APPLYING TO SIT THE 2016 HSC EXAM OUTSIDE OF NSW
Students who are unable to attend an examination centre in NSW to sit their written exams, may apply to the
Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) for permission to sit their exams overseas
or interstate.
Applications will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. An overseas holiday is not an acceptable
reason.
To apply to sit the HSC exams overseas or interstate, a student must:
1. Be eligible to sit the exams under the 2016 HSC Rules and Procedures.
2. Be able to sit the exam at the same time as it is being held in NSW or the closest reasonable time,
as stipulated by BOSTES. If the student is attending a sporting, musical or cultural event, university
examination or similar on the date of an exam, the student will be expected to sit the exam at the
time approved by BOSTES, and cannot submit an Illness/Misadventure appeal on the grounds of the
other commitment.
3. Provide documentation detailing the reasons they will be overseas or interstate.
4. Pay the administration fee levied by BOSTES.
5. Pay all additional fees charged by the examination venue for room hire, supervision, couriers and
other associated costs.
In addition, the student’s principal must support the application. Application forms must be signed by the
principal, the student, and the student’s parent/guardian.
If the reason is considered acceptable, BOSTES will attempt to arrange for a special centre to administer the
exams. Suitable venues overseas include British Council offices or Australian Diplomatic offices. Suitable
venues interstate include government offices or educational institutions. It is the student’s responsibility to
make travel arrangements to the examination centre. In most cases, this will be in the closest major city.
If a suitable centre cannot be found, the student will need to sit the exams in NSW.
BOSTES will arrange supervision of the exams with the venue. The person supervising the exams will not be
known to the student.
1. Oral Language Examinations
Students who will be overseas during the Languages oral exam period scheduled in August/September, may
be able to undertake their oral exam by telephone. This will be subject to individual approval on the basis of
the availability of examiners and appropriate time differences.
2. Disability Provisions
Disability provisions are difficult to arrange with overseas agencies, and may not be able to be
accommodated. Any such requirements must be advised to BOSTES as early as possible.
3. Australia representation in a sporting, musical, cultural or academic capacity
Students going overseas or interstate to represent Australia or NSW in an approved event must provide
additional details to those on the application form:
 Manager/Coach’s name, mobile telephone number and e-mail address.
 Contact details (name, phone, postal and e-mail addresses) for the governing body of the approved
event.
 Contact details (name, phone, postal and e-mail addresses) for the competition or training camp
organisers, as well as a copy of the complete itinerary for the trip. These details must be attached to
the application form.
It can be particularly difficult to find suitable venues for students who are participating in sporting, musical,
cultural or academic tours. When no suitable overseas venue is available, or when it is logistically
impractical, students who are competitively selected to represent Australia or NSW in an approved event can
request to be exempt from sitting the exam. If the request is approved the student will receive an exam mark
of zero instead of being marked absent.
In such cases, BOSTES will refund 50% of the administration fee.
4. Withdrawals
Students who withdraw their application at any stage after examination arrangements have been made must
notify BOSTES and the overseas/interstate examination venue immediately. There may be a withdrawal fee
payable to the examination venue. The administration fee paid to BOSTES as part of the application process
is non-refundable.
5. Payment Details
An administration fee is required to be paid to BOSTES at the time of application. Fees will be refunded in
full if the application is not approved. Students are also required to cover all costs imposed by the overseas
or interstate examination venue. Such costs are separate from the administration fee paid to BOSTES.
Do not send cash by post. Personal cheques cannot be accepted. Money orders and bank cheques are to
be made payable to the ‘Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards’ ($AUD only). Payments by
Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard only) will incur a 0.4% surcharge of the payment amount.
The fees are as follows:
 application received by the due date of 30 June 2016
 application received 1 July – 9 September 2016
 application received 10 September – 16 September 2016
$425.00
$554.00
$695.00
6. Lodging the Application
Please retain this Information Sheet, and keep a copy of your application for reference purposes. Return the
completed application with payment to:
In person:
BOSTES Cashier, Level 5, 117 Clarence St, Sydney
Office hours 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday
By mail:
Examination Operations/Overseas Application
BOSTES, GPO Box 5300, SYDNEY NSW 2001
All enquiries
+61 2 9367 8292
+61 2 9367 8104
[email protected]
NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
APPLICATION TO SIT THE 2016 HSC EXAMS OUTSIDE OF NSW
Please note that all communication from BOSTES and the special exam centre is by email.
Ensure you provide a current email address and regularly check your email.
PERSONAL DETAILS - use BLOCK LETTERS
Family Name
Given Names(s)
Student Number
Phone Number
in NSW
Residential Address
in NSW
Student Email
Address
Parent/Guardian
Email Address
OVERSEAS or INTERSTATE DETAILS
Country or State to
undertake the exam
Closest Major City
Residential Address
Overseas or Interstate
Email Address
Phone Number
(include country code)
Date of Departure
from NSW
SUBJECT(S) TO BE EXAMINED OVERSEAS or INTERSTATE
Course
Course Number
Course
Course Number
Course
Course Number
Course
Course Number
Course
Course Number
Course
Course Number
Page 1 of 3
NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
REASON FOR THE APPLICATION
Justification for the creation of an overseas or interstate exam centre is essential. Provide documentation
detailing the reasons you will not be able to sit your exams in a NSW exam centre. An overseas holiday is
not an acceptable reason.
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Name of Home School
Name of Principal
Please tick one of the
following

I support this application

I do not support this application
(attach reasons why if not supported)
Signature of Principal
Date
Email Address
Contact
Number
Name of Principal
SIGNATURE OF STUDENT AND PARENT / GUARDIAN
I understand that all costs imposed by the examination venue to cover supervision, accommodation,
administration and return courier costs of exam papers are separate from BOSTES’ administration fee. I
agree that all additional fees charged by the examination venue will be paid.
Student Name
Student Signature
Date
Parent/Guardian’s Name
Parent/Guardian’s Signature
Date
Page 2 of 3
NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 16 SEPTEMBER 2016
Application will not be processed until payment is received.
Do not send cash by post. Personal cheques cannot be accepted. Money orders and bank cheques are to
be made payable to the ‘Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards’ ($AUD only). Payments by
Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard only) will incur a 0.4% surcharge of the payment amount.
The fees are as follows:
 application received by the due date of 30 June 2016
 application received 1 July – 9 September 2016
 application received 10 September – 16 September 2016
$425.00
$554.00
$695.00
PAYMENT OPTIONS (TICK AS REQUIRED)
□ Cash / EFTPOS (BOSTES counter only)
□ Money Order / Bank Cheque – payable to BOSTES. No personal cheques accepted.
□ Credit Card – Visa / MasterCard only accepted
If paying by Credit Card, please complete the details below:
Credit Card Number
____/____/____/____
Expiry Date
__/__
Amount to be debited
AUD$ _____________________ plus a 0.4% surcharge of the payment amount
Name on Card ………..……………………………………………………….…………………………………………
Signature of Cardholder …………………………………………………………… Date ……………………………
Please retain a copy of your application and the Information Sheet. Return the completed application with
payment to:
In person:
BOSTES Cashier, Level 5, 117 Clarence St, Sydney
Office hours 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday
By mail:
Examination Operations/Overseas Application
BOSTES, GPO Box 5300, SYDNEY NSW 2001
All enquiries
+61 2 9367 8292
+61 2 9367 8104
[email protected]
Page 3 of 3
NO APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 16 SEPTEMBER 2016