University of Canberra
Admission criteria and entry schemes
To be offered admission to a bachelor degree or diploma course, you must meet the general requirements listed in one of the categories below, satisfy English language requirements and be selected in competition with other eligible applicants. Specific assumed knowledge is indicated for particular courses in the course descriptions.
Undergraduate applicants
Australian Year 12 students
You will normally be considered for admission on the basis of your ATAR or equivalent. If you have attempted other studies since Year 12, these will also be considered in the assessment of your application.
Selection rank adjustments
Equity adjustments
UC has an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) to assist applicants whose education during Years 11 and 12 has been disadvantaged and who consequently may not gain entrance to their preferred course.
UC EAS applications are processed centrally through UAC.
In a limited number of circumstances, you may be eligible for special consideration by the university when you are not eligible for EAS. In addition to applying for admission through UAC, you can request consideration of your circumstances. Requests should be appropriately documented. Email your special consideration request to UC's admissions office.
Elite athlete and performer program adjustments
Elite athletes and performers whose training and competitive commitments have affected their education may be eligible for special consideration. The application should be accompanied by supporting correspondence from the relevant sporting body and a statement from the applicant explaining how their sport commitments affected their studies. Applicants should apply through UAC and requests should be appropriately documented. Email your special consideration application to UC's admissions office.
Subject adjustments
UC awards subject adjustment points to students who are currently completing Year 12 and have performed well in subjects relevant to their chosen course at UC. A separate application is not required. If you have achieved the required results in the relevant subjects, an adjustment of up to ten (10) points are automatically added to your ATAR to give you an adjusted entry rank for your UC preferences through UAC.
Learn more about UC subject adjustments
University priority groups
UC awards a maximum of five adjustment points to students who belong to one or more of the below groups.
Indigenous students
Adjustment points are automatically awarded to applicants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander at the time of application.
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and reservists
Applicants must provide evidence of their ADF experience and a statement outlining how their ADF commitments have affected their study. Email your evidence and statement to UC's admissions office.
Elite athletes: See the ‘Elite athlete and performer adjustments’ section above.
Criteria that may apply in addition to the ATAR
In addition to achieving the standard of performance required for admission, for certain courses you must also satisfy any additional selection criteria, such as a personal statement, a questionnaire, a portfolio of work, an audition, an interview or a test. These criteria are considered either instead of, or in conjunction with, your ATAR or equivalent. Details of additional selection criteria and how applicants can meet these requirements are outlined in the course descriptions. For course descriptions, refer to the course search.
If you are undertaking your Year 12 studies offshore and are applying to a course that has additional selection criteria that you will find difficult to meet, email UC's admissions office.
Other admission options
Schools Recommendation Scheme
UC participates in the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS), which allows current Year 12 students to receive early offers of admission. SRS aim to assist access to higher education using a wide range of selection criteria other than (or in addition to) the ATAR. These include school recommendations and senior secondary studies. There are no fees to apply for SRS, but you will be required to pay a processing fee when you apply for undergraduate admission through UAC.
UC will consider your school’s rating of your aptitudes when considering your application. The SRS is not available for all UC courses.
Faculty of Arts and Design Portfolio Entry Scheme
The Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) at UC also offers entry via portfolio submission for applicants who may not meet the required entry rank.
The FAD Portfolio Entry scheme is available to:
- all applicants (direct or through UAC)
- all undergraduate FAD courses offered at UC except 361124 Bachelor of Building Construction and Management.
University of Canberra portfolio entry
University preparation schemes through UC College
As the official pathway provider to the University of Canberra, UC College is about opening the right doors, having your study choices supported and realising your academic potential.
Diplomas
If you do not meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at UC, you may still be eligible for entry into a relevant UC diploma. Most UC diplomas are equivalent to the first year of study of the corresponding bachelor degree. This means that students who choose to undertake a UC diploma before studying their bachelor degree may complete the full program of study in the same time frame as a student who enters straight into the bachelor degree. If you wish to be considered for a UC diploma, you must ensure you include it in your UAC preferences.
UC Connect
UC Connect provides a pathway for recent school leavers who wish to study an undergraduate degree but whose academic qualifications do not allow them direct entry. The 16-week program comprises a total of nine hours of study per week, providing students with the skills and confidence to prepare them for university.
UC PREP
UC PREP provides a pathway for students who are aged 21 years or over and do not meet the entry requirements to study an undergraduate degree at UC. The program is studied intensively over one semester and gives students the skills and confidence to prepare them for university study.
University of Canberra International Foundation Studies
The International Foundation Studies program provides a one-year pathway for international students seeking entry into the first year of the majority of undergraduate degrees at UC. Students eligible for admission will be identified and contacted by the UC Admissions Office.
Limited ATAR
UC accepts the Limited ATAR for selection purposes.
If you achieved sufficient results in a degree course at any Australian university or in any nationally accredited course, you will be considered for admission on the basis of the qualification scoring the highest rank.
Tertiary Preparation Certificate/TAFE qualifications
You may be considered for admission on the basis of an approved tertiary preparation course conducted by a university, Australian TAFE or the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).
As the official pathway provider to the University of Canberra, UC College is about opening the right doors, having your study choices supported and realising your academic potential.
Employment
It may be possible to gain admission on the basis of substantial work experience. When submitting your UAC application, you must supply documentary evidence of your employment, including a statement of service from your employer detailing dates of employment, category of position and the types of duties performed. Your work experience does not necessarily need to be within the same field as the course for which you have applied, but does need to be a minimum of one year in duration. You will need to provide documents to support your application.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
Applicants who are not current school leavers and do not have suitable qualifications for entry to university may sit the multiple choice Special Tertiary Admissions Test.
There are commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications that UC may take into consideration. Check your qualification.
Contact UC to discuss eligibility for admission before submitting an application to UAC.
English language proficiency
If you have qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants receive five adjustment points in addition to their ATAR or equivalent. If you do not meet normal entry requirements you may apply for admission to the UC College Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation Program. The University also reserves places in nominated courses in each intake. These places are awarded on merit, including performance in an interview.
UC will increase the selection rank of applicants with ADF experience by a maximum of five points.
In addition to applying through UAC, you must provide evidence of your ADF experience and a statement outlining how your ADF commitments have affected your studies. Email your ADF experience evidence and statement to UC's admissions office.
Postgraduate applicants
For admission to a postgraduate coursework program you would normally be expected to have a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised tertiary institution in an appropriate discipline. You may also need relevant professional work experience. In exceptional cases you may be admitted as a candidate for a specific course if you submit other evidence of academic and/or professional experience. Course entry requirements vary for individual courses. Check the entry requirements for each course.
Overseas qualifications and English proficiency
If you hold overseas qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.
Additional selection criteria
You may have to submit additional documentation as part of your application process, depending on which course/s you apply for. Submit your material by the date specified in the relevant course description. To see whether special requirements apply, check the course descriptions in UAC’s course search.
General information for University of Canberra
Location
Student Central, Building 1, Level B,
University of Canberra, Kirinari Street, Bruce ACT 2617