News

Year 12 checklist for applying through UAC

14 Sep 2020

With early bird closing just around the corner, now’s the time to apply for uni. To help you along we’ve compiled a list of seven things you need to know when applying through UAC.

8 simple steps to uni

20 Aug 2020

Feeling confused or overwhelmed about what you need to do to get into uni next year? Follow these 8 steps and you'll be on your way.

Planning to go to uni in 2021?

04 Aug 2020

We've just published the details for hundreds of new semester 1, 2021 courses. So if you're planning to go to uni next year, now is the time to take action: get your application in today.

Thinking about further study?

01 Jul 2020

Whether you're a post-school applicant or ready for postgraduate study, your life experience matters! UAC can help you pursue your ambitions.

3 simple steps to HSC subject selection

25 Jun 2020

With all the advice out there about what you should and shouldn’t study for your HSC, it can be a confusing time. We give you three simple steps to keep you on track; and two Year 10 students share what’s on their minds right now.

Lighten your mental load

09 Jun 2020

If you’re a Year 12 student looking for news, information, guidance and study advice then there’s a new program to help.

UAC is here to help

02 Jun 2020

Important information for students, parents and guardians can change quickly. UAC is here to help keep you up-to-date as this challenging year unfolds.

You CAN ask that

19 May 2020

Why do I have to pay a UAC application fee? Why bother with the ATAR? Why not just let everyone go to uni? During our recent Facebook Live Q&A we answered these and other common – but challenging – questions. If you missed the answers on the day, catch up now.

Key dates changes in 2020

15 May 2020

Year 12 students can breathe slightly easier as the path out of the COVID-19 lockdown becomes a little clearer with today's date announcements.

How to get into medicine

07 May 2020

It's not all about your ATAR! Medical students require a variety of qualities and skills, and the selection process reflects this. The first step to getting into an undergraduate degree is to sit the Undergraduate Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) – it's only offered once a year and you need to register now. 

Top 5 FAQs for Year 12 students

29 Apr 2020

The COVID-19 restrictions mean our circumstances right now are unprecedented. Year 12 students and their parents are worried about the impact on their final year of school and their plans to go to university in 2021. Here are answers to the top 5 questions we’ve been asked in recent weeks. We hope they give you peace of mind.

Uni applications are open

01 Apr 2020

Applications for uni in 2021 are now open. You can apply for undergraduate study as well as Educational Access Schemes, Equity Scholarships, and Schools Recommendation Schemes.

Free ATAR download: time's running out

21 Feb 2020

Did you get an ATAR last year? Don’t miss out on your free digital ATAR Advice Notice. Download and save it today – free access ends at midnight on 29 February.

Top 10 most in-demand courses for 2020

06 Feb 2020

Year 12 students from the class of 2019 are settling in to university and the stats are here – once again Health, Management and Commerce, and Society and Culture are the most in-demand fields of study for applications through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Offers are out: what to do next

24 Dec 2019

More than 38,000 hopeful university applicants have now received an offer for study in 2020. If you're one of them, or if you missed out this time, find out what to do next.

Year 12 Parent Guide - Part 2

17 Dec 2019

December is a busy time for students, finalising preferences and accepting offers, so we have put together some brief descriptions of processes to keep you in the loop, and compiled a list of dates to help you keep your child on track. 

Are you ATAR ready?

05 Dec 2019

To access your ATAR you'll need your Year 12 student number (or UAC application number) and your UAC PIN to log in. Can't find them? Here's what to do.

International Day of People with Disability

03 Dec 2019

International Day of People with Disability aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

World access to higher education day

26 Nov 2019

World Access to Higher Education Day is a platform to raise global awareness around inequalities in access to and success in higher education.

​UAC ATAR Enquiry Centre 2019

22 Nov 2019

ATARs will be released at 1pm on Tuesday 17 December 2019. UAC is once again operating its ATAR Enquiry Centre for students who have queries about the calculation of their ATAR.

