Information for Parents
Guide your child to uni
It's an exciting moment when your child starts preparing for their future. However, we know it can be an also be anxious time for them and for parents and carers.
Our guide can help provide you with the right tools so that you can feel confident in guiding and supporting them as they make some big decisions for their future.
As they enter Year 10, you can follow these steps to help guide them along the path to university.
Guide from Year 10 to uni
Year 10
Discover their interests
- If your child knows what interests them for the future, it will help them to choose a possible career path. It will also help them to select their subjects for Year 11 and 12.
Choose HSC subjects
- Narrow down a list of HSC subjects by selecting topics they are good at and interested in to maximise their chances at receiving an ATAR. Finalise the list by checking the assumed knowledge and recommended studies for the degrees they're considering.
Experience uni life
- Get involved in university events and activities to experience campus life and learn more about our degrees.
Year 11
Boost their chances
- Your child can secure a place at university by taking advantage of adjustment factors and entry schemes. They can get into their degree of choice based on their Year 11 results through the Early Entry Program and Schools Recommendation Scheme.
Sign up to newsletter
- By signing up to our newsletter, you will stay informed on updates and events held at the university. These events provide valuable opportunities to experience campus life and talk to academics and current university students about degrees.
Visit open days
- Open Day is a chance to discover what life is like on campus. They will have the opportunity to talk to current students about their degree and experience and listen to academics in lectures.
Year 12
Apply for an early offer
- Your child could get an early offer to university before they even sit their final HSC exams if they apply for our Early Entry Program. Applications opens in April but you can register at anytime.
Apply to uni via UAC
- They can also apply to university through UAC. There they can select up to five degrees to add to their UAC preferences list. The order can be changed during each offer round. Encourage them to choose degrees that are similar, have a lower selection rank or to consider adding an alternate pathway such as a Diploma or Open Foundation just in case they don't receive the required marks.
- Make sure to also keep an eye on their key dates.
Scholarships
- We have hundreds of scholarship programs available that can help with the financial side of university. There are over 1,000 individual scholarships on offer ranging from $1,500 to $75,000.
Visit Open Days
- A lot can change in a year, so make sure you attend Open Day once again.
Check out accommodation options
- Our student living options offer 24/7 security, comprehensive support services and a passionate team to help make your child’s transition to university as smooth as possible. We also have off-campus accommodation options available. We recommend applying for accommodation as soon as it opens.
Enrol in classes
- If they have received an offer to study with us and accepted their place, congratulations! They're a university student. From here, they'll need to start enrolling in courses which can include our free NUPrep short courses to give them an early glimpse of what uni is like.
- If they didn’t receive the results they were after, but would like to attend university, don't worry! We have many other Pathways available for them to secure their spot in their chosen degree.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.