Each university sets its own ATAR scores and other course-entry requirements.

Most universities have a similar approach to facilitating course entry. ATAR scores are important for recent high-school leavers.

  • As a high-school leaver, getting into your preferred university course depends on your ATAR score and, often, on subject grades as well.
  • If you are older and don't have a good ATAR score, alternative pathways allow you to get in based on factors such as work experience and completed qualifying courses.
  • For post-graduate study, entry depends on university qualifications plus grades.

Differences in ATAR cutoffs across universities are significant.

  • The highest cutoffs are generally for prestigious universities based in the major cities.
  • Lower cutoffs apply for regional and "regular" universities.
ATAR score celebration.

For Australian HSC Graduates

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. Grades and subjects are combined to determine each person's score.

  • Although some states don't use the ATAR system, an ATAR-equivalent can be worked out using conversion tables/calculators.
  • A high ATAR is like a golden ticket for getting into university courses. Pre-admission interviews/tests are not normally used for Australian courses. And most courses have few or loose requirements about which subjects applicants should have taken at high school. In short, ATARs rule.
  • Early in the admissions process, universities publish ATAR course scores. These can generally be interpreted as the scores required for guaranteed admission. The final ATAR score may be lowered if there are spare places, particularly if the initial ATAR cut-off was on the high side (above 70). You can also effectively increase your score if a university makes adjustment factors (bonus points) available to you.

ATAR cut-off scores are shown in the table, demonstrating how hard it is to gain entry to different universities. The list covers popular bachelor degrees such as business/commerce. The top ranked universities, where there is excess demand for places, set the highest ATARs. Less in-demand universities may use ATARs just to establish basic academic requirements.

Indicative ATAR Cutoffs (2021)

University Arts Bus STEM Avg
Australian Catholic University 59 59 59 59
Australian National University 80 86 80 82
Bond University 70 70 70 70
Charles Darwin University 50 50 62 54
Charles Sturt University 55 55 65 58
CQUniversity 60 60 68 63
Curtin University 70 70 70 70
Deakin University 56 70 60 62
Edith Cowan University 70 70 70 70
Federation University Australia 50 50 60 53
Flinders University 60 60 60 60
Griffith University 63 63 63 63
James Cook University 51 51 59 54
La Trobe University 60 55 70 62
Macquarie University 75 80 75 77
Monash University 70 75 75 73
Murdoch University 70 70 70 70
Queensland University of Technology 70 79 70 73
RMIT University 75 65 70 70
Southern Cross University 60 60 60 60
Swinburne University of Technology 60 60 70 63
Torrens University Australia 60 60 60 60
University of Adelaide 65 65 65 65
University of Canberra 50 50 50 50
University of Melbourne 88 93 85 89
University of New England 73 73 73 73
University of New South Wales 80 95 85 87
University of Newcastle 62 65 62 63
University of Notre Dame Australia 68 70 69
University of Queensland 75 87 79 80
University of South Australia 60 66 62 63
University of Southern Queensland 59 59 63 60
University of Sydney 80 95 80 85
University of Tasmania 65 50 52 56
University of Technology Sydney 74 81 72 76
University of the Sunshine Coast 55 55 55 55
University of Western Australia 80 80 80 80
University of Wollongong 70 70 75 72
Victoria University 50 50 50 50
Western Sydney University 75 70 76 74
Source: universityreviews.com.au, 1 June 2020. Arts = arts / humanities, Bus = business / commerce, STEM = science / engineering bachelor degrees.
WP Table Builder

The ATAR is what will get you into uni. It stands for Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank... It’s based on rank, not performance. So if you get an ATAR of 80, it means you performed better than 80 per cent of students – you’re in the top 20 per cent!

If you're concerned about not meeting the ATAR requirements, several alternative pathways available. Options such as TAFE courses, 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." Students have multiple opportunities for higher education, regardless of their ATAR scores.

For International Students

International students need to meet similar course entry requirements to Australian students. The main difference is an extra requirement to demonstrate English language skills.

  • To be admitted to an undergraduate course, a foreign student normally must have a grade point average in his or her home country that at least meets the standard set for Australian students. Universities publish these requirements by course and country on their websites.
  • Postgraduate courses generally have very similar or the same requirements for Australian and international students.

All foreign students who have not normally studied in English need to demonstrate language skills. This can be done by taking one of several recognised tests, such as IELTS. The required level of English proficiency varies according to the course being applied for.

International students are required to meet the same standards as Australian residents... If English is not your first language or was not the medium of instruction in your secondary or tertiary studies, you're required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by achieving a prescribed level in an approved English examination or test.

More university lists