Tertiary entrance using a Senior Secondary Certificate

University entrance for Australian Capital Territory students

An Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Tertiary Entrance Statement is produced for all students who meet the requirements for a Tertiary Package.

Reported on this Statement is a student’s Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), Aggregate Score (which is used to determine the ATAR), the weighting of the scores used in the calculation of the Aggregate Score and the scaled course scores for all T and H courses. The Aggregate Score is the sum of the best three major scaled scores plus 0.6 of the next best scaled score.

For more information see the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies website.

Visit the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) website for more information about admission to a university in New South Wales or the ACT.

University entrance for New South Wales students

A NSW Year 12 student’s entry into an undergraduate course is typically assessed on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

A student’s Higher School Certificate (HSC) results are used by the University Admissions Centre (UAC) to determine their ATAR.

To be eligible for an ATAR, students must satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of certain Board Developed Courses for which formal examinations are conducted by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW (BOSTES). This must include two units of a Board Developed Course in English.

The ATAR is not a mark, or summary of the HSC. UAC is independent of BOSTES NSW.

Visit the University Admissions Centre website for more information about the requirements for undergraduate applications in NSW, including prerequisites for specific tertiary courses.

University entrance for Northern Territory students

To obtain a university aggregate and an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) students must:

• qualify for the NTCET
• comply with the rules regarding precluded combinations
• comply with the rules regarding counting restrictions
• complete at least 90 credits of study in Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) and Recognised Studies at Stage 2 in a maximum of three attempts which need not be in consecutive years
• of the 90 credits of study a minimum of 60 credits of study must be from 20 credit TAS*

*Normally 10 credit subjects do not count towards this requirement but some 10 credit subjects in the same area, when studied in pairs, can substitute for a 20 credit subject. These are called valid pairs.

Visit education.nt.gov.au for more information on the NTCET.

Visit the South Australia Tertiary Admission Centre (SATAC) website for more about requirements for undergraduate applications in Northern Territory.

University Entrance

University Entrance is the minimum requirement to go to a New Zealand university. For information, including requirements for qualifying for the award: :

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/

University entrance for Queensland students

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is the primary pathway for Year 12 students to pursue tertiary entrance in Queensland.

Queensland ATARs will be based on a student’s:

• best five General subject results, or
• best results in four General subjects, plus one Applied subject, or
• best results in four General subjects, plus one VET qualification at Certificate III or above.

The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) calculates ATARs for Queensland students.

Tertiary entrance for South Australian students

Gaining the SACE is the main method used by South Australian students to gain admission into university and TAFE courses.

Students who complete the SACE are eligible for university entry, provided they meet certain requirements.

Students must:

• complete the SACE
• complete at least 90 credits at Stage 2. Of these 90 credits, at least 70 credits must be from Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS), of which 60 credits of study must be from 20-credit TAS (which may include valid pairs of 10-credit TAS). The other 20 credits may be either from TAS subjects, Recognised Studies, or a mix of the two
• comply with rules regarding subject combinations
• obtain an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Students also need to complete any prerequisite requirements for particular university courses.

Visit the SACE website for more information about tertiary entrance and post-school pathways.

Applications for university and TAFE courses are handled by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).

University entrance for Tasmanian students

From 2016 Tasmanian students much achieve the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) in order to be issued with an ATAR (if they are otherwise eligible).

Visit the UTAS website for more about requirements for undergraduate applications in Tasmania

University entrance for Victorian students

Most students in Victoria gain university entrance on the completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) with an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) calculated by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Individual universities and higher education providers may accept entry through other means.

Visit the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) website for more information about requirements for undergraduate applications in Victoria.

University entrance for Western Australian students

Achievement of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is generally one of the requirements for admission to one of the four Western Australian public universities.

Details of the WACE requirements are available on the Authority website.

Visit the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) website for more about requirements for undergraduate applications in WA.