How to get early entry into university in Australia

I wrote an article about different ways to get into uni without an ATAR and I’ve been asked by so many people how to get early entry into university in Australia other than NSW. I covered NSW in the original article because that’s where we live and my son had already done the research.

But, time to get off my lazy horse and cover early entry into university in Australia for other states. It’s definitely a game-changer for so many kids who are freaked out about the pressure of final exams. Early entry basically means you’re in based on factors other than those last, stressful exams. Things like your year 11 and early year 12 grades; reviews from your teachers and principal; your engagement in extra-curricular activities like your job, sport or music; volunteering commitments you’ve taken on; and your responses to questions asked during the early entry admissions process.

Early entry essentially means that you know before you finish year 12 whether you’ve got a place in your chosen degree or not. It’s not offered for every course, but it is for many.

This isn’t a get out of jail free card. You’ll still need to finish school and you’ll want to do your best in your final exams. After all, why not do the best you can seeing as you need to be there anyway?

So, let’s go state to state and find out what you need to do to get early entry into university around Australia.

Early entry into university in NSW

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Australian Catholic University	ACU Guarantee	– Open to year 12 students who completed year 11 in Australia – Based on year 11 results – You can write up to personal statements to increase your chances of an offer	Opens 1 June 2022 – check website
Charles Sturt University	Charles Sturt Advantage	– Open to year 12 students  – Based on year 11 results and demonstrated ‘soft skills’ like resilience, communication, empathy and motivation.	Open now until 24 June 2022 (second round) or 31 August (3rd round) – check website
Griffith University	Year 12 Early Offer Guarantee	– Open to year 12 students in QLD and northern NSW – There’s specific criteria to meet depending on where you are doing year 12, so check their website	Open now – check website
Macquarie University	Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme	– Open to year 12 students completing the HSC or IB – Based on year 11 academic performance – You need to show three examples of your involvement in leadership, sport or casual work activities	Opens 1 June 2022 – check website
Macquarie University	Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)	– Open to year 12 students completing the HSC or IB – Based on your year 11 academic performance and your school’s view of you as a student	Opened 12 April 2022 via UAC
University of NSW	Gateway Admission Path	– Open to year 12 students doing their HSC – Based on a written personal statement, year 11 results and your school’s rating of your aptitudes and performance in relevant areas of study – Administered through the UAC Schools Recommendation Scheme	Open now until 19 September 2022 via UAC
University of Newcastle	Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)	– Based on your year 11 academic performance and school recommendation – SRS offers for all undergraduate degrees (excluding B Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine and B Midwifery) – An application must be submitted via UAC and if successful, does not consider your HSC marks	Open now until 19 September 2022 via UAC
University of Sydney	Early Offer Year 12 (E12) Scheme	– Assessed by UAC through their Educational Access Scheme – The conditional early offer comes with an additional scholarship of $5950 – Students must be experiencing financial hardship, residing in an area of socio-economic disadvantage and/or attend a rural or regional school to be eligible	Open now until 19 September 2022 via UAC
University of Wollongong	UoW Early Admission	– Open to Australian students completing year 12 If you can meet these four criteria, you’re in with a chance: academic readiness, motivation and passion, communication and collaboration and, planning and persistence – You’ll also be assessed on your marks so far, relevant to the degree you want to study	Open 18 July – 12 August 2022 – check website
Western Sydney University	HSC True Reward Early Offer Program	– Conditional early offer based on year 11 and 12 results plus achieving a minimum band in your HSC for subjects specific to your degree – Based on your HSC results, not the scaled ATAR	Open now – check website

UAC Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)

As noted in the table above, many NSW universities run their early entry through UAC via the SRS. Note that ‘many’ is not all universities – many run their own early entry program directly and UAC is not involved. One of the key things to note about SRS is that the offer of early entry happens much later than through other early entry pathways. You probably won’t know you’ve been accepted until after you’ve sat your final exams. That said, your ATAR won’t be counted towards your acceptance.

