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By submitting a registration through this site for an activity, event, information evening, master class, performance or workshop, or by registering to receive the Future Students Newsletter or Network Newsletter, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
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3) You acknowledge that for any reason, scheduled activities, events, information evenings, master classes or workshops may be cancelled at any time. UNSW will make all reasonable efforts to inform you of a cancellation as soon as possible.
4) If the activity, event, master class, workshop or performance you are registering to attend occurs during the school day, it is your responsibility to contact your school and obtain permission to attend the activity.
5) UNSW's Copyright and Disclaimer as well as Website Privacy Statement also apply.
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Exchange
Travel the world while you're studying. UNSW offers exchange opportunities at over 200 universities in 39 locations across Asia, North America, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Enrich your life and give yourself the edge in the international workforce.
Scholarships + Co-op
Our scholarships help students to achieve their potential. We provide thousands of scholarships every year to help students of all circumstances achieve their goals. They reward excellence, encourage international mobility, diversity and equity.
How to apply
What ATAR do I need? How do I apply? Are there any additional selection criteria? Can I select more than one degree choice and decide later? Find out all you need to know about the application process here.
High School Students
Accepted Qualifications
As a current high school student, your admission to UNSW will be based on your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) that you receive after completing your Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (such as the HSC).
If you're completing something other than the NSW HSC, here’s a list of other qualifications that UNSW considers for entry:
- NSW HSC and Interstate Year 12 Qualifications
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
- GCE A-Levels
- New Zealand NCEA Level 3
- Overseas secondary qualifications considered equivalent to Australian studies
If the qualification you've completed isn't listed above, please enter the country where you completed your qualification below for a list of the accepted qualifications from that country.
If you hold an overseas secondary qualification from a country where English is not the standard language used in education, please check our English language proficiency requirements.
Check the English Language Requirements
You can find the previous year's Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) for entry into UNSW degrees using Find a Degree. Generally, the LSR for a degree shows the minimum Selection Rank needed by applicants when offers were made. LSRs can vary from year to year, so please use the published LSRs as a guide only.
If you want to discuss your particular qualification or have any questions about how you'll be assessed for admission, please call us on (02) 9385 1844 or Ask a Question.
Apply through UAC
All applications for undergraduate study from Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). And the good news is that it's really easy to apply.
Just visit the 'Apply' section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees you’d like to study in order of your preference (e.g. 1 your most desired degree/uni to 5 your least desired degree/uni - but you'd still be happy to study it if you don't get an offer for 1-4).
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year. If you like to pay late fees, you can still apply after the on-time application date.
For study starting in Semester 1 and Term 1, UNSW makes the majority of offers in December and January.
Additional Entry Requirements
It's also a good idea to check if your preferred degree has any extra entry requirements (aka Additional Selection Criteria). This might be a separate application, interview, audition or test. If you don't complete these, you won't be able to get an offer to that degree. You can quickly find out if your degree has any extra entry requirements by using Find a Degree (under your degree look for "ATAR + ..." in the ATAR Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) field).
Prerequisites
Finally, you've probably heard of prerequisites. If not, don't worry - we don't have them at UNSW - but, we sometimes assume that you will have completed certain subjects in the HSC. We call this Assumed Knowledge. To see if your preferred degree has any Assumed Knowledge, use Find a Degree. What are you supposed to do if you haven't completed an Assumed Knowledge subject for your degree? First, don't panic. Second, consider how important that subject may be to the degree. If your answer is, "I hate maths" perhaps an Engineering degree may not be the right degree for you. Third, consider completing a Bridging Course. If you don't, you'll definitely be at a disadvantage. Check out the ones below offered by UNSW - but you could complete one anywhere.
Check out UNSW Bridging Courses »
Alternative Entry
There are a number of ways we can help you get into UNSW, including portfolio entry, degree transfer, Indigenous programs, foundation studies, prep programs and more. If you’re eligible, these combined with your ATAR or equivalent, may assist you in meeting our entry requirements.
Useful Links
Accommodation
Living on campus at UNSW Australia provides more than just a place to live. It provides a home - as supportive, safe and secure, as a true home should be.
You can choose from fully catered or self-catered residential colleges on campus, independent living on campus, or renting privately in the local area. You’ll find more information at the UNSW Accommodation website.
Admission Pathways
There are a number of ways we can help you get into UNSW. If you’re eligible, these, combined with your ATAR or equivalent, may assist you in meeting our entry requirements.
Portfolio Entry
At the UNSW School of Art & Design and UNSW School of Built Environment, we're always looking for creative talent. Demonstrate your creative potential by preparing and submitting a portfolio of art, design, media, or written work.
Built Environment Portfolio Entry
Faculty of Engineering Admissions Scheme (FEAS)
At UNSW Engineering we strive for a better world, driven by our graduates who are passionate in creating solutions for humanity through their diverse perspectives. Complete a FEAS submission to demonstrate your passion for engineering and performance in relevant subjects.
Bachelor of Information Systems Admissions Scheme (BISAS)
The Bachelor of Information Systems will equip you with the skills and knowledge to shape the technology that fuels the economy. Complete a BISAS submission to demonstrate your passion for information systems and performance in relevant subjects.
Rural Student Entry Scheme and Indigenous Entry into Medicine Scheme
UNSW Medicine offers two entry pathways into Medicine. If you have a significant rural background or are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person you may be interested in these schemes.
Educational Disadvantage
Educational Access Scheme
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don’t always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12.
