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Admission pathways
Find your pathway to university
Learn more about our adjustment factors, admission schemes and pathways, and explore your options if you don't get the required ATAR for your degree.
If you don't get the required ATAR
Search for courses using our ATAR/IB Course Calculator to find a degree using your exam results.
If you achieve a Band 5 or 6 (or equivalent) in high-level English or mathematics, you can have an adjustment of up to five points added to your ATAR or equivalent IB score through the Academic Excellence Scheme.
Or, you can explore these alternative options:
Follow your interests in a different way. Our shared pool of majors gives you the flexibility to study your desired major in a different course.
Complete the first year of a related course with a lower ATAR then apply to transfer into your preferred course, with your first-year results taken into account.
For some of our courses, you can apply for a graduate entry into postgraduate coursework, such as a master's degree, after you have completed your undergraduate degree.
Browse our postgraduate courses for specific course details.
Year 12 pathways
Below you can explore the circumstances and commitments that will make you eligible for our range of admission schemes.
Gadigal Program
The Gadigal Program assists you with admission to university by allowing you to tell us more about your interests, motivation and goals, rather than just considering your academic results.
Benefits:
- Lower minimum ATAR requirements.
- Opportunity to apply for a Gadigal early conditional offer.
- Participation in an intensive two-week academic skills program before commencing at the University.
- Access to ongoing academic and personal support throughout your degree.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
9 August 2021 | 6 December 2021* |
*Early conditional offer round
Other key dates:
- *End of year offer round. Offers will be released 23 December 2021.
- Late applications will be considered during January and February UAC offer rounds.
- The early conditional offer round opens 4 June and closed 8 August 2021.
How do I apply?
- Follow these instructions to apply for an undergraduate course through UAC.
- When applying, ensure you self-identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- Search our courses, and put at least one University of Sydney course in your UAC preferences.
- If you satisfy the eligibility criteria, you will see the Gadigal Program alert on the UAC home page. Click ‘Apply’ or ‘Review your application’ to open the Gadigal application form within UAC.
- Complete the additional Gadigal Program application form.
Are you applying for a postgraduate course?
- Choose your course and apply directly to the University of Sydney for most postgraduate courses* by clicking the 'Apply' button on the course details page to start your application.
- Complete a postgraduate Gadigal application form.
* If you are a domestic student applying for the Juris Doctor at the Sydney Law School, apply through the Universities Admissions Centre.
Contact the Indigenous Recruitment Team at indigenous.recruitment@sydney.edu.au if you have any questions about applying as a postgraduate student.
How do I pay the UAC application fee?
- Non-Year 12 applicants can pay via Paypal or credit card through UAC.
- Year 12 students who apply and are eligible, can have the UAC application fee paid by the University of Sydney on your behalf. Follow these steps:
- At the payment stage select pay via BPay.
- Select ‘submit and pay later’ to proceed to ‘confirmation of submission’.
- Once you have completed both your UAC application and Gadigal application, email your payment letter to indigenous.recruitment@sydney.edu.au.
Important information
- You can save your application and come back to it via the link on the UAC home page.
- You can only submit your application once, so ensure you are satisfied with your application.
- Contact the Indigenous Recruitment Team at indigenous.recruitment@sydney.edu.au for support if necessary before submitting your final application.
Mathematics course prerequisites apply to students applying through the Gadigal Program. If you do not achieve a Band 4 in Mathematics Advanced, you may be admitted if you demonstrate the capacity to succeed in coursework at a university level, and successfully complete an approved mathematics prerequisite course in your first year of study or where required, in a subsequent attempt.
Your application will be assessed and, if eligible, you will be invited to sit an assessment. Your application will be based on your:
- assessment result
- educational background
- work and life experiences
- motivation and goals and interest in the course(s) selected.
Future Leaders Scheme
This scheme is for nominated school captains and Dux students at high schools in Australia, who apply through UAC. It offers these students admission to eligible courses with a lower ATAR requirement than the published guaranteed ATAR, in recognition of leadership and academic achievements.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
1 August 2020 | 13 November 2020 |
How to apply?
1. School nominations
- Students who meet the eligibility criteria and would like to be nominated should speak to their school principal.
- Nominations must be made by school principals or designated nominators through the Future Leaders application portal.
- If your school is making a nomination for the first time, please advise them to contact admission.pathways@sydney.edu.au.
2. Course selection
- Check the Future Leaders Scheme courses (pdf, 210.4KB) and required ATARs.
- You must achieve the Future Leader Scheme ATAR requirement for your course. A nomination for this scheme does not guarantee an offer of admission.
- You must also meet any other course criteria and put it as your highest eligible UAC preference in the December Round 2 offers.
- Competitive courses or ‘quota courses’ are also not guaranteed, and we recommend having a backup non-quota course in your preferences.
3. UAC preferences
- Once you have made your course selection, you should ensure you have met any course prerequisites and additional criteria and then place your choice as your highest eligible UAC preference in the December Round 2 of offers.
4. Offer
- If you been nominated for the Future Leaders Scheme and meet the following you will be guaranteed entry into the University of Sydney:
- Achieve the required scheme ATAR for your chosen course.
- Meet any additional criteria or prerequisites.
- Have a non-quota course in your preferences.
If you are still unsure about anything, please email the Admission Pathways team at admission.pathways@sydney.edu.au.
