UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway
Secure your place at a global top 20 university*
Secure your place at a global top 20 university*
We’ve lowered the minimum ATAR on hundreds of UNSW degrees, exclusively for you. Check your eligibility to apply to UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway. If successful, you’ll receive an early offer to study at UNSW or an early conditional offer with significantly reduced ATAR requirements.
To be eligible for the Gateway Admission Pathway, you must:
Check our list below to see if you attend a Gateway school. Don't see your school on the list or unsure if you're eligible? Contact us.
Our Gateway Program starts in Year 10 and is designed to guide you on your journey to uni. Take part in workshops, campus days and online learning, where you'll hone your study skills, through exam preparation and HSC masterclasses. You'll also get support to apply for the Gateway Admission Pathway.
Join a global top 20 university* and gain the experience and connections to drive progress in your field.
Not sure what you want to study yet?
Our InsideOut app can be used to identify your strengths, values and interests, and will give you suggestions around what you might want to study.
Explore what programs we have on offer and adjusted ATAR requirements through the pathway. When you submit your application, you can choose to be considered for up to two (2) degree preferences. Be sure to pick degrees that you're passionate about!
If you don’t end up getting the ATAR required for your chosen degree, you might consider studying a UNSW College Diploma. This 12-month program allows you to explore one of six core subjects equivalent to your First Year of university. On successful completion, you can progress straight into the Second Year of a UNSW Bachelor’s degree.
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application. Our Nail It! app guides you through the process.
Your personal statement is an opportunity to tell us more about you. Tell us about your ambitions, the topics that excite you and the kind of progress you hope to make in the world.
Firm offers for NSW students will be released on Thursday, 19 December 2024. Firm offers for IB and interstate students will be released on Wednesday, 8 January 2025.
Up to two degree preferences
UNSW is committed to student equity, and we want to ensure that as many young people as possible can access and succeed in higher education. The Gateway Admission Pathway is UNSW’s primary pathway for students who are traditionally underrepresented at UNSW and in higher education more broadly.
All Gateway Admission Pathway applications are considered based on your written personal statement and your Year 11 results.
This year, you will have the opportunity to receive an early offer (with the requirement of receiving an ATAR regardless of the result) or an early conditional offer (with a significantly reduced ATAR requirement).
You can apply for all undergraduate degrees at UNSW Sydney, as well as degrees offered at the UNSW Canberra City campus through the Canberra School of Professional Studies.
Note:
Degrees offered at the UNSW Canberra City campus through the Canberra School of Professional Studies are eligible for the Gateway Admission Pathway. This includes the Bachelor of Cyber Security.
Please note: Programs offered through UNSW Canberra at ADFA are not eligible for the Gateway Admission Pathway.
To be eligible for the Gateway Admission Pathway, you must:
If you’re unsure whether you meet these criteria, contact us.
If you meet these criteria but are in Year 10 or 11, you are able to participate in the UNSW Gateway Program. This program is for students who want to discover UNSW degree options, explore future career opportunities and access additional resources for the HSC.
* Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) ranks areas in Australia according to relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage based on the Index of Education and Occupation and Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage.
No, unfortunately only domestic students can be considered through the Gateway Admission Pathway. International Students considering alternative entry pathways into UNSW can consider a university pathway program through UNSW College. To find out more about our Academic and English programs, visit our UNSW College website.
Gateway schools are identified by taking the three-year average of Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) for schools across NSW or the three-year average of the proportion of students in the bottom SEA quartile. The ICSEA and proportion of students in the bottom SEA quartile of a school can be found on the My School website.
You can find instructions and a link to the Gateway Admission Pathway application portal under Step 4, Start your application.
Application dates are below:
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
---|---|
Round 1 Opens: Monday, 29 April Round 1 Closes: Wednesday, 24 July Round 1 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Thursday, 5 September |
Round 2 Opens: Friday, 6 September Round 2 Closes: Monday, 11 November Round 2 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Friday, 6 December |
You will need to upload a personal statement answering the following three questions. If you have chosen two degrees to be considered for in your application, you only need to address the degree you have listed as your first preference.
You can choose up to two UNSW degrees to be assessed on. However, only preference two degrees if you would be happy to receive an offer for either of those degrees. When writing your personal statement, you should reference the degree you have listed as your first preference.
Please note whilst you can preference up to two degrees, you can only receive one offer to UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway.
Your personal statement is a very important part of how we assess your application. Here are the key qualities we are looking for in your personal statement:
Check out our Nail It! app designed specifically to help you write your personal statement.