If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree. Don’t forget, you need to be as specific as possible in your application about how your circumstances have directly impacted your study.
UNSW Gateway Early Conditional Offer
UNSW Gateway is an admission pathway for students in Years 11 & 12 attending Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Exchange
At UNSW, there are so many ways to incorporate an exchange adventure into your degree and study in a country you're passionate about. You just need to decide on when and where.
UNSW offers exchange opportunities at over 200 universities in 39 countries. Basing yourself in Asia, North America, Europe or South America at one of the world's top universities, you could learn a new language, get to know a different culture, establish global professional networks and make lasting international friendships.
All UNSW students who meet the criteria are eligible to apply for exchange and there are even scholarships to help you on your way. Students can go on exchange for a semester/term or for one year. If you enrol in some degrees, such as the Bachelor of International Studies, one-year on exchange is built right into your degree.
For more information, visit the UNSW International website.
Indigenous Students
UNSW offers a range entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study. Throughout these programs, you will be assessed on your commitment, attitude and aptitude towards your studies and your ability to participate academically in your selected discipline.
The programs outlined below are administered by Nura Gili. Nura Gili provides support and information for future and current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at UNSW.
UNSW Indigenous Preparatory Programs (Pre-Programs)
The Pre-Program for Business, Education, Law, Medicine, Science and Engineering, and Social Work is a three-week residential program that involves participation in lectures, tutorials, group work, social activities, exams and assessments. Selection for the program is based on the submission of an application.
Indigenous Preparatory Programs
UNSW Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS)
IAS is a one-day alternative entry program that involves an application through Nura Gili. You will be invited to visit Nura Gili to have a conversation with faculty and Nura Gili staff about your aspirations for university studies and undertake a written and numeracy task. The scheme is suitable for students wishing to undertake an undergraduate degree in Arts and Social Science (excluding Education and Social Work), Art and Design, Built Environment, Exercise Physiology, Engineering and/or Science.
Enabling programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
The Humanities Pathway Program is a one-year program that provides a pathway into academic study in Arts, Social Sciences and Law for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who may need to gain further knowledge in their selected discipline or better prepare themselves for university.
Nura Gili also organises a number of popular programs such as the UNSW Indigenous Winter School for students in Years 10, 11 and 12.
For current students, staff are available to assist students with academic and administrative issues, housing and scholarships and pastoral support. The unit also manages the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) and facilitates programs to recruit and support Indigenous students at UNSW at all levels of study.
Internal Program Transfer
Maybe you didn’t get it right when you chose your degree or maybe you didn’t get into the degree you wanted to do in the first place. Either way, if you would like to change the UNSW degree you’re currently studying, then you can apply for an internal transfer.
Find out more about the internal program transfer requirements below.
UNSW Prep Program
We don’t want to miss out on great students. If you are eligible for the ACCESS Scheme, or are an Indigenous student applying via Nura Gili, you can also apply for UNSW Prep.
UNSW Prep is specifically designed for school leavers aged 17-19 to help you gain the skills and confidence needed for academic success.
UNSW Prep will give you time to develop core academic skills in smaller classes with excellent tutors. Starting your UNSW studies gradually, so that you can excel throughout your degree is what UNSW Prep is all about. That’s not to say it’s easy. Application is competitive and to be considered you will need to show motivation and interest in your preferred study area and achieve an ATAR of at least 50.
For more information, visit the UNSW Prep website.
University Preparation Program (UPP)
The UNSW University Preparation Program (UPP) is open to adults aged 20 or older who do not satisfy the entry requirements for admission to study an undergraduate degree at UNSW and do not have an assessable tertiary qualification. By completing the UPP, you can build your academic skills by studying part-time in your area of interest. The UPP is available across four streams: Business, Engineering, Humanities and Science. Once completed, you can use your results to apply for a place in a degree at UNSW.
University Preparation Program
UNSW Foundation Studies
UNSW Foundation Studies is the longest-running and leading pre-university foundation program in Australia, offering high quality university pathway programs to UNSW and other universities for over 25 years.
Please visit our website for further information on dates and courses on offer.
UNSW Foundation Studies website
Scholarships
Every year we provide thousands of scholarships to help students reach their educational goals. Let us support you!
UNSW scholarships provide financial support for full-time study so you can make the most of your time as a student here. Along with short-term awards, grants and other forms of student support, we can help you realise your dreams of studying with us.
Equity scholarships
An equity scholarship may assist you if you are experiencing financial or other educational disadvantage relating to the costs of tertiary study, and it can help you reach your academic potential. There are also scholarship programs available for rural and Indigenous students, and to assist with the cost of on-campus accommodation. Equity scholarships will usually require an application via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships recognise students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements or other outstanding qualities such as elite sporting ability or leadership potential. Scholarships are also available to travel overseas on an exchange program, pursue Honours or undertake research projects that may help you succeed in your chosen field. Most Merit scholarships require an application online and some are awarded automatically based on Year 12 results.
To search and apply for scholarships, visit the UNSW Scholarships website.
Adjustment Factors
Life doesn’t always follow the same playbook and in certain circumstances adjustment factors are available to assist with entry into our degree programs. For all the nitty gritty on how adjustment factors might help you get accepted into your dream degree click here.
3+ Study
UNSW has moved towards a new academic calendar; UNSW3+. What does this mean for you? More study flexibility, better calendar alignment with our overseas partners and increased internship opportunities, to ensure that you leave UNSW with more than just a degree.