ATAR Scores for Uni Courses (2025)

What the ATAR List Shows

The highest ATAR cut-offs are for courses such as Business at Sydney Uni, Arts at Melbourne Uni, and Science at UNSW. These minimums may be lower than for other programs since we're focusing on mainstream degrees.

At the other end of the spectrum, ATAR requirements approach 50 or disappear altogether for some of Australia's regional universities. An ATAR of 50 indicates that no minimum ATAR is set. The lowest ATAR cut-offs are for unis such as Victoria University, Federation University, and James Cook University.

Related: Highest ATAR Courses

About ATAR Course Entry Requirements

Each university sets its own minimum ATAR scores. ATAR, or Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, is calculated based on your HSC results.

Your weakest subjects may be excluded in ranking computations. Grades are also scaled according to course difficulty, taking into account the average ability of students doing each subject.

Most universities follow a similar approach for high-school leavers. Your ATAR score plays a key role in getting into your preferred course. ATAR cutoffs vary widely. Prestigious city-based universities tend to have higher requirements, while regional and less competitive institutions have lower thresholds.

Understanding ATAR in Australia

Australian students are given an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) shortly after completing a 2-year Higher School Certificate. It is a score out of 100, combining grades and subjects to determine each person's rank.

A good ATAR score is 80 or better. If you achieve an ATAR of 80, it means you performed better than 80 per cent of students – you’re in the top 20 per cent! However, an ATAR of 70 will also qualify you for many uni courses.

How Your ATAR is Used

A high ATAR is like a golden ticket for getting into university courses. Pre-admission interviews or tests are rarely used in Australia, and most courses have few or loose requirements regarding specific high school subjects. In short, ATARs rule.

Early in the admissions process, universities publish ATAR cut-offs for each course. These indicate the scores required for guaranteed admission. The final cut-off may be lowered if there are spare places, especially if the initial ATAR cut-off was above 70. Your score can also effectively increase if the university offers adjustment factors (bonus points).

The ATAR cut-offs shown in the table demonstrate how difficult it is to gain entry to various universities. The list covers popular bachelor degrees, such as arts, business/commerce, and science or engineering. The top ranked universities, where demand exceeds supply, set the highest ATARs. Less competitive universities may use ATARs to establish basic academic entry requirements.

The acceptance rate is 100 minus the average ATAR, all divided by 50. Hence, a uni with a minimum ATAR of 50 effectively has a 100% acceptance rate. A uni with an ATAR threshold of 75 has a 50% acceptance rate, with half of prospective students meeting the entry requirement.

Alternative Entry Pathways

If you're concerned about not meeting the ATAR requirements, several alternative pathways available. Options such as TAFE courses, uni foundation programs, and recognition of prior learning are viable routes.

Lerna Courses advises, "Don’t let a low ATAR score or no ATAR hold you back from your goal of attending university" (Source: How to Get Into Uni Without an ATAR). Students have multiple opportunities for higher education, regardless of their ATAR scores.

Related: No ATAR Uni Courses

For International Students

International students need to meet similar course entry requirements to Australian students. The main difference is the need to demonstrate English language proficiency.

To be admitted to an undergraduate course, international students typically must have a grade point average in their home country that matches or exceeds the standard set for Australian students. Universities list these requirements by course and country on their websites.