Year 12 Parent Guide

23 Oct 2019

November can be a busy time for students who have applied for Schools Recommendation Schemes or Educational Access Schemes, so we have compiled a list of dates to help you keep your child on track.

R U OK? Day 2019

10 Sep 2019

Universities and UAC recognise that students who experience mental illness may need support to access - and succeed in - tertiary education. Educational Access Schemes aim to help these students receive an offer to university. 

Be an early bird

23 Aug 2019

Early bird and SRS applications close at midnight on Monday 30 September 2019.

Homelessness Week 2019

07 Aug 2019

One in 200 people in Australia will be homeless tonight. In these circumstances, tertiary study can seem like an insurmountable challenge.

University access programs and scholarships can help.

Applying for study in semester 1, 2020?

02 Aug 2019

All semester 1, 2020 courses offered by UAC’s participating institutions are now online – it's the perfect time to apply for uni, or if you’ve already applied, to revisit your course preferences.

Open days: a glimpse of the future

25 Jul 2019

Attending a uni open day is a must for anyone considering tertiary study – even if you’re sure about what or where you want to study. Find out why.

Shining a light on potential

08 Jul 2019

As we celebrate NAIDOC Week, it’s timely to shine a light on Equity Scholarships, which can help Indigenous Australians meet the costs of tertiary study.

Western Sydney Careers Expo 2019

25 Jun 2019

Need study advice, help with career plans or thinking of starting an apprenticeship or traineeship? The Western Sydney Careers Expo 2019 - a great way to get informed about making decisions for your future - is fast approaching!

All about applying to uni through UAC

07 Jun 2019

Applying to uni through UAC is easy, and it helps to get the facts first! There’s a wealth of information on our website, so here’s a quick guide to get you started.

Western Sydney Careers Expo & HSC and Careers Expo 2019

17 May 2019

Need study advice, help with career plans or thinking of starting an apprenticeship or traineeship? Attending the Western Sydney Careers Expo 2019 or the HSC and Careers Expo 2019 is a great way to get informed about making decisions for your future.

Year 10 – a year of decisions

08 May 2019

In Year 10 and thinking about your future? Steps to Uni for Year 10 Students is your guide to making the best decisions for Years 11 and 12, and beyond.

Can I afford university?

18 Apr 2019

How much it will cost you to go to university? Find out more about loan schemes, income support and scholarships. 

The big questions about applying for uni

03 Apr 2019

Applications for uni in 2020 are open. You can apply for undergraduate study as well as Schools Recommendation Schemes (SRS), Educational Access Schemes (EAS) and Equity Scholarships through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Apply early and avoid the distraction

29 Mar 2019

Applications for uni in 2020 through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) open next Wednesday 3 April. Applications are opening earlier than usual to accommodate university trimesters and early entry schemes.

The numbers are in

25 Mar 2019

Sarah Hassall is one of thousands of new uni students who has embraced life as undergraduates on campuses across NSW and the ACT

Final call for 2018 ATARs

19 Feb 2019

Did you get an ATAR last year? Don’t miss out on your free digital ATAR Advice Notice. Download and save it today – free access ends at midnight on 28 February.

What's next for me after school?

15 Feb 2019

If you’re in Year 11 and 12 and thinking about going to uni, our latest publication can help — Steps to Uni for Year 11 and 12 Students has essential advice on the ATAR and applying and accepting an offer to uni, plus important steps to consider along the way.

A quick guide to student rankings

13 Dec 2018

For Year 11 and 12 students, rank is a familiar term. Our quick guide provides simple explanations of the types of student ranks you’re likely to come across.

5 facts about scaling

12 Dec 2018

Scaling is an important – but often misunderstood – component of your ATAR calculation. Here are five facts to help you understand why, what and how we scale.

Work hard, aim high, find your path

07 Dec 2018

If you’re sitting at home waiting for your Year 12 results to come, don’t. That’s the advice of William Marshall, who was in exactly the same position this time last year.

