)

An English test score with minimum requirements as follows:

• IELTS Overall 6.0 with no band score lower than 6.0; OR
• PTE Academic Score of 46; OR
• TOEFL iBT Score of 60-­‐78; OR
• Cambridge English: Advanced from Cambridge ESOL (CAE) Score of 169, OR
• Equivalent as determined by Holmes English Placement Test.

Master of Professional Accounting and Master of Information Systems

An English test score with minimum requirements as follows:

• IELTS Overall 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0; OR
• PTE Academic Score of 56; OR
• TOEFL iBT Score of 79-­‐93; OR
• Cambridge English: Advanced from Cambridge ESOL (CAE) Score of 176, OR
• Equivalent as determined by Holmes English Placement Test.

All Courses

About Holmes

Holmes Snapshot

‘Cum Propris Suis Alis Volat’ – Fly with your own wings

Established in 1963, Holmes Institute is a multi-sector provider of education with faculties of English Language Training, Higher Education and Secondary Education. We are committed to providing the highest quality education to enable and empower students to seek self-improvement, irrespective of nationality, gender or belief.

Mission Statement

Vision

Holmes Institute is committed to providing degree programs at Bachelor and Master level of the highest quality to a local, but predominantly international student cohort, applying best practice teaching.

Mission

Holmes’ mission is to provide a dynamic, student-centred learning environment that fosters rational thought and is committed to and supportive of free intellectual enquiry in the Institute’s academic endeavours.

Core Values

Integrity • Intellectual Freedom • Excellence • Diversity • Equity • Stability

Profile

Today, Holmes Institute operates as an integrated multi-sector private provider of education. The institute consists of a faculty of Higher Education, a School of Secondary Education and English Language Centre at each location.

Holmes Institute operates from campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns, offering a range of awards from Bachelor to Masters’ degrees in business administration, accounting and information systems.

Holmes Institute is driven by a culture of continuous quality improvement and in this context, the institution constantly seeks ways to align its education products with the demands of the labour market. This goal also informs curriculum development at Holmes, which includes fostering a commitment to life-long learning, international perspectives and the advancement of knowledge and understanding among its students.

As part of its commitment to continuous quality improvement, Holmes benchmarks its internal systems, structures, process and practices against best practice in universities and colleges. The institute also embraces new technologies with student-centered teaching and learning strategies, which complement the digital age.

History

Established in 1963, Holmes commenced building a proud tradition of business excellence with the founding of a commercial college in Melbourne Australia. By 1986, Holmes had established one of Victoria’s first accredited private English Language centres and the Holmes Education Group, a respected entity in professional Australian education. In 1987, High School Preparation for international students began, followed in 1988 by the opening of the first Holmes interstate campus in Sydney. Progressively, over the next fifteen years, Holmes has expanded the national campus network to include Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns, as well as introducing Cambridge Teacher Training for English language teachers in 1989 and the launch in 1989 of a comprehensive national Study Tour program.

For over forty years, Holmes has had an enviable reputation as a quality education provider, being 100% Australian owned and maintaining since 1988 an unchanged senior management team. From 1988, Holmes has moved steadily towards active involvement with the higher education sector, particularly in the provision of undergraduate level degrees. The establishment of the Holmes Institute of Higher Education is in fulfilment of the company’s higher education mission.

Since 2001, through these partnerships, Holmes has delivered undergraduate degree programs in addition to offering postgraduate options. Commencing 2004, the Holmes Institute of Higher Education enters an exciting era in quality, degree-based learning, preparing students for a changing global business environment by offering the Holmes Bachelor of Business and Bachelor, Bachelor of Information Systems and Bachelor of Fashion Business. Today, Holmes offers a range of diplomas, bachelors’ degrees in business, information systems and fashion and masters’ degrees in business administration, professional accounting and information systems.

Policies

The following are a list of policies, guidelines and documents used within and by Holmes Institute.

