How to get into uni without an ATAR

No ATAR? Uni can still be an option for you, with institutions offering a multitude of pathways to help you find a way to your dream course.

Many opportunities such as foundation programs and bridging courses exist for students with low ATAR scores or no ATAR at all. If you are a non-school leaver hoping to attend university, work experience, vocational training or vocational education can also be used to qualify for a pathway program or bachelor.

Read on as we explore some ways you can get to uni without an ATAR and provide you with tips on making the most of the opportunities available to you when you apply through UAC.

No ATAR: pathways to university

From TAFE to uni

Institutions may consider completed TAFE or private college qualifications: Certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate diploma and associate degree. Check with the university as to which level of qualification will make you competitive for admission into a bachelor degree.

You can also study a tertiary preparation course at TAFE; for example, TAFE NSW offers a Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (otherwise known as the Tertiary Preparation Certificate), which covers study skills as well as subject-specific content.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is when your previous studies and/or work experience are counted towards your degree as credit. Prior learning consists of formal and informal education as well as experience-based learning. This is a common pathway for non-school leavers (sometimes known as mature-age students).

Future students need to produce appropriate evidence of prior learning. Universities usually aim to ensure they only admit candidates with solid prospects of graduating.

Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test

If you have no formal qualifications on which to base your application to a tertiary institution, you may be eligible to be considered for entry to a course by sitting a Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Institutions will consider your results in addition to any other information available when assessing your application.

STAT is a series of tests designed to assess a range of competencies considered important for success in tertiary study. It assesses your ability to think critically and analyse the material given, rather than testing your knowledge of specific academic subjects. There are two versions of STAT: Multiple Choice and Written English.

In NSW and the ACT, STAT is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Dates, fees, locations and booking information for STAT test sittings in NSW/ACT can be found on the ACER STAT website. Also check whether an institution will accept STAT for the course you are considering, and which STAT versions you need to sit, by contacting the admissions office at the relevant institution.

University pathway programs

If you successfully complete a non-degree course, such as a certificate, diploma or associate degree course, a university may guarantee you entry into a particular degree course. Otherwise, you can use your non-degree studies to apply and compete for admission to other degree courses. You may be awarded credit for some studies undertaken in your non-degree course, but always check with the institution you are applying to.

• Foundation studies and preparation courses: Intensive bridging courses designed for students who need more support to transition into university. They help you build university-level skills in areas such as digital literacy, academic communication and critical thinking.
• Undergraduate certificate: An introductory university qualification. It’s usually made up of four subjects and takes six months to complete if you study full-time. Once you finish your certificate, you can use it to satisfy the entry criteria for a related associate degree or bachelor degree. Your certificate can also count as credit towards that degree.
• Diploma: Usually take one to two years to complete. Diplomas provide specialised skills and knowledge for a particular field, and often involve coursework of a more practical nature than an associate degree. Completion of a diploma can be used to gain credit for a bachelor degree. At some universities this can mean that you progress from the diploma to the second year of a bachelor degree.
• Associate degrees Associate degrees are two-year university programs that generally have less competitive entry requirements than a bachelor degree (although they may still have prerequisites). They aim to give you the basic technical and academic knowledge and transferable skills you need to go on to employment or further study in your chosen field. While they are a qualification in their own right, you can also use them as a pathway to a specific bachelor degree.

Low ATAR: make the most of your UAC preferences

You can select up to five course preferences in your UAC undergraduate application. Here are some tips and strategies to make the most of your selections – keeping your dream degree in focus while providing certainty with a back-up plan!

1. Put your dream course first: Even if your ATAR you was not what you were hoping for, it is best to put your dream course at the top of your UAC preference list. Lowest selection ranks change from year to year, and you also might be eligible to receive university selection rank adjustments, which are additional points that sit on top of your ATAR and increase your selection rank into particular courses at particular universities. This means you could get an offer to a course even though your ATAR is below the lowest selection rank.
2. Have a plan B: If you don’t get an offer into your chosen degree because you haven’t met the required lowest selection rank, you could start an alternative undergraduate course with a lower entry rank. Once you’ve successfully completed the first year of that degree, and have results that will improve your selection rank, you can then apply again for the degree you really want. (See how to transfer to a different degree.)
3. Include a pathway course: Include one or two pathway courses at the bottom of your list of preferences, such as diploma, undergraduate certificate or intensive program. Make sure that these courses will provide a pathway to the degree you are aiming for. You can apply a course-level filter to find pathway courses in the UAC undergraduate course search.
4. Don’t give up: It’s important to remember that many students don’t go straight into their first preference in their first year of tertiary study. So don't give up if you don't get into your dream degree straight away – keep aiming for the course or the field that you’re passionate about. There is always extra support, intensive programs and pathway courses to help you find a way to your university goal.