Admission criteria and entry schemes

Australian Year 12 students

If you are a 2024 or 2025 Year 12 student, admission will be based on a selection rank comprised of your ATAR (or equivalent) and any applicable adjustment factors.

Your Year 12 results do not expire; however, if you have gone on to tertiary education, we will also consider your results from these studies.

Selection rank adjustments

At Notre Dame we value the whole person and offer a range of adjustment factors which are applied to an applicant’s ATAR to provide a selection rank for admission.

Refer to our webpage for further details and our range of adjustment factors: notredame.edu.au/study/how-to-apply/adjustment-factors. Adjustment factors may include:

Individual factor adjustments

At Notre Dame, we consider the whole person and recognise non-academic achievements such as personal qualities, work and life experience and contribution to community life.

Equity adjustments

Notre Dame has an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) for students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage due to circumstances beyond their control. EAS applications are processed centrally through UAC.

Location-based adjustments

This applied to current and recent school leavers who live or attend school in designated areas as follows:

• If the area you live in or the school you attend is classified as being of socio-economic or socio-educational disadvantage, you will qualify for adjustment factors
• If you attended a school in an area which is classified as rural or regional, you will qualify for adjustment factors

Subject performance

Current and recent school leavers who achieve outstanding results in school subjects which are relevant to their chosen program at Notre Dame will receive adjustment factor points, depending on the level of results achieved.

Elite athletes and artistic performers

Athletes who compete at – and performers who have had success at – a state, national or international level may be eligible for adjustment factor points.

University priority groups

Notre Dame recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, along with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, as priority groups who may be eligible for adjustment factor points as part of their application.

Other admission options/entry pathways

Young Achiever’s Early Offer Program

Notre Dame’s Young Achiever’s Early Offer Program gives year 12 students the opportunity to secure a place at university prior to sitting their final exams. Applications open 1 May and close 1 December 2025. Visit the Notre Dame website for more information or call the University on 1800 878 916.

Pathway programs

The University of Notre Dame offers a Tertiary Pathway Program designed for students who have not met the requirements to gain entry to undergraduate degree programs.

You can also begin your pathway to university while completing Year 12 with UniPath. The 12-week UniPath Program will help you develop the skills and knowledge that will enable a smooth transition into your first year of study.

After successfully completing a pathway program, students may be eligible for admission to a bachelor degree program. For some programs, direct entry is not possible through pathway programs. Visit the Notre Dame website for more information.

Notre Dame accepts overseas qualifications and will determine equivalency to our standard admission requirements. There are also commonly accepted overseas secondary qualifications that Notre Dame may take into consideration. If you apply on the basis of overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications, you may be required to sit an English language proficiency test.

Notre Dame English language proficiency requirements

Notre Dame is committed to providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students support to succeed in their university studies and beyond.

Commencing students have the opportunity to participate in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentoring Program. In your first semester, your Aboriginal peer mentor will help you to navigate university, answer any questions that you have and be a friendly face around campus.

As a Notre Dame student, you will have access to the Indigenous Student Success Program, a government-funded program which enables us to offer tutorial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in need of additional support. You can also gain practical work experience through industry internships with our partner, CareerTrackers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student support

Admission to postgraduate programs requires the completion of a recognised bachelor degree. Admission is considered on the basis of academic merit and any other criteria specified by the university, such as work experience, supplementary forms or interviews. Details of admission qualifications and any additional requirements are listed in the individual course descriptions, which are accessible via the UAC course search.

Overseas qualifications and English language proficiency

If you’ve undertaken studies overseas, you may be asked to provide evidence of English language proficiency.