Mature-age Entry Scheme
Who should apply?
You are eligible to apply for admission through the Mature-age Entry Scheme if you:
- are a domestic student
- will be 21 or older on 1 March of the year you will commence study at the University of Sydney
- did not receive an ATAR (or equivalent) or if your ATAR (or equivalent) was below 70
- have not done any tertiary study.*
For the Mature-age Entry Scheme ‘tertiary study’ is defined as either:
a completed diploma or advanced diploma (including vocational education and training (VET) qualifications at that level if it was accredited by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) or an overseas equivalent)
at least one year of full-time study (or the part-time equivalent) in a bachelor's degree or equivalent or higher, at a recognised university or non-university higher education provider.
Full-time study is a minimum of 48 credit points at the University of Sydney or the equivalent study load at other institutions.
If you do not meet the above criteria, you may still be eligible to apply without going through the scheme. Learn more about how to apply.
How to apply
To apply through the Mature-age Entry Scheme, you must complete an approved preparation course within two years of applying. Once you have completed your preparation program, apply for your course through the Universities Admissions Centre. There is no additional application form or process.
Preparation courses
Preparation courses are open to everyone, and you don't need any previous qualifications to enrol.
Please note that admission into the University of Sydney is competitive and places are awarded based on academic merit. Simply completing an eligible preparation course does not guarantee an offer to your degree.
Limited ATAR
Applicants can apply to Sydney with a Limited ATAR, calculated using the best five units of courses completed (rather than the 10 used for a standard ATAR). A Limited ATAR is usually significantly higher than an ATAR.
The TAFE Statement in HSC Studies allows you to study all or part of the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC)
The Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation prepares you for university study. You will receive an ATAR equivalent, the Tertiary Entrance Score (TES), that you can use to apply for admission to the University.
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
The University Preparation Program (UPP) at UNSW can be undertaken in humanities, science, engineering or business, and can be used for admission to some degrees at the University of Sydney.
University of Newcastle (UON)
The Open Foundation program at the University of Newcastle can be used for admission to some degrees at the University of Sydney.
Check which preparation courses are accepted for your degree below.
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Design (Interaction Design) B Design (Interaction Design)/B Advanced Studies |
All |
B Architecture and Environments B Design in Architecture B Design in Architecture (Honours)/M Architecture |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Arts B Arts/B Advanced Studies B Arts/B Advanced Studies (International and Global Studies) B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Languages) B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Politics and International Relations) |
TAFE TPC |
| UNSW UPP (Humanities) | |
| UON Open Foundation | |
B Visual Arts* B Visual Arts/B Advanced Studies* |
All |
*Additional admission criteria apply, check course details.
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Commerce B Commerce/B Advanced Studies |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
UNSW UPP (Business, Engineering or Science)
|
|
UON Open Foundation
|
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Education (Early Childhood) B Education (Secondary) B Education/B Advanced Studies (Secondary) B Social Work B Art/B Social Work |
All |
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Economics B Economics/B Advanced Studies |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
UNSW UPP (Business, Engineering or Science)
|
|
UON Open Foundation
|
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Advanced Computing B Engineering Honours* B Project Management |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
UNSW UPP (Engineering or Science)
|
|
UON Open Foundation
|
*Includes all specialisations and combined degrees.
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
| B Applied Science (Diagnostic Radiography) | Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
B Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) B Applied Science (Exercise Physiology) |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
B Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) B Applied Science (Speech Pathology) |
All |
| B Applied Science (Physiotherapy) | Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
| B Oral Health | TAFE TPC
|
| UNSW UPP (Science) | |
UON Open Foundation
|
|
| B Nursing (Advanced Studies) | All |
| B Arts/M Nursing | TAFE TPC |
| UNSW UPP (Humanities) | |
| UON Open Foundation | |
B Science/M Nursing B Science (Health)/M Nursing |
Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
| UNSW UPP (Engineering or Science) | |
UON Open Foundation
|
*Additional admission criteria apply, check course details.
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
B Music* B Music (Composition)* B Music (Composition) /B Advanced Studies* B Music (Music Education)* B Music (Performance)* B Music (Performance) /B Advanced Studies* |
All |
*Additional admission criteria apply, check course details.
| Degree | Accepted preparation course |
|---|---|
| B Liberal Arts and Science | Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
| UNSW UPP | |
UON Open Foundation
|
|
B Agricultural Science B Agricultural Science Honours B Science B Science (Health) B Science (Medical Science) B Science/B Advanced Studies* |
TAFE Statement in HSC Studies
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
| UNSW UPP (Engineering or Science) | |
UON Open Foundation
|
|
| B Science/M Mathematical Sciences | Limited ATAR
|
TAFE TPC
|
|
| UNSW UPP (Engineering) |
*Any specialisations except for the advanced and Dalyell Scholars streams.
The following courses do not accept applications through the Mature-age Entry Scheme.
Arts and social sciences:
- B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Dalyell Scholars)
Business:
- B Commerce/B Advanced Studies (Dalyell Scholars)
Education and social work:
- B Education (Health and Physical Education)
- B Education (Primary)
Engineering and computer sciences:
- B Engineering Honours (Dalyell Scholars)
Law:
- B Arts/B Laws
- B Commerce/B Laws
- B Economics/B Laws
- B Engineering Honours/B Laws
- B Science/B Laws
Medicine and health:
- B Pharmacy Honours/M Pharmacy Practice
- B Pharmacy and Management/M Pharmacy Practice
- B Science/D Dental Medicine
- B Science/D Medicine
- B Arts/D Medicine
Science:
- B Psychology
- B Psychology Honours
- B Science/M Nutrition and Dietetics
- B Veterinary Biology/D Veterinary Medicine