Please note, these policies are subject to change and updated on the Holmes Institute website accordingly.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Education Policy
• Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech Policy
• Acceptable Use of Information Technology
• Admission Requirements Policy and Procedures
• Advanced Standing Policy and Procedures – Higher Education
• Agent List
• Agent Recruitment and Management Policy and Procedures
• Assessment Policy – Higher Education
• Child Safety Code of Conduct – Higher Education
• Child Safety Policy – Higher Education
• Child Safety U18 Risk Management Strategy – Higher Education
• Code of Conduct Policy
• Completion Within the Expected Duration of Study Policy and Procedure
• Critical Incident Policy and Procedures
• Cybersecurity Policy and Procedures – Students
• Deferral, Suspension and Cancellation Policy and Procedures – Domestic Students
• Deferral Suspension and Cancellation Policy and Procedures – International Students
• Discontinuation and Teach-out Policy and Procedures – Higher Education
• Diversity and Equity Policy and Procedure
• Faculty of Higher Education Student Handbook
• FEE-HELP Application Policy and Procedure – Higher Education
• Graduation and Conferral of Awards Policy and Procedure – Higher Education
• Information for Prospective Students
• Marketing Policy and Procedures
• Monitoring Course Progress Policy and Procedures – Higher Education
• Privacy Policy and Procedure
• Quick Facts About Courses
• Refund Policy – Domestic FEE-HELP Eligible Students
• Refund Policy – Fee-Paying Students
• Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) Prevention Policy and Procedures for Students
• Student Academic Conduct and Integrity Policy
• Student Charter and Conduct Policy – Higher Education
• Student Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedures
• Student Enrolment Policy
• Student Support Policy
• Student Transfer and Release Policy and Procedures
• Tuition Protection Policy and Procedure
• Under 18 Student Handbook
• Work Integrated Learning Policy
• Workplace Health and Safety Policy

All Courses

Fees & Start Dates

NOTE: All trimester fees are due and payable 14 days prior to the trimester commencement.

Ancillary Fees

*OSHC fees are indicative only and subject to change via a third party.

Packaged English Courses

$280 per week when packaged with a Holmes Institute Higher Education course.

For students on packaged courses with consecutive COEs the second and subsequent COEs will incur a $1,500 non-refundable deposit.

Students on a Student Visa MUST be enrolled in a full-time course.

All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars ($AUD) and are inclusive of GST where applicable. Course availability is subject to minimum numbers. Holmes Institute reserves the right to change course structure, content or fee scales any time without notice.

It is expected that there will be a 4% to 5% increase per year.

All Courses

How many units do I need to study each trimester?

You are required to study 4 subjects per trimeseter, exceptions to this are granted where a student has a medical condition or other compassionate and compelling reasons that prevent them from studying a full study load. During our summer (optional) trimester, continuing students may study as little as 1 subject.

How big are classes at Holmes Institute?

When studying at Holmes Institute, you will generally experience small class sizes. Small classes allows students to engage with their lecturer and fellow students. However in some lecture situations in units in which all students are enrolled, students will attend the large lecture theatre. Tutorials usually consist of a smaller number of students to ensure that each student has the opportunity to ask questions and participate in the activities and exercises.

Who studies at Holmes Institute?

Students at Holmes Institute come from all over the world which makes the Holmes experience truly international. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, some direct from high school and others have been in the workforce for some time. However, students are open minded, respectful to their fellow students and seek opportunities to share their knowledge with others.

Who are the lecturers at Holmes Institute?

Faculty members at Holmes Institute bring to the classroom a wide range of expertise and experience. Most of our lecturers have worked in universities in Australia and overseas. Faculty are well qualified academically. In addition, many faculty also have experience working for multinational companies, government and both in Australia and overseas.

Can I study any units that I want to?

You have some freedom to choose the units you want to study. However, at the first year level you will study foundation units as these provide the grounding for you to progress in your course. Some units also have so-called prerequisites, that is, you need to have studied certain units first before you enroll in other units.

How many hours of class per unit every week?

Each unit typically has one hour of lectures and two hours of tutorials each week.

How long is a trimester?

Each trimester consists of twelve weeks of study, a study week for the exams followed by the examinations.

Can I contact my lecturers?

You can always contact your lecturers in class and/or during their designated consultation hours. In addition, you can contact your lecturer via email.

Do I need to attend all classes?

We strongly recommend that students attend all classes, that is, lectures, tutorials and workshops. However, while attendance is not compulsory students are required to submit all pieces of assessment and participate in accessed tutorial activities as required.

Can I change my units, how would I do that?

If you need to change a unit, you will need to fill in the Subject Variation Form and submit this to hello@holmes.edu.au, who will review and approve the change if it meets the conditions of your enrolment. Please note that you cannot change any units without penalty after the census date (see academic calendar).

I want to change my course. What do I have to do?

If you want to change your course, for example, from Bachelor of Business to Bachelor of Professional Accounting, you need to fill in the Change of Course Form and this needs to be approved by the Course Coordinator. A fee applies to change courses. Contact hello@holmes.edu.au for a copy of the form.

Will I need to purchase a textbook for the units I study?

Yes, if a textbook is prescribed it will be indicated in your unit outline.

All Courses