With the start of another academic year students, parents and guardians are all geared up for registrations and orientation, especially for new students starting their academic journey at a new institution. The University of Papua New Guinea took time out to clarify its GPA and course combination in selection criteria during its orientation program on Tuesday, 28th January for new students. The University has affirmed that they can only deal with students selected already through the Department of Higher Education Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) National Online Application System (NOAS) and the National Online Selection System (NOSS). The Executive Management Committee led by Acting Vice Chancellor Dr Cecilia Nembou, PhD, said that the NOAS and NOSS are complementary online application and selection systems set up with specific entry requirements based on Grade Point Average scores from specific combination of courses. "This NOAS and NOSS are established to avoid nepotism, favouritism and other ills in both the application and the selection process.” "The university cannot make any changes to the selection done already through the NOAS and NOAS computerized process," said Dr Nembou, who is also Chair of the UPNG Senate (responsible for academic matters). "The required GPA from the approved combination of courses are set for all schools of the university.” “They are in the online application system and the portal allows students a timeline of seven weeks to ensure they check and re-check their entry qualifications before finalizing and submitting their applications online." Once the NOSS kicks in, neither the UPNG Executive Management Team nor Executive Deans of the schools are unable to make changes at their individual or even collective discretion. According to the EMT, any changes in the NOAS and the NOSS managed by DHERST will follow an established and rigorous process beginning at the UPNG which includes; 1) Recommendation by the School's Executive Dean. 2) Deliberation and approval by the School Board of Directors. 3) Deliberation and approval by the UPNG Senate; 4) Deliberation and approval by the UPNG Council, and 5) Submission to DHERST for entry into the NOAS and NOSS computers. As it stands now, the fixed combination of courses per school and the minimum grades and/or GPA used to select UPNG students are: School of Law: First Year Bachelor of Law B or better in Literature or Applied English B or better in Advance Mathematics or General Mathematics B or better in the social sciences courses: a) Economics, b) Geography or c) History B or better in any of science courses: a) Biology, b) Chemistry or c) Physics 3.0 Minimum GPA required for application for selection from above courses. School of Business and Public Policy: Business and Management Foundation Year C or better in Language and Literature or Applied English C or better in Advance Mathematics or General Mathematics C or better in any two of the following courses: a) Economics, b) Geography, c) History, d) Accounting, e) Business Studies, and f) Legal Services. C or better in any of the science courses: a) Biology, b) Chemistry or c) Physics 2.6 Minimum GPA required for application for selection from above courses. School of Natural and Physical Sciences: For entry into Science Foundation Year B or better in Language and Literature or Applied English B or better in Advance Mathematics or General Mathematics B or better in science courses: a) Biology, b) Chemistry or c) Physics 3.0 Minimum GPA required for application for selection from above courses. School Humanities and School Sciences entry requirements into two Arts Studies: A) Bachelor of Arts programme with majors in Anthropology and Sociology, History, Gender and Philosophy, Information and Communication Science; Journalism & Public Relations; Linguistics & Modern Languages, English Communications & Literature; Political Science; Population Studies & Geography; Psychology, and Social Work C or better in Language and Literature or Applied English B or better in Advance Mathematics or General Mathematics B or better in two or more Social Science courses: a) Economics, b) Geography, and c) History B or Science courses: a) Biology, b) Chemistry or c) Physics 2.75 Minimum GPA required for application for selection from above courses. B) Bachelor of Arts programme with majors in Creative Artis (Music, Art and Design) and Diploma in Language and Communications: C or better in Language and Literature or Applied English C or better in Advance Mathematics or General Mathematics C or better in two or more Social Science subjects. a) Economics, b) Geography, c) History; C or better in two or more Science courses: a) Biology, b) Chemistry, c) Physics 2.25 Minimum GPA required for application for selection from above courses.