No doubt you have been working hard in Year 11 and 12, and as you may know admission to UNSW is based on getting an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) through your Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. HSC). If you have another Australian Senior Secondary Qualification you will be assessed on a comparable rank.
The following qualifications are considered for entry to UNSW:
- NSW HSC and interstate Year 12 qualifications
- International Baccalaureate Diploma
- GCE A-Levels
- NZ NCEA Level 3
- Overseas secondary qualifications considered equivalent to Australian studies (refer to the UAC 'Commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications')
To check out the ATAR cut-offs for entry into a degree at UNSW view the Degree and Entry Rank Directory. In general terms, the cut-off for a degree shows the minimum ATAR needed by applicants when offers were made. ATAR cut-offs can vary from year to year, so please use the directory as a guide only.
Accepted overseas qualifications for domestic students
If you hold an academic qualification from overseas that is not on the commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications list above and you are an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or New Zealand citizen, talk to UNSW Admissions to discuss your eligibility on +61 2 9385 3656 or email admissions@unsw.edu.au.
If you hold an overseas secondary qualification from a country where English is not the standard language used in education, please check our English language proficiency requirements.
Bonus points
Bonus points are a great way to give your entrance rank a boost. Through HSC Plus, bonus points are awarded for academic excellence in subjects relevant to your degree choice and other achievements are awarded bonus points through the Elite Athletes and Performers Program. Check out the Bonus points section to see if this is something you can take advantage of.
Additional selection criteria
Remember that a few of our degrees also have additional selection criteria for entry, so be sure to check the additional selection criteria section to see if this applies to your undergraduate degree choices.
*New for 2014*
UNSW will now be accepting portfolios in conjunction with your ATAR (or equivalent) for students who are expecting an ATAR within 10 points of the expected cut‐off for some COFA degrees and Interior Architecture. For students interested in COFA click here for more information, for students interested in Interior Architecture click here.
Educational disadvantage
Life isn’t always smooth-sailing. Things like illness, financial hardship, language difficulties and attending disadvantaged schools can mean you don’t always get your best marks in Year 11 and 12. So if you are trying to get into university, the ACCESS Scheme might be for you. You can find out more about the ACCESS scheme at www.unsw.edu.au/access
UNSW Prep (UNSW Preparation Program 17-19)
We don’t want to miss out on great students. If you are eligible for the ACCESS Scheme, or are an Indigenous student applying via Nura Gili, you can also apply for UNSW Prep.
UNSW Prep will give you time to develop core academic skills in smaller classes with excellent tutors. Starting your UNSW studies gradually, so that you can excel throughout your degree is what UNSW Prep is all about. That’s not to say it’s easy. Application is competitive and to be considered you will need to show motivation and interest in your preferred study area and achieve an ATAR of at least 50.
For more information visit unsw.edu.au/unswprep17-19
