Bachelor of Social Science

As someone who recently completed secondary education, either at high school, TAFE or another VET provider, you will generally be considered for entry based on your Selection Rank (SR). Some degrees have additional entry requirements such as auditions or interviews and where required you will find these listed on the relevant degree page. Most of our degrees also have some assumed knowledge and recommended studies so check this before you apply.

Try to choose what you are most interested in and then research some back up options with lower Selection Ranks (SR) to put as your later choices. A good tip is to look at degrees that may have similar first year subjects. This will help you reduce your overall study time if you want to apply to transfer over to your degree of choice after the first year. But Selection Ranks (SR) do change from year to year so you should only use the Selection Rank (SR) as a guide.

Pick your situation from the list below:

I am currently completing my Higher School Certificate (HSC)

You can apply for degrees with UAC before you complete your exams and have your Selection Rank (SR). You should apply as an early bird to avoid additional costs. Once you have applied you can change your preferences as many times as you like before the change of preferences deadline. This means you can change your preferences around once you know your Selection Rank (SR). For more information see our Application FAQ.

You can also consider the following entry help options that might be applicable to you:

• Rural and Regional adjustment points (previously called bonus points) scheme
  Get up to five adjustment points (previously called bonus points) if you went to rural and regional schools in selected postcodes.
• Subject performance scheme
  Get an offer to study based on your performance in the HSC in subjects related to UON degrees and your Selection Rank(SR).
• Year 12 adjustment points (previously called bonus points) scheme
  Get up to four adjustment points (previously called bonus points) for your HSC results in particular subjects.
• Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)
  Motivated and talented students who fall short of the marks for entry can apply for an early offer through the SRS.
• Educational Access Scheme
  Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage.
• Elite Athlete Program
  Get adjustment points (previously called bonus points) and support by applying as an elite athlete.
• Newstep
  Get a second chance for entry by completing our one year Newstep program.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry
  Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent or complete our one year Yapug pathway program.

I have also completed VET studies

If you completed VET studies as part of or in addition to your HSC you may have another assessable qualification for admission. The selection rank from this qualification is not added to your Selection Rank (SR). The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission in most cases.

I have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

UON accepts the IB Diploma and Bilingual Diploma as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. UAC will derive a selection rank from your total IB score and for UON admission purposes this rank is comparable with the Selection Rank(SR). To see how your selection rank is calculated visit UAC’s website.

For advice on your options or how to order your preferences please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or visiting AskUON.

You should start planning your way into uni from year 10 onwards. Think about:

• Using our study areas to narrow down study options based on what you are interested in
• Come and speak to us at events like Open Day, Schools Visit Day and campus tours
• Check the Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies of the degrees you are interested in
• If you are a high performer you can get a head start by completing some uni subjects while still at school
• Sign up to our mailing list for regular updates
• Have a look at adjustment points and other entry schemes that may give you an extra boost
• Decide on some back up options like Newstep and other entry pathways if you don't get the required marks
• See our Application FAQs.

Secondary results don’t have a use-by date, so even if you completed high school 20 years ago, these results may be used to apply to UON. You can use your ATAR or equivalent (UAI, TER etc) to apply irrespective of when you completed Year 12.

It can be complicated to calculate your Selection Rank (SR) based on high school results prior to the introduction of the ATAR in 2009. Contact us at 1300 275 866 and let us do the calculating for you.

If you don’t think you will meet the Selection Rank (SR) for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:

• Open Foundation
  Complete this one year or six month program to get a new mark for entry.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry
  Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
• Educational Access Scheme
  Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage.
• Elite Athlete Program
  Get adjustment points and support by applying as an elite athlete.
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test
  Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.

For advice on these other options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866.

If you studied vocational education and training, the type of qualification, whether or not you completed it, and if it was graded or competency-based will all be taken into consideration to assess your eligibility for admission. TAFE and private providers, as well as some universities, typically offer Certificate III, IV and Diploma Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards. Some also offer Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees.

For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. Selection ranks from different individual qualifications are not combined or added together to form a rank. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission. Different selection ranks are assigned to VET courses with graded assessment and competency based (ungraded) assessment. The tables below provide information on how to assess your selection rank based on your AQF qualification.

UON offers guaranteed admission to a range of programs for applicants who have completed a Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma. For more information, visit TAFE Guaranteed Entry.

Complete Graded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma

Complete and Incomplete Ungraded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma

Complete Graded AQF Certificate III or AQF Certificate IV

Complete Ungraded AQF Certificate III and AQF Certificate IV

Note: Incomplete VET studies must be AQF Diploma level or above and more than 0.2 of a full time student (FTE) to be considered for admission.

It is probably best to contact our Enquiry Centre on 1300 275 866 to discuss your qualifications and grades. Our team are happy to advise you on your options.

Your previous qualifications may also make you eligible for credit to your degree. This will cut down on your study time. You can apply for credit before you start. See our credit section for more information.

If you don’t think you will meet the requirements for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:

• Open Foundation
  Complete this one year or six month program to get a new mark for entry.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry
  Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
• Educational Access Scheme
  Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage.
• Elite Athlete Program
  Get adjustment points (previously called bonus points) and support by applying as an elite athlete.
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test
  Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.