Yes, you can resubmit your personal statement if necessary. However, we strongly encourage you to finalise it before submitting it.
No, we won’t have access to information about special provisions and won’t consider it as part of the application process.
If you are successful in receiving an offer you will be notified in in our offer rounds. 2024 offer round dates will be shared soon.
You do not need to start a new application when reapplying for Round 2. Simply visit the portal and update your existing application via the "Manage your application" button. Once you're in, you can change your degree preferences.
Early offers have the requirement of you sitting the HSC and receiving an ATAR regardless of the result.
Early conditional offers are made with a significantly reduced ATAR requirement. If you meet or exceed the adjusted ATAR you will receive a firm offer to that degree.
There will be two offer rounds.
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
---|---|
Round 1 Opens: Monday, 29 April Round 1 Closes: Wednesday, 24 July Round 1 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Thursday, 5 September |
Round 2 Opens: Friday, 6 September Round 2 Closes: Monday, 11 November Round 2 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Friday, 6 December |
Firm offers for NSW students will be released on Thursday, 19 December 2024. Firm offers for IB and interstate students will be released on Wednesday, 8 January 2025.
No, you will only receive one offer to UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway.
Most degrees offered through the Gateway Admission Pathway are not capped.
The exceptions are:
Yes. So long as you have met the requirements of your offer and converted it to a firm offer by the set date, you will be able to defer your studies for one year.
Sit tight and wait for your firm offer! To find out when firm offers are released, please visit our key dates. Once you receive your firm offer, you can accept and enrol into UNSW.
If you live in an eligible low-socioeconomic area, receive an offer from UNSW and enrol for Term 1, 2025, you will be eligible to receive the $10,000 UNSW Advantage Award to support you in your first year of studies. Low-socioeconomic areas are based on 2021 IRSAD and IEO indexes of SEIFA criteria.
Additionally, for 2025, all students who attend a Gateway school, apply through the Gateway Admission Pathway and enrol at UNSW will receive a $1,000 one-off payment to make the transition to uni easier, meaning you could be eligible for a total of an $11,000 award to make the most of your studies.
For 2025, all students who attend a Gateway school, apply via the Gateway Admission Pathway and enrol at UNSW will receive a $1,000 Gateway Award to make the transition to uni easier.
If you have applied to UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway, you will be advised if you’re eligible to receive the UNSW Advantage Award when Round 1 and Round 2 early offers and early conditional offers are released. Round 1 offers will be released on Thursday, 5 September 2024. Round 2 offers will be released on Friday, 6 December 2024.
The award will be paid in $2,500 instalments in your first year of university. The first instalment will be at the beginning of Term 1 and other payments will be within 4 weeks of the Term 1 Census Date, Term 2 Census Date and Term 3 Census Date.
Students who attended a Gateway school will also receive a $1,000 one off payment at the beginning of Term 1, 2025.
To be eligible for the UNSW Gateway Award applicants must have applied through the Gateway Admission Pathway and enrolled at UNSW. You will be advised if you’re eligible to receive this award when Round 1 and Round 2 early offers and early conditional offers are released. Round 1 offers will be released on Thursday, 5 September 2024. Round 2 offers will be released on Friday, 6 December 2024.
Students who attended a Gateway school will receive a $1,000 one off payment at the beginning of Term 1, 2025.
Students are not able to defer commencement of the UNSW Advantage Award or the UNSW Gateway Award.
However, you can reapply through the UAC Equity Scholarships portal to be considered for any Equity scholarships available. Please keep in mind there is no guarantee that you will receive an Equity Scholarship offer in a future round.
Yes, your eligibility will be determined as part of the regular UAC admissions process which happens throughout December and January. You will be advised if you are eligible to receive the UNSW Advantage Award in early 2025 before the start of Term 1.
Yes, if you receive the UNSW Advantage Award and/or the UNSW Gateway Award, you are still eligible for equity and merit scholarships at UNSW. Please check UNSW Scholarships for any scholarship opportunities available that are relevant to your studies.
However, in most cases, you won’t be able to hold both your UNSW Advantage/Gateway Award as well as an equity or merit scholarship. Recipients who are considering accepting or holding multiple Scholarships/Awards must contact UNSW Scholarships in writing for prior approval.
If you receive an equity or merit scholarship offer (including accommodation scholarships) in addition to being eligible for the UNSW Advantage/Gateway Awards, you will have the option to choose which scholarship/award you would like to hold.
The Community Plus Scholarship covers on-campus accommodation expenses of up to $25,000 per year throughout your undergraduate journey. If you apply to study at UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway and you’re looking to move onto campus, you will be prioritised for this award. Note that there are a limited number of these scholarships available.
