Admission criteria and entry schemes

Australian Year 12 students

The University of Newcastle accepts the ATAR, or equivalent, as the basis for admission to all programs. As well as achieving the required ATAR, you must meet any program prerequisites and/or special admission requirements.

Candidates who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma are also eligible to apply for admission.

Selection rank adjustments

Equity adjustments

The University of Newcastle has an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) to assist applicants who have experienced educational, or another, disadvantage. The University, through the EAS, may award up to four additional points to the admission rank of applicants who have demonstrated disadvantage. The University’s EAS applications are processed centrally through UAC.

How Educational Access Schemes work

Elite athlete adjustments

The University is an elite athlete-friendly university and will assess applications for special consideration from applicants who are recognised as elite athletes. Once you begin your studies, we also provide a range of support services to help balance the demands of study with your sporting career.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you need to complete an application for elite athlete status: athlete athlete information and application.

Location adjustments

The University’s Regional and Rural Adjustment Scheme supports students from regional and rural Australia by awarding five additional points to the admission rank of 2022 HSC students who attend schools within a defined postcode boundary. The scheme applies to all undergraduate programs except 785000 Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) and 483400 Bachelor of Midwifery. No application is necessary for this scheme.

Subject adjustments

The University’s Year 12 Adjustment Scheme rewards high achieving Year 12 students. Under this scheme, additional points may be added to an applicant’s admission rank, based on performance in applicable Year 12 subjects. No application is necessary for this scheme

COVID-19 adjustments

The University of Newcastle recognises the extraordinary challenges faced by Year 11 students throughout 2020 due to the disruptions to their studies caused by COVID-19. These applicants will have their selection rank for University of Newcastle course preferences automatically increased by 5 points. You don't need to take any action to receive this adjustment.

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 portfolio of work or an audition. These criteria are taken into account 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 on UAC’s course search.

If you are undertaking your Year 12 studies offshore and are applying for a course that has additional selection criteria that you will find difficult to meet, contact The University of Newcastle.

Bridging and refresher courses

NUPrep bridging and refresher courses are specifically designed to improve your academic skills and refresh your knowledge prior to commencing your degree. The courses are not designed to replace the assumed knowledge or recommended studies associated with your degree. Research has shown that students who complete an NUPrep bridging and refresher course perform better in their degree studies.

The free courses run in the weeks prior to commencing your study and are offered in a range of key areas including academic skills for tertiary studies, biology, chemistry, general computing for academic studies, linguistics, mathematics, physics and statistics. Courses are free for all students, are conducted on campus and typically run for approximately 15–20 hours duration.

Four interactive online NUPrep courses are also offered for flexible completion, including academic survival skills, essential numeracy, maths for science and foundation chemistry.

The University of Newcastle Prep Bridging and refresher courses

Other admission options

Schools Recommendation Scheme

The Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) rewards applicants who have achieved great Year 11 results, and who are highly recommended by their high school, with an early offer of admission.

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.

We will take into account the criteria listed below when considering your application for:

• your Year 11 studies
• your school’s rating.

SRS is not available for all courses and the University may limit the number of offers made in some courses.

How the Schools Recommendation Scheme works

Year 12 Subject Spotlight Scheme

The University of Newcastle considers more than just your ATAR for entry into many of our degree programs. We match your performance in individual HSC subjects and align them with related university degrees to determine if you are eligible for your preferences. You are rewarded for your hard work and strong results with a guaranteed offer. No separate application is necessary, you just need to submit a UAC application and list your dream University of Newcastle degree as first preference.

Getting in to the University of Newcastle

Limited ATAR

The University does not accept the NSW Limited ATAR for admission purposes.

Newstep

Newstep is a pathway program for 18-20 year olds who have completed the HSC but didn’t qualify for university entrance, or have experienced adverse circumstances that prevented completion of the HSC. It is designed to enable you to gain entry and helps you develop the skills needed for successful study at a university level.

It is available to Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents who are currently living in Australia aged between 18-20 years. Newstep is a one-year full-time program (two semesters) available at both our Newcastle (Callaghan) and Central Coast (Ourimbah) campuses. Upon successful completion of the program, students are guaranteed entry into a selection of undergraduate degrees and are eligible to apply for admission to most degree programs at the University of Newcastle. Completion of Newstep is accepted as an entry qualification to many universities in Australia.

Newstep can be used to determine eligibility for admission to 785000 Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) via the Excellence Through Equity Pathway to Medicine.

For further information about Newstep, call 1800 353 775 or visit the website.

