Admission pathways and programs
There’s more than one way to gain entry to your dream degree
Our admission pathways, entry schemes and programs help you make the most of your ATAR by recognising your circumstances, high school achievements and other abilities and activities.
The entry scheme you are eligible for will depend on your circumstances. In some cases, an entry scheme might allow you to gain entry to a course with an ATAR lower than the cut-off point. Other schemes let you provide additional info to support your application – such as a creative portfolio or evidence of how your studies have been impacted.
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If you're from a regional, remote or low socio-economic area, or have experienced educational disadvantage or disrupted studies, these schemes can help improve your access to the University.
We take all of your achievements into consideration, including exceptional performance academically or as an athlete or performer.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student, these schemes can help you study at Sydney.
If you are a domestic applicant over the age of 21, and do not already hold a recognised qualification, this scheme may help you gain admission to eligible undergraduate degrees.
If you are an architecture, design, music or visual arts applicant, you can use these pathways to demonstrate talent or creative skills that supports your application.
Always list your most preferred course as your highest preference, even if you don't meet the entry requirements.
You might still receive an offer of admission based on your rank (i.e. below the published selection rank), depending on the availability of places.
You may also be eligible for adjustment factors you are unaware of – which would make you eligible to receive an offer.
Ensure you have a course you are confident you meet the requirements for as your fifth preference to maximise your chance of receiving an offer.
Apply for a course that allows you to study what you want or, something similar.
One way to do this is to see if another course allows you access to our shared pool of majors and minors. The shared pool gives you the flexibility to study your desired major through a different course.
For example, you can enrol in a Bachelor of Arts and study finance as your second major, a minor or an elective.
Complete the first year of another course with a lower selection rank then apply to transfer into your preferred course.
If your grades from your first year are better than your ATAR (or equivalent), you’ll be assessed for admission based on them. If the units of study from your first year are relevant to your new degree, you can apply for them to be credited towards that course.
See which other qualifications we recognise for admission into our undergraduate degrees. Complete a new eligible qualification and apply with it.
If you do not receive an offer to the undergraduate course of your choosing, you may still be able to study your area of interest through a postgraduate course.
This option is available if you want to gain a professional qualification in areas including, but not limited to, dentistry, medicine, nursing, psychology, teaching, physiotherapy, diagnostic radiography, speech pathology, occupational therapy and veterinary medicine.
Graduate entry is competitive and varies depending on the degree. Check the admission criteria for your specific course.
Note: Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are limited for postgraduate study and are awarded based on academic merit.
You are a domestic student if you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen (including dual citizens), a permanent resident of Australia or a holder of a permanent Australian humanitarian visa or a Pacific Engagement visa. You are an international student if you do not meet the above domestic student criteria.
All entry schemes are for entry into eligible undergraduate courses only unless otherwise stated.
You can combine your adjustment factors from three eligible entry schemes up to a maximum of 10 adjustment factors. Eligible entry schemes are the Academic Excellence Scheme, the Educational Access Scheme, and the Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme. All other schemes are excluded.
Check the entry scheme eligibility and exclusions for your course, as the following apply.
A current school leaver means you are applying for your course with the University during your final year of secondary education (i.e. Year 12 or equivalent).