News

UAC course preferences: 5 things you need to know

09 Jun 2026

Choosing your course preferences in your UAC application? Here's what you need to know about what order to list your preferences, how and when to change them, and what to do once you’ve accepted an offer.

HSC and careers expos coming up

20 May 2026

Head out to Randwick or Sydney Olympic Park for advice and inspiration on studying for the HSC, planning your career, going to uni or starting an apprenticeship. UAC will be there to help you out.

From Year 12 to uni: how to get started

08 Apr 2026

Applications for undergrad study are now open! Here's how to get prepared – from exploring courses through to hitting submit on your UAC application.

12 tips for Year 12s

17 Mar 2026

Former Year 12 students share their advice about maintaining wellbeing, studying smarter and planning for life after school.

How universities choose non-school leaver applicants

17 Mar 2026

Been out of school awhile? Whether you've been working, studying something else, or gaining life experience, universities have several ways to assess non-school leaver applicants. While the process is competitive, it's also designed to recognise different pathways into higher education.

How universities choose Year 12 applicants

17 Mar 2026

Applying for uni straight from school? Understanding how universities assess Year 12 applicants can help you make smarter decisions about your course preferences and your UAC application. While selection is competitive, the process is also transparent – and knowing what universities look for can give you a clearer picture of your options.

What students want

03 Mar 2026

This year’s UAC Student Lifestyle and Learning Report reveals a wish list from more than 20,000 Year 12s about what would actually help them move from school into further study.

Year 12 offers are out: what to do next

08 Jan 2026

Thousands of hopeful university applicants have now received an offer for study in 2026. If you're one of them, or if you have missed out so far, find out what to do next.
 

How to get into uni without an ATAR

10 Dec 2025

No ATAR? Uni is still an option for you, with institutions offering many pathways such as foundation programs and bridging courses that can lead you to your dream course.

Year 12 offers are almost here!

10 Dec 2025

The first round of ATAR-based offers will be released on 23 December. Here's a guide to what to do next, no matter what happens.

HSC and ATAR: What's the difference?

24 Nov 2025

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.

​UAC ATAR Enquiry Centre

24 Nov 2025

ATARs will be released to NSW HSC students at 9am on Thursday 18 December 2025. UAC is operating its ATAR Enquiry Centre for students who have queries about the calculation of their ATAR.

Keep calm and study on

14 Oct 2025

Getting ready for Year 12 exams? Here are some tips to help you prepare, stay motivated and keep things in perspective.

Level up with postgraduate study

02 Sep 2025

UAC postgraduate applications for study in 2026 are now open. Studying at postgraduate level could be just what you need to take your career and earning potential to the next level.

Pathways to your dream degree

19 Aug 2025

Worried that you won’t meet the ATAR requirements for your dream degree? Most institutions offer pathway options for applicants who don't meet the standard entry criteria for their courses.

ATAR myths busted

12 Aug 2025

UAC and NESA have teamed up to bust the most common ATAR and HSC myths. Here are our top 5!

Year 12 students: early offers explained

06 Jun 2025

If you’re in Year 12 and planning to go to uni next year, there are plenty of opportunities to lock in an early offer before you get your ATAR. Make sure you're across how to apply, when offers will be made, and why it's important to keep concentrating on your studies.

Find your path to uni as a non-school leaver

05 May 2025

It’s never too late to enrol in a university degree as a non-school leaver or mature-age student. Often, you don’t even need an ATAR to get qualified for your dream job.

Equity schemes level the playing field

15 Apr 2025

University admissions equity schemes are a vital part of ensuring fair access to higher education. They are designed to remove barriers that prevent capable students from reaching their full potential.

What students want: five years of insights

01 Apr 2025

UAC’s fifth Student Lifestyle and Learning Report reveals new insights and key trends from almost 70,000 school leavers over five years, offering a comprehensive look at the interests, passions and concerns of students from across Australia.

Year 12 roadmap: from school to uni

22 Mar 2025

Thinking of further study once you’ve finished school but not sure where (or when) to get started? This roadmap will help you plan your journey with key application, scholarship and early offer dates.

Top 10 Insta questions answered

09 Oct 2024

You asked for it, we answered! Here are the top 10 questions that have slid into our DMs recently about offers, deferring, preferences and much more.

How to transfer to a different degree

08 Aug 2024

Many students enrol in a course with a plan to transfer into another course after completing a year’s study. Other students start a degree only to find it’s not quite right for them. Whatever your reason for wanting to transfer to another course, how do you do it?

UAC launches CareerMoves Info Evening

18 Jul 2024

Come along after work to this free event for personalised career advice and insights from over 15 tertiary education providers, industry representatives and UAC.

Passionate, resilient and feeling the pinch

16 Jun 2024

While employment outcomes are a key factor for young Australians deciding on what to study at uni, passion is by far the number one influence. This year’s Student Lifestyle and Learning Report features a range of insights from nearly 17,000 Year 12 students, from what determines their course and uni selection to their views on cost of living, personal finances, artificial intelligence and mental health.

Top tips for starting university

19 Feb 2024

The paperwork is done: you’ve accepted your uni offer and enrolled. But what can you expect when you actually arrive on campus? We asked current students for their top tips for starting university.

Diversity of roles within a teaching career

04 Dec 2023

Primary teaching graduate Shannon Brehony shares the variety of roles she's enjoyed both in and out of the classroom and why she's passionate about working in education.

X-ray vision: a radiographer's superpower

29 Nov 2023

Medical Radiation Science graduate Maddison Cowan describes the critical role medical imaging plays in diagnosing health conditions and the significant difference this can make to people's lives.

Finding a passion for nursing

07 Jul 2023

Sarah Loft shares how she found her way to a nursing degree 10 years after school, and why it has exceeded her expectations.

Career mapping: where to after school?

05 Jul 2023

Careers expert Phillip Williamson provides practical advice to help you reflect on your interests, skills and goals and find your career direction.

Curious about a campus?

30 Jun 2023

UAC Maptivate is an interactive map that allows you to explore university options across Australia and find a campus that suits your interests and goals.

Design your own future

09 May 2023

Design and innovation graduate Emily Choi discusses the challenges and joys of forging her own path.

Changing course: a clear vision for farming's future

17 Nov 2022

Business owner Dayna Scapin transferred to a Bachelor of Science (Regenerative Agriculture) when she realised her engineering degree wasn't right for her. She discusses the importance of taking your time to find the right path.

5 steps to managing HSC stress

05 Sep 2022

Stress and anxiety are incredibly common for students studying their HSC. While we need a certain level of stress to motivate us and help us achieve our goals, it’s important to know how to manage it and seek support when things become overwhelming.

The rewards of teaching

07 Jun 2022

Education graduate Cassandra Christensen discusses the opportunities and challenges of a career in teaching.

Student report card is in

25 May 2022

Passion for their subject matter is the primary driver of university course selection for students according to a new report from the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Arts degrees: tips from a careers adviser

09 May 2022

Are you thinking of studying arts? High school careers adviser Kate Poppett shares some advice on the exciting opportunities and potential pitfalls of an arts degree.

Why I chose to study arts

09 May 2022

Akala Newman shares why she studied a Bachelor of Arts and how she found her way to a busy and fulfilling career in the arts industry.

UAC accredited for best-practice data handling

22 Apr 2021

The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) has been accredited to ISO (International Standards Organisation) 27001, an internationally accepted standard of information security practices.

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.

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.

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.