If you completed higher education or partial higher education studies your grade point average (GPA) (or Grade Average as a percentage for pathway programs like Newstep, Open Foundation or Yapug) can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. To ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. The selection rank from this qualification is not added to your ATAR. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission.

If you have completed a degree and want to move onto postgraduate study please see our Postgraduate website.

Bachelor degree studies

*Your GPA can only be calculated if you have completed at least half of a full-time study load. A full-time study load is usually 40 units a semester.

Completed pathway (also known as enabling or tertiary preparation) programs

If you are currently studying at UON and want to transfer across to another degree or if you have completed UON a pathway program in the previous year you can apply with us directly. See our Internal Transfers page for current students for more information.

If you want to transfer or completed a tertiary preparation program at another university you will need to apply through UAC. Please contact our Enquiry Centre 1300 275 866 for information and advice.

If you think you may be eligible for credit please visit our credit section.

If you’re applying on the basis of overseas secondary qualifications, there are some that are considered as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. Note that equivalence of qualifications alone does not guarantee entry into programs. For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, your overseas qualification will be converted to a selection rank so you can be compared to other applicants.

For advice on your options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or visit AskUON.

If you haven’t completed any formal secondary, VET or higher education studies we offer a range of options to get you on the pathway to your dream degree. Our recommended pathways are:

Pathway programs (Newstep, Open Foundation and Yapug)

UON is the largest provider of pathway programs in Australia. If you haven’t studied for a while, or your high school results weren’t what you expected, you can start at university with one of our pathway programs. When you complete this program your Grade Average as a percentage can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. The programs on offer are:

• Newstep
  If you are aged 18-20 you can get a second chance for entry by completing our one year Newstep program. We recommend putting this as your fifth UAC preference.
• Open Foundation
  If you are aged 20 or over you could complete this one year or six month program to get a new rank to apply straight into a degree. Open Foundation can be studied online or face to face at our Newcastle and Ourimbah campuses
• Yapug
  If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student you could complete our one year Yapug pathway program.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test or STAT is an aptitude test, organised through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), that assesses a range of competencies considered important for successful tertiary study. If you are over 18 and not a current Year 12 student, results from the STAT multiple-choice test can be used for entry into some (but not all) of the degrees offered at UON. Make sure you look into which degrees accept STAT for entry.

If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.

Non-Award Admission

If you want to do one or two subjects at UON but not a full degree you can apply for non-award admission. You may want to do this for preliminary work for a higher degree, professional requirements or because of an interest in the area.

Find out more and apply by visiting Non-Award Admission.

Cross-Institutional Study

If you are currently at another university and want to do one or more subjects at UON for credit you can apply for Cross-Institutional Study.

Find out more and apply by visiting Cross-Institutional Study.

Senior secondary school qualification

Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.

Post-secondary study

Further education like diplomas and university study can also be assessed for admission.

Additional requirements

Some of our programs have additional requirements like an audition, or portfolio.

Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.

For international students who do not meet either the language or academic requirements for entry into an undergraduate program, a range of pathway courses are available.

The University of Newcastle Language Centre is an award-winning leader in teaching English language (ELICOS). With locations in both Newcastle and Sydney, students are offered 25 hours of class time per week, and can take part in an incredible student experience program that provides cultural experience alongside daily and academic language skills.

Newcastle International College (NIC) offers a fully-accredited pathway to UON degrees if you do not have the academic requirements for direct entry, or would prefer to study the first year of your undergraduate degree in an environment especially designed for international students.

Credit for previous study

Students who have completed university-level courses at other institutions may receive credit for that coursework at the University of Newcastle. These credit transfers could help you complete your degree earlier or study new subjects rather than repeat prior learning.

Most often, we award credit to students who have completed Diploma programs or part of a Bachelor degree.  Credit transfer and Pathways provides more information on applying for credit.

The Australian Government operates a student visa program that enables people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to undertake study in Australia. A person who wants to undertake a course of study under the student visa programme must obtain a student visa before they can commence a course of study in Australia. A successful applicant must be both a genuine temporary entrant and a genuine student.

An applicant who is a genuine temporary entrant will have circumstances that support a genuine intention to temporarily enter and remain in Australia, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to utilise lawful means to remain in Australia for an extended period of time or permanently. All Australian education providers must have strategies and arrangements in place to ensure that all students and prospective students meet the requirements with Direction 69 as a condition of admission to the institution.

When your application for admission is received, the University of Newcastle will assess this against university entrance requirements including: minimum age, English and academic entry requirements. To comply with Australian law your application will also be assessed to check that you are genuinely seeking temporary entry to Australia to study. You may be asked to provide the University of Newcastle with evidence addressing Ministerial Direction 69 as part of finalising your admission. If the University forms the opinion that you are not a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) it may refuse to assess your application, withdraw an offer of a place, or cancel your confirmation of enrolment.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia will also assess each application for a student visa (subclass 500) against the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily in Australia as a genuine student. The criteria for this assessment are outlined in Ministerial Direction 69. Applicants that don’t satisfy the criteria under Direction 69 will not be granted a student visa.

For more information, please refer to the following areas of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website:

• Student Visa (Subclass 500)
• Direction No 69 - Assessing the Genuine Temporary Entrant Criterion for Student Visa Applications (PDF, 52.4KB)