Getting In

Everyone's pathway to uni is different and no matter what your background there are several options available to you.

If you are completing or have recently completed your HSC, you may be eligible to receive an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which can be used to gain entry into uni.

The ATAR shows how well you went in the HSC compared to other students. It's based on your overall marks in the HSC and is used for selection into university degrees.

Universities work out how many positions are available in each degree and set a minimum cut-off for entry, which is the rank of the last person admitted to the degree. Previous year cut-offs should be taken as a guide only as they can change from year to year according to demand.

Your rank is your ATAR plus any bonus points you may be awarded.

HSC students who go to schools in certain regional or rural postcode areas are awarded an additional four bonus points through our Regional and Rural Preference Scheme.

These bonus points are offered to schools and TAFE colleges with postcodes in the Hunter, Central Coast, Central West, Northern Rivers, Mid-North Coast, New England, Western Plains and Broken Hill mail centres. It applies to all undergraduate degrees except the Bachelor of Medicine - Joint Medical Program and Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry).

You don't need to apply for this bonus - the points are automatically added to your rank.

We are committed to rewarding high achieving Year 12 students by awarding up to 4 bonus points for high achievement in specific HSC subjects that are relevant to the program for which you are applying. For example, if you achieve a Band 5 in mathematics and are applying for an engineering degree, you will be awarded two bonus points as maths is relevant to this degree.

For details on which HSC subjects and band levels attract bonus points in specific degrees visit our bonus points pages.

You've worked hard to achieve outstanding results so we would like to take the guesswork out of uni entry by guaranteeing your place in most of our undergraduate degrees.

If you receive an ATAR of 90 or above you can relax knowing that you've secured your place at a world-class university for 2014.

Find out which degrees are eligible »

If you didn't gain enough marks in your HSC for entry to uni, or were unable to complete your HSC, then Newstep is your pathway into university.

Newstep gives recent school leavers aged 18-20 a second chance to study at university. Students who successfully complete Newstep are eligible to apply for entry to degrees at the University of Newcastle (except the Bachelor of Medicine - Joint Medical Program) and many other Australian universities.

There are no fees for Newstep but be prepared for costs such as textbooks and other resources.

Newstep is offered at both our Newcastle and Central Coast campuses.

For more information visit our Newstep pages.

Yapug is a program that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 or over to gain skills for entry into degrees at the University of Newcastle. The program is offered at our Newcastle (Callaghan) campus.

The Bachelor of Medicine – Joint Medical Program is included in the degrees that Yapug can prepare students for.

Students enrolled in Yapug are encouraged to develop the academic skills and self-discipline required for success in undergraduate study.

The Wollotuka Institute's Indigenous Student Support and Development Unit offers services to support students including counselling, a well-equipped resource centre, audio and visual materials on Indigenous topics and issues, health support and cultural programs.

To find out more visit our Yapug pages.

We can help you make the most of previous study through credit transfer.

If your TAFE or other qualification is similar to the university degree you want to study, you may be granted credit (in recognition of prior learning) for up to two years of your degree.

Credit transfer works only after you are offered a university place with us and have accepted that offer.

For a limited number of programs, students can gain admission with a Certificate level III. However, the University recommends that applicants have a Certificate level IV to ensure their choices are not restricted.

Entry is dependent on the level of your qualification and the degree(s) you are interested in.

Credit transfer arrangements apply for a number of WEA qualifications.

For more information visit our credit transfer pages.

We offer a number of entry schemes designed to give you a little extra help getting into uni.

This scheme helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants gain entry into our degrees.

To ensure you receive advice about this scheme, you will need to indicate that you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent in your application.

Applicants may then be invited to attend interviews conducted at the Newcastle, Central Coast or Port Macquarie campuses of the University of Newcastle.

To find out more phone The Wollotuka Institute on (02) 4921 6863.

If you have experienced educational or other disadvantage, you can apply for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS). The University of Newcastle, through EAS, may award you up to four additional points.

To apply for the EAS, you must complete the application form contained in the EAS booklet produced by UAC or download the form from UAC. Your EAS application should be forwarded to UAC with supporting documents no later than 27 September 2013.

EAS does not apply to the Bachelor of Medicine program.

For more information phone our enquiry centre on (02) 4921 5000.

All uni applications need to be submitted online to the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). UAC receives and processes applications for most NSW and ACT universities.

Get yourself a copy of the UAC Guide as soon as possible. Your school should be able to give you a free copy of the guide or you can purchase it from major newsagencies and bookshops. You can also view the guide online at the UAC website.

Please note that some degrees have an additional application process.

You can nominate up to nine degree preferences in your UAC application. You can change your preferences up until early January, once your initial application is submitted.

List your preferences in the order of what you would like to study most, rather than the degree cut-off.

You'll be offered a place in the first degree on your list for which you achieve the degree cut-off.

Consider all degrees related to your area of interest. For example, if you want a career in marketing, you could consider studying a Bachelor of Business with a major in marketing.

Applications open in August and on-time main round applications close on 27 September 2013. You can still apply for the main round until early December but you will be hit with a late fee.

As well as meeting any selection criteria specified in the degree entries, applicants are considered for entry on the basis of:

• Performance in Australian year 12 studies with the minimum ATAR or equivalent higher education
• Tertiary or post-secondary qualifications
• Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications
• Performance in one of the alternative pathways for entry

Applicants must also satisfy our English language proficiency requirements.

It's important to check if the degree(s) you're interested in have special entry requirements such as an audition, interview or portfolio.

When researching degrees also check for assumed knowledge and recommended studies.

There's always a plan B. Your ATAR is not the be-all and end-all, and there is usually more than one way to get the career you want.

If your ATAR result was not what you expected or you're looking for a different path into uni, check out alternative entry options such as our Newstep program and TAFE.

We can help you understand your options, such as starting a different degree, re-applying later, or doing a related TAFE course.

Our careers service also helps students to rethink career options.

Thinking about taking time out between school and uni? Many students take a gap year after finishing Year 12.

Whether you need a break from study, want to get some work experience under your belt or intend to do some travelling, there are loads of opportunities out there and it's important you do some research and planning to make the most of your time out from studying.

You will probably find that uni is a lot more flexible than school. Full-time study (40 units) will generally mean 40 hours of study. You can choose your courses (subjects) and timetable using our online enrolment system.

Many students work part-time while they study at uni, but make sure to allocate time to study.

If you accept an offer from the University of Newcastle, you may be able to delay the start date of your degree by up to one year. Some degrees don't allow you to defer.

For many degrees, you can choose to study part-time or full-time. Generally, full-time study is made up of four courses a semester. Part-time study is made up of one or two courses a semester.