Early Entry Program

Our free Early Entry Program means students completing the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) or International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2025 can receive an offer before the HSC exams begin.

To be eligible, applicants must be domestic Year 12 students currently completing the NSW HSC or International Baccalaureate (IB) at one of our recognised Early Entry Program participating secondary schools.

Early Offer: Next Steps

Discover participating secondary schools for our Early Entry Program below. Use the search feature to find your school and explore opportunities for early admission in 2026.

Programs

You can apply for any undergraduate program through the Early Entry Program, except for the programs listed here:

  • Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Honours) (Diagnostic Radiography)
  • Bachelor of Midwifery
  • Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts
  • Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts/Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)
  • Joint Medical Program

You can apply for these programs through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC).

*Excluded programs will be reviewed annually and may change.

Who can apply?

Who can apply?

Eligible domestic NSW students completing Year 12 in 2025.

A student is considered domestic for university admission purposes if they are an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen (or dual citizenship holders of either Australia or New Zealand), Australian permanent resident, or Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder.

Eligibility is based on your NESA-enrolled school, as recorded in official NSW Year 12 records. This does not include partner or satellite schools. If you are unsure which school you are officially enrolled in, please check with your school or contact NESA directly.

International applicants, including those currently onshore studying another qualification, have the option to apply directly to the University through our international admissions process.

Applications are closed for 2026 Admission

Preferences

When you apply, you can choose up to three preferences and adjust them throughout the application period.

Your early offer will be based on your highest eligible preference when preference changes close, so make sure your preferred degree is listed as your top choice.

Preference Deadlines

11:59 PM on Thursday, 4 September 2025: We’ll assess your application based on the preferences you’ve locked in by this deadline. Any changes you make after that won’t count — so make sure your preference list is final!

11:59 PM on Thursday, 25 September 2025: If you apply for Early Entry between 5 September and 25 September 2025, this is your deadline to finalise your preferences.

Not eligible for an early offer? No worries!

If you don’t meet the requirements for any of your preferred degrees, we’ll review your preferences and offer you an alternative — like a pathway program (Diploma or Open Foundation) or a lower-ranked degree in the same study area (if available).

Offers

Please note that you will receive only one early offer through our Early Entry Program, and the offer is conditional on your completion of the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) or International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2025.

Early Offer Day 1: Thursday, 11 September 2025 (Main)

For applications received between 9 April and 4 September 2025.

Early Offer Day 2: Thursday, 2 October 2025 (Supplementary)

For applications received between 5 September and 25 September 2025.

You will have seven days to accept your early offer and secure your place at the University of Newcastle.

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2025 Key dates

02 Apr
UAC Applications OPEN
09 Apr
Early Entry Program Applications OPEN
16 Aug
Newcastle Open Day
30 Aug
Central Coast Open Day
04 Sep
Applications and preference changes for Early Offer Day 1 CLOSE
11 Sep
Early Offer Day 1 (Main)
16 Sep
Year 12 Early Entry Applicants
Student Living Applications Open
25 Sep
Applications and preference changes for Early Offer Day 2 CLOSE
02 Oct
Early Offer Day 2 (Supplementary)
23 Dec
UAC Post-ATAR Offer Round (December Round 2)
27 Jan
Semester 1 2026 Commences

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Hear from Ruby, a current undergraduate student 1.11

"When I first received my early entry offer, I was really happy because I felt like a big weight was lifted from my shoulders... I felt a lot more secure knowing I had a guaranteed pathway into next year."

- Ruby, Undergraduate Student