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Admission pathways
There is more than one pathway into the University
We believe that you are more than your ATAR. If your studies have been impacted by commitments or circumstances beyond your control, you can access support or adjustment factors through our admission schemes.
Get ready to apply
University Admissions Centre (UAC) applications are now open, so if you are considering applying for university next year, it is time to check your eligibility for some of our admission pathways.
Below you can explore the circumstances and commitments that will make you eligible for our range of admission schemes.
Broadway Scheme
The Broadway Scheme is our Educational 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 | 30 September 2020 |
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.
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?
- 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.
- The Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme application for Semester 1, 2021 will be made available later in 2020.
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.
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 |
|
5 June 2020 |
How do I apply?
- Follow these instructions to apply 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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Year 12 pathways
Learn more about how to get adjustment factors applied to your ATAR.
Other pathways
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?
- Apply through UAC.
- The online application will be available in September.
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 (eg, 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.
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.
If you don't get the required ATAR
If you have not met the guaranteed ATAR, don’t worry – there are other ways to get into the University. You can also use our ATAR search tool to find a course that's right for you.
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.
