Australian and New Zealand secondary studies
Admission requirements and selection
To be offered a place in a course you must:
1. be eligible to be considered and
2. be selected in competition with other eligible applicants.
- To be eligible you must:
- meet the admission requirements of the institution offering the course/s. Each institution sets its own admission requirements so you are advised to read each institution's entry.
- meet the entrance requirements of the course/s. Some courses have course prerequisites or additional selection criteria prescribed by the institutions – check the course descriptions for further details.
- To be selected you must:
- compete against other eligible applicants. Being eligible to be considered for a course does not guarantee you a place in the course. For further information read selection.
2008 NSW HSC students
For 2008 NSW HSC students, admission to most tertiary courses is based on their performance in the 2008 HSC. Applicants are ranked on the basis of their Universities Admission Index (UAI). For further details on the UAI, read Universities Admission Index.
Other criteria such as a portfolio, interview, audition, questionnaire or test may also be taken into account for certain courses either instead of, or in conjunction with, the UAI. Details of any additional selection criteria are outlined in the course descriptions.
- Cut-offs
- the number of places available in the course
- the number of applicants for the course and
- the quality of those applicants.
Cut-offs are determined by the interaction of three factors:
Due to these factors, cut-offs vary from year to year and are impossible to predict before applicants are selected for a particular course in a particular year. The cut-offs for any course may rise, fall or remain the same from year to year.
The course search and course descriptions show the UAI cut-offs that were required by Year 12 applicants for entry into each course in the Main Round in 2008. Use these UAI cut-offs as a guide when considering your preferences. Remember that the cut-offs indicate the lowest UAI accepted for entry into the course - they do not represent the average ability of the students accepted for the course.
The UAI cut-offs for entry in 2009 will not be known until selection is actually made during the offer rounds. The cut-offs shown in the course search provide only an indication of the possible cut-offs for entry in 2009. They are supplied as a general guide to help you assess your chances of obtaining a place in a particular course.
^top2008 interstate Year 12 students
In 1995 the Tertiary Admissions Centres from all Australian states and territories agreed to find a common scale, or index, which would allow the comparison of overall measures of achievement in Year 12 across time and states.
In 1998 most states and territories began using this index to report overall measures of achievement. Different names are used in different states and territories – refer to Year 12 conversion table.
If you have completed an Australian interstate Year 12 qualification in 2008, admission to most tertiary courses is based on your measure of overall achievement in those studies as follows:
- For ACT Year 12 applicants, the ACT UAI as provided by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (ACTBSSS) is used.
- For Queensland Year 12 applicants, for students who complete the Queensland Senior Certificate, who are eligible for an Overall Position (OP), and who apply to UAC, the rank as provided by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) is used to derive an equivalent NSW UAI. This rank is not reported by the Board to applicants. The Overall Positions (OPs) shown in the Year 12 conversion table can be used as a guide. Students who complete a Queensland Senior External Examination are not eligible for an OP; UAC calculates a UAC rank for these students.
- For South Australian and Northern Territory Year 12 applicants, the SA/NT TER is used, provided that you have met Higher Education Selection Subject General (HESS G) requirements.
- For Tasmanian Year 12 applicants, the Tasmanian TER as provided by the University of Tasmania, calculated by the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority, is used.
- For Victorian Year 12 applicants, the Victorian ENTER as provided by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is used.
- For Western Australian Year 12 applicants, the Murdoch TER as provided by the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) is used.
Other criteria such as prerequisite subject requirements, portfolio, interview, audition, questionnaire or test may also be taken into account for certain courses either instead of, or in conjunction with, your measure of overall achievement. Details of any additional selection criteria are outlined in the course descriptions.
^topNew Zealand NCEA Level 3 students
For students who have completed the NCEA Level 3, an Interstate Transfer Index (ITI) will be calculated for you by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), and provided to UAC; this will be used in the selection process, provided that you have fulfilled university entrance requirements as set by NZQA. This ITI is not reported by NZQA to applicants. Queries about this ITI and university entrance requirements should be made to NZQA. For further information, visit www.nzqa.govt.nz.
Check course descriptions for additional selection criteria.
^topPrevious Year 12 students
If you are applying solely on the basis of a previous Year 12 result, read the relevant institution entries for further information.
^topInternational Baccalaureate Diploma or Bilingual Diploma
Which institutions accept the IB Diploma and Bilingual Diploma?
UAC’s participating institutions accept the IB Diploma and Bilingual Diploma as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. However, acceptance alone does not guarantee entry into courses. Entry is based on competition as places may be limited and some courses may have additional selection requirements.
For further information on additional requirements, contact the admissions offices at institutions to which you are applying.
How do I apply for study at UAC institutions in 2009 if I am sitting the IB in 2008?
- a) If you are:
- an Australian citizen (including dual citizens)
- a New Zealand citizen (including dual citizens)
- an Australian permanent resident visa holder
- an Australian permanent resident humanitarian visa holder you must apply through UAC Undergraduate using Apply-By-Web.
- b) If you are:
- an international student and sitting the IB in Australia you must apply through UAC International using Apply-By-Web.
- c) If you are:
- an international student sitting the IB outside of Australia you must apply direct to the university.
Do I need to provide UAC with my IB results?
Current IB results
a) If you are currently attempting the IB Diploma in Australia
No – If you have authorised release of your results to UAC via the B2 form, UAC will receive your IB results directly from the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). Check with your school’s IB coordinator to determine if your school is able to submit the B2 form electronically via IBNET on your behalf.
b) If you are currently attempting the IB Diploma outside Australia
Yes – You must supply correctly verified documentary evidence of your official IB results as soon as they become available. For instructions on how to verify documents, read 'Correctly verified documents only' in Documentation.
Alternatively, you can request IBO to release your results to UAC through its secure website by completing a B2 Form. You are strongly encouraged to arrange for IBO to release your results to UAC in time for its Main Round of offers. This is particularly important if you have results in the November 2008 examination session as results are only expected to be available in early January 2009.
Previous IB results
Yes, you must supply correctly verified documentary evidence. For instructions on how to verify documents, check under Documentation.
Further information
For further information read Applying with the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Bilingual Diploma.
^topAlternative secondary programs
For information regarding acceptance of alternative secondary programs such as Accelerated Christian Education or Rudolph Steiner, check with individual institution admissions offices.
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