Getting in

The University of Newcastle is home to many talented, enthusiastic and diverse students – just like you. Providing access for all to higher education is fundamental to who we are. That’s why we have a number of pathways, scholarships and entry options to help you with getting into uni.

Your guide to getting into Uni

Applying through UAC

Check out your options:

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 Open Foundation and other entry pathways if you don't get the required marks
  • See our Application FAQs .
  • Have questions? Ask a student.  We know you must have heaps of questions about university life – what’s needed to get into your degree, where to go for support, what on-campus accommodation is available and of course, where to find the best coffee. Jump on our website to chat to one of our Student Ambassadors.

We’re here to support you during your HSC, to help you make a successful transition to university and to support you through your studies. If you are located in NSW and ACT consider our free Early Entry Program below.

Early Entry Program

Our free Early Entry Program means you can receive an offer from us before commencing HSC exams. Offers are conditional on you completing the HSC or equivalent.

Applications for Early Entry will open on 8 April 2024. Register your interest here so you can be kept up to date on key dates and information.

Program benefits
  • Receive an early offer to attend the University of Newcastle
  • HSC study support to help you achieve the best Year 12 results
  • Free preparation courses
  • Invitation to VIP events throughout the year
  • Invitation to our Student Leadership Program.
About  Early Entry Program

The University of Newcastle’s Early Entry Program is for NSW and ACT students completing Year 12 (Higher School Certificate or International Baccalaureate) in 2024.

Early entry considers your Year 11 results so you can earn an offer to your chosen degree before you commence your exams.

When you apply for our Early Entry Program, we connect you with learning resources that will guide you towards successfully completing your final year at school, and leadership and networking opportunities that focus on collaboration and engagement.

An early offer to the University of Newcastle secures your place and provides you with certainty at a stressful time.

  • The Early Entry Program is free to apply
  • You apply through the Early Entry Program portal
  • Learn more about the program and the FAQs here

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

We also recommend you apply for degrees with UAC before you complete your exams and receive your ATAR. 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 ATAR, however we always recommend leaving your dream degree in the number one position on your UAC application. For more information see our Application FAQ.

Other Early Entry Options

Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)

Our Schools Recommendations Scheme offers early entry and scholarship opportunities for eligible students. Current Year 12 students can apply. Applicants can be considered for early entry based on your Year 11 results and recommendations from your school through the SRS. This is available for entry into all degrees excluding Medicine and Midwifery. Ensure your UAC application is submitted prior to 18 September.

Your HSC

Your HSC is still a great way into university so it’s important that you continue to work hard but don’t worry - there’s more than one way in.

Year 12 Subject Spotlight Program

Your ATAR is important, but it isn’t all that matters. This program rewards students who have excelled in certain HSC subjects related to your degree with an early offer. To be eligible, just make sure you list the University of Newcastle as your first preference in UAC for January Round 2, no additional application required.

ATAR and Selection Rank

Once you receive your ATAR, this rank will not change. However, you may be eligible for adjustments applied by the University to create your Selection Rank. These adjustments were previously called bonus points. Your Selection Rank is your ATAR plus any adjustment points. You may be eligible for up to 12 adjustment points. Your Selection Rank is then used to determine if you are eligible for your chosen degree. Be sure to have the University of Newcastle as your first preference for your best chance of getting in.

Educational Access Scheme

Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage.

Year 12 Adjustment Scheme

Get up to four adjustment points for your HSC results in particular subjects.

Regional and Rural Adjustment Points Scheme

Receive five adjustment points if you went to a rural or regional school in selected postcodes.

Leaders, Athletes and Performers

Our Leaders, Athletes and Performers aims to support exceptional athletes, performers, artists and leaders with proven experience get up to four adjustment points added to your Selection Rank.

Open Foundation

This is a free pathway program for people who do not have the preparation or qualifications required for direct entry into their desired undergraduate degree. We also have a number of other entry options and pathway available. See our Pathways page for more information.

I have also completed VET studies

If you have completed VET studies as part of or in addition to your HSC, you may have another assessable qualification for admission. These ranks are not combined, but assessed separately. The highest of the two ranks will be used to assess your eligibility for competitive admission. A certificate 3 qualification is equivalent to an ATAR of 67.

Using your TAFE qualification for entry

We recognise your TAFE (or other accredited VET) qualifications as an equivalent estimated ATAR which you can use to gain entry into a range of our enabling programs or undergraduate degrees. Apply through UAC and list all your relevant qualifications, both schooling and any AQF qualifications (e.g. Cert III). Our admissions team will then assess your qualifications and use your highest rank to ensure you are eligible for competitive entry into the degree of your choice.

You may be eligible for credit if you have completed a Cert IV or above, and are going into a similar field of study.

I have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

The University of Newcastle 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 our 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 can apply to study at the University of Newcastle through our free, direct entry application for non-school leavers or through UAC.