Here’s a list of the unis you can apply for early entry for via SRS: 

− Australian Catholic University
− Charles Sturt University
− International College of Management, Sydney
− Macquarie University
− National Art School
− SAE Creative Media Institute
− Torrens University Australia
− University of Canberra
− University of New England
− University of Newcastle
− University of Notre Dame Australia
− University of Sydney
− University of Technology Sydney
− UNSW Sydney
− Western Sydney University 

Key dates for the 2022 SRS:

19 Sep Applications close
3 Nov Finalise preferences
11 Nov First conditional and unconditional (not based on ATAR)
offers released

Remember, whether you apply through SRS or direct, always check with your chosen universities to ensure you have the most up-to-date information. 

Early entry into university in VIC

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Deakin University	Special Entry Access Scheme	– Deakin doesn’t really offer early entry, however the Monash Guarantee program aims to help disadvantaged student gain access, even if they don’t meet ATAR requirements.  – It’s available for students who are from an under-represented or regional school; students with a disability or medical consideration; those experiencing financial hardship; students with a difficult life or family conditions; and to Indigenous Australian students.	Check with the university.
Federation University	Early Offer Program	– Open to year 12 students or those who finished school in 2021 or 2020. – Based on year 11 results – You can write up to personal statements to increase your chances of an offer	Open now until December – check website
La Trobe University	Aspire	– both an early entry and scholarship program  – open to year 12 students who are sitting their VCE and are current community volunteers  – you need to show examples of your community or leadership work	Open now until 16 September – check website.
Monash University	The Monash Guarantee Special Entry Access Scheme	– Monash doesn’t really offer early entry, however the Monash Guarantee program aims to help disadvantaged student gain access, even if they don’t meet ATAR requirements.  – It’s available for students who are financially disadvantaged; or are Indigenous Australian; live in a low socio-economic area; or attended a Monash-listed under-represented high school.	Check with the university.
RMIT	Early Offer Program	– Open to Australian year 12 students  – Based on an early offer ATAR which is lower than the general ATAR  – Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, creative thinking and critical thinking skills	Open May 2022 – check website.
Swinburne	Early Entry Program	– You will need a recommendation from a representative of your school.  – Also based on your responses to key questions in the application.	Open now – check website
University of Melbourne	Access Melbourne	– The Uni of Melbourne doesn’t really offer ‘early entry’. The Access Melbourne scheme is more for helping disadvantaged students gain entry after receiving their ATAR.  – Current Year 12 applicants who are eligible for at least one of these four Access Melbourne categories: disadvantaged financial background; resident of a rural or isolated area;  difficult circumstances; disability or medical condition.  – There is still a minimum ATAR requirement (check website) and the University of Melbourne does not adjust ATARs but does allocate bonus points (see above).	Check with the university.
Victoria University	VU Guaranteed	– Note, this is not an acceptance into a specific course, only general acceptance into the university.  – You’ll still need to meet ATAR requirements, but VU Guaranteed may give you bonus ATAR points to help you reach your goal.  – be a current Year 11 or 12 student at school in Victoria and complete Year 12  – add a VU course to your VTAC preference list or apply direct to VU Polytechnic courses for apply-direct courses.	Open now – check website.

Early entry into university in ACT

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Australian National University	Direct Application Admissions	– Open to Australian year 12 students who receive an ATAR – Based on year 11 or year 12 depending on which round you apply for	Open now until 23 May – check website.
University of Canberra	August Early Offer Round	– Open to ACT and NSW year 12 students intending to go to university. – Based on year 11 results and must achieve an overall 60% grade.	Open 2 May until 24 July.

Early entry into university in SA

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Flinders University	Year 11 Grades Admission Pathway	– At this stage, it’s unclear whether Flinders is still offering this Covid-introduced program in 2023 – check with the university.  – Open to SA and NT year 12 students as well as students from border towns in Victoria and NSW  – Application is via SATAC	Check with the university.
Torrens University Australia	Early Entry Program	– Open to SA, QLD and NSW year 12 students intending to go to university.  – All you have to do is complete the online application.	Open now – check website.
University of Adelaide	Year 11 Entry Pathway	– At this stage, it’s unclear whether UA is still offering this Covid-introduced program in 2023 – check with the university.  – Open to SA and NT year 12 students as well as students from border towns in Victoria and NSW  – Application is via SATAC	Check with the university.
University of South Australia	Year 12 entry	– Not quite ‘early entry’ but a pathway that doesn’t put all the pressure on achieving a set ATAR.  – Put UniSA as your first preference  – based on your three best Year 12 subject grades (achieving As or Bs), plus complete SACE Stage 2 and achieve a minimum ATAR of 50	Put UniSA as your first preference.