Course Compass is live!

12 Nov 2018

Finished Year 12 and still deciding which uni course to apply for? Discover a new way to refine your study options.

Be an early bird for semester 1, 2019!

07 Sep 2018

Submit your application for uni in semester 1, 2019 before the early bird round closes and you’ll be starting your path to tertiary study on the right foot.

New restrictions on changing preferences

06 Sep 2018

To avoid applicant confusion, this year applicants are unable to change their preferences at all between the deadline for changing preferences and the day offers are released. 

UAC PIN reminder for Year 12 students

06 Sep 2018

All 2018 NSW HSC and ACT Year 12 applicants had their UAC PIN emailed to them in early August. For students who have not yet applied through UAC, we'll be send a PIN reminder email on Monday 24 September.

​Admissions opening early in 2019

06 Sep 2018

Applications for admission to tertiary study in 2020 will open on Wednesday 3 April 2019 to accommodate university trimesters and early entry schemes.

Help for students affected by drought

06 Sep 2018

For students who are affected by drought, there is help available through UAC. Educational Access Schemes enable them to apply and claim for disadvantages such as: excessive family responsibilities, severe family disruption and financial hardship.

Admissions transparency

06 Sep 2018

Course information in the UAC Guide 2018-19 and on our website and app is in line with Australian Government admissions transparency requirements.

​New HSC course - investigating science

27 Jul 2018

Investigating Science provides students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of the ethical, social, economic and political influences on science and scientific research in the modern world. 

EAS is now online

27 Jul 2018

For the first time this year, EAS applications are going online and will become part of a student’s UAC application. Once students have submitted their undergraduate application, they’ll have the option to immediately access the EAS application.

New course recommendation service

27 Jul 2018

We’re currently working on a service for Year 12 students to help them choose their preferences, based on the subjects they’re studying for the HSC and the offers received by previous students with the same pattern of study.

For Year 10 students, the future is now

19 Jul 2018

As Year 10 students make decisions about which courses they will study for the HSC, we asked two students about their plans for study in Years 11 and 12, and beyond.

UAC Guide: the wait is almost over

04 Jul 2018

The Guide contains descriptions of over 2,000 courses at UAC’s 26 participating institutions, plus plenty of useful information about the ins and outs of applying through UAC.

Are you an international student?

04 Jul 2018

The UAC International 2018–19 booklet is for international students applying through UAC. The booklet lists more than 1,500 international fee-paying courses at UAC’s 26 participating institutions and contains information to help international students apply for university.

Get into uni early with SRS

04 Jul 2018

Schools Recommendation Schemes (SRS) are one way institutions make early offers of undergraduate admission to Australian Year 12 students, using criteria other than (or in addition to) ATARs.

Help for difficult circumstances

04 Jul 2018

Educational Access Schemes help students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage gain admission to tertiary study.

Apply for a scholarship

04 Jul 2018

Equity Scholarships assist financially disadvantaged students with the costs associated with higher education. Students apply online for an Equity Scholarship through UAC.

Help name the National Higher Education Admissions Information Platform

30 May 2018

UAC is working with other tertiary admissions centres to develop a national higher education admissions information platform. As a result, we'll be launching a new website to deliver comprehensive and comparable information about all higher education courses across Australia. Can you help us name it?

HSC and ATAR: What's the difference?

06 Apr 2018

Confused about the difference between HSC marks and the ATAR? You're not alone. The relationship between these two very different measures of achievement is often misunderstood and the myths about them are persistent. But don't stress: here's a simple explanation to help you out.

Year 11 essentials

21 Mar 2018

Now that you're well and truly into your HSC preliminary courses, you might be wondering if your results from this year will impact on your ATAR and your chances of getting into uni. This handy guide for Year 11 students provides some advice on dropping courses, accelerated courses, Year 11 results and things to consider before you get to Year 12.