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

It can be complicated to calculate your  Selection Rank (SR) based on high school results before the introduction of the ATAR in 2009. Contact AskUON or call 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 program full-time (in a single semester) or part-time (up to 2 years) to get guaranteed entry to over 70 degrees or to receive a new University Selection Rank.
Yapug 
  • Complete this program full-time (in two semesters)  or part-time (up  to 2 years) to gain entry into an undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle.
Diplomas
  • Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to get entry into one of our related Bachelor degrees.
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Admission Scheme
  • Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Leaders, Athletes and Performers
  • Our Leaders, Athletes and Performers aims to support exceptional athletes, performers, artists and leaders with proven experience get up to four adjustment points added to your Selection Rank
Special Tertiary Admissions Test
  • Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.

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

When reviewing admission eligibility, we take into account vocational education and training. Many educational providers offer Certificate III, IV and Diploma Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards. Some also offer Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees.

We can convert assessable qualifications into selection ranks. This helps to ensure fairness and transparency. 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.

The tables below provides information on how to assess your selection rank based on your AQF qualification.

Guaranteed Entry

Many of our students come to us after completing TAFE studies.

Completed an accredited Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma ? You can gain entry into many of our undergraduate programs.


Complete Graded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma

Grade Point Average Rank - AQF Diploma Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma
6.5+ 95 96.95
6.25-6.49 93 95.25
6.00-6.24 90 93
5.75-5.99 88 91
5.50-5.74 86 89
5.25-5.49 83 86
5.00-5.24 81 83
4.75-4.99 78 80
4.00-4.74 75 76

Complete and Incomplete Ungraded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma

Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma Rank - AQF Diploma
76 75


Complete Graded AQF Certificate III or AQF Certificate IV

Please note: Certificate III qualifications and below are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing program.

Grade Point Average Rank - AQF Certificate III Rank - AQF Certificate IV
6.5+ 78 90
6.25-6.49 78 88
6.00-6.24 77 86
5.75-5.99 76 84
5.50-5.74 75 82
5.25-5.49 73 80
5.00-5.24 71 78
4.75-4.99 69 75
4.00-4.74 67 73


Complete Ungraded AQF Certificate III and AQF Certificate IV

Rank - AQF Certificate III Rank - AQF Certificate IV
6773

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.


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 page 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 program full-time (in a single semester) or part-time (up to 2 years) to get guaranteed entry to over 70+ degrees or to receive a new University Selection Rank.
  • Yapug Complete this program full-time (in a single year) or part-time (up to 2 years) to gain entry into an undergraduate degree at the University of Newcastle.
  • Diplomas Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to gain entry into a related Bachelor's degree
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander  Admission Scheme
    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.
  • Leaders, Athletes and Performers
    Our Leaders, Athletes and Performers aims to support exceptional athletes, performers, artists and leaders with proven experience get up to four adjustment points added to your Selection Rank.
  • Special Tertiary Admissions Test
    Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.

Completed higher education or partial higher education studies through an accredited higher education provider? Your grade point average (GPA) can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes.

For fairness and transparency, 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

Min GPA (>0.5FTE*) Selection Rank
6.5+ 97.30
6 93.40
5 86.30
4 77.65
3 67.25

*Your GPA can only be calculated if you have completed at least 20 units of study. A full-time study (FTE) load is usually 80 units per year.


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

Overall Grade Average Selection Rank
>97 99.55
80 84
70 77
60 70
50 65

Want to transfer across to another degree? Visit our Internal Transfers page for current students for more information.

If you have completed or are soon to complete an Enabling Pathways program (Open Foundation or Yapug) you can apply for most degrees. Please visit the Your Next Move website for more information.

If you want to transfer or complete 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 have secondary qualifications from overseas, there are some that are assessed as the equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. Note that equivalence of qualifications alone does not guarantee entry into programs. For fairness and transparency, overseas qualifications will be converted to a selection rank.

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 (Open Foundation and Yapug)

The University of Newcastle 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.

Our pathway programs offer guaranteed entry to over 70+ University of Newcastle degrees. When you complete this program your Grade Point Average can be converted to a selection rank.

The programs on offer are:

  • Open Foundation
    Completing our Open Foundation pathway program will award you a new rank to apply to uni.  Finish Open Foundation in just a single semester or take your time - up to 4 years. Flexible study supports you to learn at your own pace.
  • Yapug
    If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student you could complete our one year Yapug pathway program.
  • Diplomas
    Complete a diploma either full-time or part-time to get entry into one of our related Bachelor's degree.

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is an aptitude test, organised through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). It 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 test can be used for entry into some (but not all) University of Newcastle degrees. 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 the University of Newcastle 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

Currently at another university and want to do one or more subjects at the University of Newcastle for credit? You can apply for Cross-Institutional Study.

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

If you have more than one of the qualifications listed above they may all count towards your application.

We are always happy to provide advice and discuss your circumstances so please contact us by calling 1300 275 866.

If you have more than one of the qualifications listed above they may all count towards your application. We are always happy to provide advice and discuss your circumstances so please contact us:

  • Call 1300 275 866
  • Submit a question using AskUON

Otherwise, check out our application FAQ.

Give yourself the best start

NUPrep is a free bridging and refresher course that provides you with academic knowledge, learning support and confidence in the weeks leading up to your new degree.

Learn more about NUPrep

Scholarships

Scholarships

The University of Newcastle offers a number of scholarships across a wide range of areas.