Find out which uni courses have high ATAR requirements.
It's hard to pin down exactly which university courses in Australia have the highest minimum ATAR scores. Thresholds fluctuate year by year and are influenced by demand. Adjustment factors and additional entry requirements also complicate the picture.
However, we do know that high ATAR requirements generally correlate with factors like a university's world ranking, the field of study (though inconsistently), honours (4-year) degrees, and dual degrees.
Among the most competitive programs are Physiotherapy, Medical Studies, and Commerce at prestigious universities in Melbourne and Sydney. ATAR scores well into the 90s — and sometimes in the top percentile — are required.
High ATAR Courses
Gaining admission to certain undergraduate programs requires exceptionally high ATAR scores. Here are examples of undergraduate degrees from prominent Australian universities with among the highest ATAR entry requirements.
- University of Sydney - Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy): A highly competitive program, it requires an ATAR of 99.50.
- UNSW Sydney - Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine (Combined): This program has a median unadjusted ATAR of 99.25.
- UNSW Sydney - Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours): The minimum selection rank after adjustments added was 96.00.
- University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Biomedicine: This undergraduate pathway to medicine and other health fields has a guaranteed entry ATAR of 94.00.
- University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Commerce: Often seen as a pathway to business leadership roles, this course has a minimum ATAR of 93.00.
These ATAR thresholds can vary each year based on demand. Pathways and adjustments also allow for entry with lower scores. Prospective students should refer to the official university websites for the latest entry requirements.
Universities Ranked by ATAR
The highest ATAR requirements tend to be found at the most prestigious inner-city universities. Based on league tables for popular programs such as Arts, Business, and STEM, the top five universities by average ATAR are:
- University of Melbourne – Arts: 88, Business: 93, Science: 85, Average: 89
- University of Sydney – Arts: 80, Business: 95, Science: 80, Average: 85
- UNSW Sydney – Arts: 80, Business: 93, Science: 80, Average: 84
- ANU – Arts: 80, Business: 80, Science: 80, Average: 80
- UTS – Arts: 72, Business: 85, Science: 76, Average: 78
These figures show that prestigious universities maintain high ATAR thresholds, especially for business courses due to high demand.
Source: Australian Universities, ATAR Scores for Uni Courses
Degrees with the Highest ATARs
The field of study has a strong bearing on ATAR requirements, though inconsistently across universities. Supply and demand for courses affect ATAR cut-offs.
Table 1. ATAR Cut-Offs by Degree at La Trobe University
| Selection Rank | Bachelor Degree |
|---|---|
| 96 | Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| 90 | Laws (Honours) |
| 87 | Occupational Therapy (Honours) |
| 87 | Speech Pathology (Honours) |
| 85 | Nursing/Midwifery |
| 82 | Psychology (Honours) |
| 80 | Health Information Management |
| 80 | Orthoptics (Honours) |
| 80 | Commerce |
| 77 | Podiatry (Honours) |
| 77 | Prosthetics and Orthotics (Honours) |
| 75 | Wildlife and Conservation Biology |
| 72 | Education |
| 70 | Archaeology |
| 70 | Nursing |
| 69 | Business Analytics |
| 69 | Science |
| 66 | Engineering (Industrial) (Honours) |
| 65 | Civil Engineering (Honours) |
| 65 | Global Studies |
| 65 | Biomedicine |
| 62 | Computer Science |
| 61 | Animal and Veterinary Biosciences |
| 61 | Sport and Exercise Science |
| 61 | Criminology |
| 60 | Accounting |
| 60 | Cybersecurity |
| 60 | Arts |
| 60 | Media and Communication |
| 56 | Information Technology |
| 56 | Biological Sciences |
| 56 | Business |
| 55 | Psychological Science |
| 55 | Health Sciences |
| 55 | Social Work (Honours) |
Source: La Trobe University Course Finder
At La Trobe University, which generally has lower-than-average minimum ATARs, Physiotherapy (Honours) requires an ATAR of 96, while Laws (Honours) has a cut-off of 90.
Health-related courses tend to require higher ATARs. For instance, Occupational Therapy (Honours) and Speech Pathology (Honours) both sit at 87, and Nursing/Midwifery at 85.
Courses like Arts, Business, and Information Technology at La Trobe have significantly lower requirements, with cut-offs ranging between 55 and 60.
Honours Degrees
High ATAR scores are often associated with honours degrees. For school leavers in Australia, an honours degree is typically a four-year program. By contrast, bachelor degrees in Australia are often only three years, such as a Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science.
At La Trobe University, the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) requires an ATAR of 82, compared to 55 for the Bachelor of Psychological Science. This gap reflects the additional academic demands of honours programs.
In Psychology and other fields, including Arts, Business, and Science, honours often involves a fourth year of study after completing a standard three-year degree. Students typically qualify for this honours year if they achieve a high grade average of Distinction or better.
Combined Degrees
Universities offer a myriad of combined degrees, often with higher ATAR requirements than single degrees.
Combined degrees, also called double or dual degrees, allow students to study two fields concurrently. The ATAR requirement for these programs is typically based on the more competitive component. For example, at Monash University, the Bachelor of Arts has an ATAR of 70, while Law requires 85. The combined Arts/Law degree uses the higher Law ATAR of 85 as the entry threshold.
Highest Minimum Scores are Hard to Find
The highest ATAR courses in Australia can often be obscure and difficult to find. Many of these programs are specialised combined degrees or honours programs that don't appear prominently. They may serve niche interests or offer dual qualifications, such as Commerce/Law, Medicine/Science, or Engineering/IT.
In addition, foundational pathways for fields like Medicine and Dentistry add complexity. Students at some of the top universities may need to start with a related undergraduate degree, such as Biomedical Science, before applying to the postgraduate program. While the ATAR for the foundational degree might be lower, competition for postgraduate places remains fierce. Additional entrance exams and interviews are also factors.