Broadway Scheme
The Broadway Scheme is our Education Access Scheme (EAS) for students whose schooling has been impacted during year 11 and/or 12. You may be eligible for up to ten adjustment factors depending on your course.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
1 April 2020 | See UAC EAS key dates |
How to apply?
- Submit an EAS application with your UAC application.
- Submit supporting documents demonstrating how your performance in year 11 and 12 was disrupted.
Note: Medicine double degrees are not eligible through this scheme.
Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme
If you are an athlete or performer and your rehearsal, training and/or competitive commitments have significantly impacted your Year 12 studies, this scheme allows you to receive adjustment factors to increase your selection rank when applying to the University.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
August 2020 | 31 October 2020 |
Selection criteria
- You will be considered an elite athlete if during your HSC year or equivalent, you were an outstanding Australian state and/or representative in a sport recognised by Sport Australia AND your selection to participate significantly and adversely impacted your HSC preparation or equivalent.
- You will be considered an elite performer if you performed in extended or significant productions that significantly and adversely impacted your HSC preparation or equivalent.
- Your eligbility will also be assessed on the following:
- Time away from studies devoted to competition/performances during your HSC (or equivalent) which have significantly affected your studies.
- The nature of the competition/performance i.e. representation at state, national, or international level during HSC (or equivalent) or during other relevant studies.
- Membership of an institute or academy of sport or member of any performing arts associations/institutes.
- The number of students competing for entry into and the number of places available under the degree program.
- Applicants rank and position in major competitions and performances.
For 2020 HSC (or equivalent) students: We are committed to ensuring that applicants are not disadvantaged as a result of COVID-19. Applicants who are in their HSC (or equivalent) year in 2020, will be assessed on their sporting and performance achievements from Year 11 and 12.
Note: Your selection into the scheme may be affected by the number of students that apply to the degree, their rank and position in major competitions and performances, and the number of places made available in the degree.
How to apply?
- Complete the Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme application form and send to admissions.office@sydney.edu.au with the relevant documentation. Please note: applications have now closed. The application form will be made available again next year when applications open.
- Your application will require you to submit the following evidence to support your entry.
- A personal statement detailing the impact of your commitments on your academic performance during your HSC year or equivalent.
- The average number of hours per week you spend training, rehearsing or practising and the number of school days missed during Year 12 due to sport or performance commitments.
- An official record of your school attendance during your HSC year (or equivalent), detailing absence due to elite sport or performance.
- A letter of reference/support from your school (sports coordinator, year advisor, principal).
- A letter of reference/support from your coach, team official, or state or national organisation.
Note: If you are eligible for the scheme, it does not mean you will automatically receive adjustment factors.
Elite Athlete Program
The Elite Athlete Program run by Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness can provide support throughout your degree if your commitments continue. For more information on 2021 entry, download the Elite Athlete Program Information Booklet (pdf, 1.1MB).
Note: the Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme and the Elite Athletes Program are not related and require separate applications.
The Early Offer Year 12 (E12) Scheme is available to domestic NSW students who have experienced financial disruption during their time at school and have demonstrated the potential to succeed at the University.
Architecture, design and planning
The Portfolio Admission Pathway is a way for you to gain entry into some architecture, design and planning degrees if you are expecting to receive an ATAR of up to five points lower than the cut-off.
Music and visual arts
The Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme (CASAS) allows students to apply for early entry to selected music and visual arts degrees. Applicants are assessed based on a combination of academic performance and audition.
Visual arts
Students applying for selected visual arts degrees can also apply for early entry through CASAS by submitting a portfolio.
Pathways for non-school-leavers
You can also consider coming to the University of Sydney after commencing tertiary study or after a break from study.
Special Consideration for Admission Scheme
This scheme is for students who have a record of tertiary study but whose studies were impacted by circumstances beyond their control.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
20 September 2020 | 20 December 2020 |
How to apply?
- Applications closed on 20 December 2020.
Our graduate entry courses provide an option to gain a professional qualification in competitive areas such as dentistry, medicine, law, physiotherapy and veterinary medicine, after completing an undergraduate degree.
For example, if you do not receive the ATAR (or IB) for admission to physiotherapy, you can study a Bachelor of Science (Health) and then apply for admission to the Master of Physiotherapy if you achieve the required grades.
Browse our postgraduate courses for specific course details.
International students are required to have a qualification such as a secondary school completion (e.g. International Baccalaureate), a diploma, a bridging course or tertiary (college or university) course completion.
Check the recognised qualifications that we accept from countries around the world.
International students can also complete an Australian or New Zealand university foundation program. More than 80 percent of students who complete the University of Sydney Preparation Programs (USPP).
You can complete anguage courses and academic skills programs will help prepare you for university at the Centre for English Teaching.
Mature-age Entry Scheme
Each year the University provides undergraduate places for domestic mature-age entrants.
| Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|
1 April 2020 | 31 January 2021 |
How to apply?
- Review the Mature-age Entry Scheme (pdf, 3.7MB).
- Apply through UAC.
University preparation courses are vital for entry if you’re a mature-age student. By completing the appropriate course and achieving the required results for admission, you will be eligible to apply for mature‑age entry, provided you do not already hold qualifications that entitle you to be considered for standard admission.
Mathematics course prerequisites apply to students applying for admission through this scheme.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mature-age students should refer to the Gadigal Program.
If you don’t get into the course you want in your first year you may be eligible to reapply after you complete one year of full-time study in a bachelor’s degree at the University of Sydney or another tertiary institution.