Early entry into university in WA

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Curtin University	Curtin Early Offers	– Meet the admission criteria for your preferred course.  – Apply via TISC by uploading your latest school report  – Eligibility is based on your year 11 WACE results  – Your early offer is received within 5-7 business days.	Open now via TISC.
Edith Cowan Australia	Early Offer Program	– Know your predicted ATAR  –  Based on latest school results available when you apply – ie. year 11 or 12  – Have applied for your course via TISC with ECU as your first preference.	Open now via TISC.
Murdoch University	Year 12 Early Offer Program	– Based on your year 11 or mid-year year 12 ATAR subject results  – You will also need to meet Murdoch Uni’s English requirements  – Apply direct with the university or via TISC	Open now until 9 December 2022.
University of Notre Dame Australia	Young Achievers Early Offer Program	– Any Australian year 12 school-leavers completing the ATAR pathway  – Based on year 11 or mid-year year 12 reports and grades  – Supporting documents like school or community recommendations and any awards, certificates and your CV  – Application form asks questions like ‘Tell us how you contribute, and how frequently, to community life’	Open now until 30 September 2022.
University of Western Australia	Predicted ATAR entry	– based on your final Year 11 or mid Year 12 results with a minimum predicted ATAR of 80 (calculated by UWA)  – complete Year 12 with an ATAR, or gain entry via the STAT pathway if not sitting the ATAR	Open now – check website.

Early entry into university in QLD

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Bond University	Year 12 Early Guaranteed Offer Scheme	– Meet the admission criteria for your preferred course.  – Apply via TISC by uploading your latest school report  – Eligibility is based on your year 11 WACE results  – Your early offer is received within 5-7 business days.	Apply as soon as you receive your year 12 semester 1 report.
CQUniversity	Principal’s Recommendation Scheme	– Open to all current year 12 students in any state  – Based on the recommendation of your high school principal, rather than ATAR  – Unconditional offer received within 48 hours of applying  – Apply direct to university for your chosen course and upload your recommendation letter	Open now until 1 December 2022 – check website
Griffin University	Year 12 Early Offer Guarantee	– Open to current year 12 students in QLD and northern NSW who meet eligibility criteria (check website)  – A range of degrees are eligible under the scheme  –  Apply via QTAC with your course as your first preference  – Note: early offer not received until after the QCE/HSC/IB exams	Open 2 August until mid-November (date TBA – check website)
James Cook University	Early Offer Program	– Open to current Australian year 12 students who complete their QCE or equivalent  – complete a Nomination Form and recommendation via your school  – Offer received within 48 hours of application  – You will still need to lodge a QTAC Application after applications open on 2 August 2022.	Open 16 May until 14 October 2022.
Queensland University of Technology	Year 12 Early Offer Scheme	– open to Queensland year 12 students  – subject to achieving minimum mark criteria in your eligible subjects	Open 3 August – 24 October via QTAC
University of Queensland	No program
University of Southern Queensland	USQ Early Offer	– Open to year 12 students who select USQ as their first preference on their QTAC application  – Based on either completion of a USQ Head Start Course or on your principal’s recommendation  – Apply via QTAC with your course as your first preference then submit the principal’s recommendation letter and application plus your year 11 report to  earlyoffer@usq.edu.au  – emailed outcomes received from 12 August 2022	Open now until 10 October 2022.
University of the Sunshine Coast	Early Offer Guarantee	– Open to year 12 students who select USC as their first preference on their QTAC application  – based on your school principal’s recommendation and is independent of your Year 12 results  – academic performance plus motivation, talents, passions and abilities as noted by your principal  – as long as you meet the program-specific requirements, you’re guaranteed early entry	Open 2 August until 14 October 2022.

Early entry into university in TAS

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
University of Tasmania	Schools Recommendation Program	– Open to Australian year 12 students  –  Based on school recommendation and year 11 results	Open 30 June until 1 August for round 1 offers. Open until 7 October for other offers.

Early entry into university in NT

University	Early Entry Scheme	About	Application
Charles Darwin University	No program

Feature image by Buro Millennial