UNSW offers a wide range of Equity Scholarships to assist commencing students to undertake full-time study for the standard duration of their coursework degree program.
If you apply through the Gateway Admission Pathway, you will automatically be considered on the basis of school disadvantage and socio-economic disadvantage of the area you live in. You don't need to submit a UAC Equity Scholarship application to be considered on the basis of these factors. You will automatically be considered for all relevant Equity Scholarships. However, if you’d like to be considered additionally on the basis of any of the below factors, you can also submit an Educational Access Scheme application through UAC.
The UNSW Co-op Program is a career development scholarship for high potential undergraduate students for selected undergraduate students in the disciplines of Business, Engineering, and Science. Co-op provides 15-18 months of industry training, professional development, networking and financial support ($21,600 p.a./4 years).
The Co-op Program requires an adjusted minimum ATAR of 90 (incl. EAS) for students from Gateway schools or low SES backgrounds. Up to 4 dedicated places each year are available through the Gateway scheme each year.
Applications for the Co-op Program Gateway places are through a separate application process from the main Gateway Admission Pathway. To apply, head to the Co-op website.
Applications are open now, and close on Monday, 30 September 2024.
ATAR adjustments consider additional factors when assessing a student’s capability to succeed at university. As part of UNSW's Gateway Admission Pathway, we consider the academic course requirements and the demonstrated academic standard of applicants. We then consider the Lowest Selection Rank and determine a reasonable adjustment for each degree. See our list of Gateway Adjusted ATARs for students enrolling in 2025.
Through the Gateway Admission Pathway, there are several degrees that have an adjusted ATAR of 65. See our list of Gateway Adjusted ATARs for students enrolling in 2025.
If you don't qualify for the UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway you may still be eligible to study a UNSW College Diploma program as an alternative entry pathway to UNSW. For more information, download the Diploma flyer.
The Gateway Admission Pathway sets a reduced ATAR requirement specific to the degree you are applying for. To convert your early conditional offer into a firm offer, your ATAR will need to meet this requirement without any other adjustment factors being considered.
No, there is a separate entry scheme for elite athletes here. You cannot combine schemes.
There are no implications. Your ATAR is only one indicator of your capacity to succeed at university, which is why we are considering other factors when assessing your application. You won’t be at a disadvantage compared to your peers.
We understand that sometimes things don’t always go to plan. If you don’t meet the adjusted ATAR set in your early conditional offer, you may still be considered for alternate entry schemes to study your dream UNSW degree including:
Not to be confused with the Bachelor of Medical Science.
The Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (often referred to simply as ‘Medicine’) is a very competitive degree and up to 10 places are offered each year via the Gateway Entry Scheme.
It is a different application process to apply for a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine and requires additional selection criteria. Visit the Gateway Entry Scheme for more details.
If you apply for a Bachelor of Laws through the Gateway Admission Pathway, you do not need to sit the Law Admission Test. LAT results will not be used to assess your Gateway Admission Pathway application. However, you can still register for and sit the LAT if you would like to retain the option of entry to the Bachelor of Laws through the LAT admission process.
As a Co-op scholar you are provided with up to 18 months of relevant industry experience, leadership and professional development training, mentoring and support, career planning and events to help you create professional and social networks. There are various programs available in Business, Science and Engineering streams.
The application process for Co-op is separate to the Gateway Admission Pathway. You will need to submit an online application, nominate your Careers Advisor to complete your Schools Assessment Page and complete a video snapshot. For more information about the programs, application process and eligibility, see here.
Yes, you can transfer in the same way as any student at UNSW can transfer degrees. You can learn more about our Undergraduate Internal Program Transfer (IPT) here.
Dates for the 2025 Year 10 Gateway Program will be shared later this year.
Dates for the 2025 Year 11 Gateway Program will be shared later this year.
Dates for the 2025 Year 12 Gateway Program will be shared later this year.
Round 1 |
Round 2 |
---|---|
Round 1 Opens: Monday, 29 April 2024 Round 1 Closes: Wednesday, 24 July 2024 Round 1 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Thursday, 5 September 2024 |
Round 2 Opens: Friday, 6 September 2024 Round 2 Closes: Monday, 11 November 2024 Round 2 Early Offer and Early Conditional Offer Release: Friday, 6 December 2024 |
Firm offers for NSW students will be released on Thursday, 19 December 2024. Firm offers for IB and interstate students will be released on Wednesday, 8 January 2025.