Secondary studies information for Aus and NZ applicants

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Australian and New Zealand secondary studies

2009 NSW HSC students

Admission to most tertiary courses in 2010 is based on your performance in the 2009 HSC – you will be ranked on the basis of your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Institutions may also take other criteria into account such as a portfolio, interview, audition, questionnaire or a test for certain courses either instead of, or together with, the ATAR.

Additional selection criteria can be found in the course descriptions available through the course search.

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ATAR Cut-offs

The interaction of three factors determines cut-offs:

  • the number of places available in the course
  • the number of applicants for the course and
  • the quality of those applicants.

These three factors mean that cut-offs change 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 can rise, fall or remain the same from year to year.

The course search shows the ATAR cut-offs that Year 12 applicants needed for entry into each course in the Main Round in 2009. Refer to the Year 12 conversion table.

Use these cut-offs as a guide when deciding on your preferences. Remember that the cut-offs indicate the lowest ATAR accepted for entry into the course – they don’t represent the average ability of the students accepted for the course.

The ATAR cut-offs for entry in 2010 won’t be known until selection is actually made during the offer rounds. The cut-offs shown in the course search only give you an indication of the possible cut-offs for entry in 2010. They are supplied as a general guide to help you assess your chances of getting into a particular course.

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2009 interstate Year 12 students

All Australian states and territories use a common scale, or index, which allows the comparison of overall measures of achievement in Year 12 across time and states. Different names are used in different states and territories. Refer to the Year 12 conversion table for more information.

Admission to most tertiary courses is based on your measure of overall achievement in the following studies:

  • For ACT Year 12 applicants, the ACT ATAR as provided by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (ACTBSSS) is used.
  • For Queensland Year 12 applicants, for students who completed 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 ATAR. 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. In 2009 the TER in WA is changing to the TER (ATAR).

For information about course prerequisites and subject bonuses check the FAQs.

Institutions may also take other criteria into account such as a portfolio, interview, audition, questionnaire or a test for certain courses either instead of, or together with, the ATAR.

Additional selection criteria can be found in the course descriptions available through the course search.

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New Zealand NCEA Level 3 students

For students who have completed the NCEA Level 3, an Interstate Transfer Index (ITI) will be calculated 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.

Additional selection criteria can be found in the course descriptions available through the course search.

Previous 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.

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Related links

Bookmark and Share 2010 UAC Guide
If you apply after the on-time closing date of 30 September 2009 you will need to pay a late fee. Most offers are made in the Main Round on 20 January 2010.

Offer round Apply by midnight Provide all documents by Change preferences by Offers released online Offers published to media
October Mon 12 Oct 2009 Fri 23 Oct 2009 Tue 27 Oct 2009 Thu 29 Oct 2009 Thu 21 Jan 2010
November Mon 2 Nov 2009 Fri 13 Nov 2009 Tue 17 Nov 2009 Thu 19 Nov 2009 Thu 21 Jan 2010
December Mon 23 Nov 2009 Fri 4 Dec 2009 Tue 8 Dec 2009 Thu 10 Dec 2009 Thu 21 Jan 2010
Early January Fri 18 Dec 2009 Tue 29 Dec 2009 Sun 3 Jan 2010 Tue 5 Jan 2010 Thu 21 Jan 2010
Main Fri 11 Dec 2009 Fri 15 Jan 2010 Wed 6 Jan 2010 Wed 20 Jan 2010 Thu 21 Jan 2010
Early February Fri 22 Jan 2010 Mon 1 Feb 2010 Tue 26 Jan 2010 Wed 3 Feb 2010 Thu 4 Feb 2010
Final Thu 4 Feb 2010 Mon 8 Feb 2010 Thu 4 Feb 2010 Wed 10 Feb 2010 not published

Times indicated on this website are based on Sydney local time.
Download important dates for UAC Undergraduate.