Yapug

Yapug is a free pathway program for Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who hold no prior qualifications required for direct entry into an undergraduate degree program. This specialty pathway program is designed to enable you to gain entry and helps you develop the skills needed for successful study at a university level. It is available to Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are currently living in Australia who are at least 18 years of age in the year of study.

Yapug is offered as either one-year full-time (two semesters) or two-years part-time (three or four semesters) at our Newcastle (Callaghan) campus. Upon successful completion of the program students are guaranteed entry into a selection of undergraduate degrees and are eligible to apply for admission to other degree programs at the University of Newcastle (including the 785000 Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine - Joint Medical Program).

Completion of Yapug is accepted as an entry qualification to many universities in Australia.

Open Foundation

Open Foundation is a free pathway program for people who do not have the qualifications required for direct entry into an undergraduate degree program. It is designed to enable you to gain entry and helps you develop the skills needed for successful study at a university level.

It is available to Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents who are currently living in Australia, and you must be turning 20 years of age or over in the year of study. Open Foundation is offered as either a one-year part-time delivery (two semesters) or as a six-month full-time intensive delivery (one semester) at both our Newcastle (Callaghan) and Central Coast campuses. The program is also available online over two semesters.

Upon successful completion of the program, students are guaranteed entry into a selection of undergraduate degrees at the University and are eligible to apply for admission to most degree programs. Completion of Open Foundation is accepted as an entry qualification to many universities in Australia.

Open Foundation can be used to determine eligibility for admission to 785000 Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program) via the Excellence Through Equity Pathway to Medicine.

Tertiary Preparation Certificate

Students of the Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) will be considered for entry to most programs.

If you have attempted any tertiary studies, you will be considered for selection on your overall record of academic merit, including secondary and tertiary studies. The University will accept previous university studies and studies in many TAFE courses, and may accept completed accredited Australian Qualifications Framework courses, Certificate III and above, from private colleges as a basis for admission in many of our programs.

Note that Certificate III qualifications are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing.

You must include full details of all your tertiary studies on your UAC application.

Completed enabling courses

Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia with overseas qualifications should enquire about eligibility for admission through the Admissions Office at the University before applying through UAC. If you hold overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Yapug

Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who have successfully completed the Yapug program are guaranteed entry into a selection of undergraduate degrees at the University and are eligible to apply for admission to other degree programs at the University of Newcastle (including the 785000 Bachelor of Medical Science/Doctor of Medicine – Joint Medical Program).

Newstep

Applicants who have successfully completed the Newstep program are guaranteed entry into a selection of undergraduate degrees at the University and are eligible to apply for admission to all degree programs.

Want to take your TAFE qualification to the next level? We understand that many of our successful students come to us after completing TAFE studies. That’s why we’re offering guaranteed entry into many of our 2023 intake undergraduate programs for people who have previously completed, or will complete by the end of 2022, a Certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma.

TAFE Guaranteed Entry

Outside of the Guaranteed Entry Scheme, TAFE qualifications can also be used to determine your competitiveness for admission to nearly all our courses.

TAFE students wishing to study at the University of Newcastle will need to complete a minimum of a Certificate III or IV level to obtain a selection rank sufficient for many programs. Incomplete diploma or advanced diploma level qualifications can also be used to obtain a selection rank.

Note that Certificate III qualifications are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing program.

Your TAFE qualifications can also be used for credit towards a range of University of Newcastle courses. Search our Credit Transfer Catalogue to see what you may be entitled to.

TAFE Guaranteed Entry

Your Year 12 results do not have a use-by date. If your only qualification is an Australian Year 12 before 2020, you can apply for admission to the University on the basis of that qualification. Selection ranks for post-school applicants may vary and may even be higher than the published selection ranks.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

STAT is considered for entry to some of the programs offered by the University but is not available to current Year 12 students. For details on specific programs that accept STAT for admission, visit AskUON and search ‘STAT’.

For further information, visit the STAT website.

There are commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications that UAC may take into consideration. Check your overseas secondary qualification.

Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia with overseas qualifications should enquire about eligibility for admission through the Admissions Office at the University before applying through 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.

Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are able to access university study through standard entry and/or pathway procedures. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students are enrolled in a variety of degrees and preparatory courses across the University.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are invited to the University to participate in an interview prior to admission. Applicants may gain direct entry or be advised to undertake an enabling program offered through the University’s English Language and Foundation Studies Centre.

Getting in to the University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle accepts military ranks for entry into bachelor degrees.