If you want to study an undergraduate course you will need to meet the rules for selection.

Students completing the SACE or NTCET will typically use their Year 12 results to meet eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for selection into an undergraduate course in 2021 you must:

  • complete the SACE or NTCET
  • qualify for an ATAR
  • meet any prerequisite subject requirements for the course

For competitive courses, SATAC will also rank your Year 12 results to decide the merit order for offers.

Your selection rank will either be your ATAR, or an adjusted selection rank based on your university aggregate plus any adjustment factors you’re eligible for.

Prerequisites

Some undergraduate courses have prerequisite subject requirements. They affect your eligibility for an offer to a course.

Check if the course you’re interested in has prerequisites before choosing your Stage 1 and 2 subjects.

Prerequisites are Stage 2 subjects that you will need to study as part of your SACE or NTCET. To meet the prerequisite you will need to achieve a grade of C- or better in the subject.

Prerequisites measure individual competency, rather than overall performance. That’s why we use your subject grade, rather than scaled scores, to meet prerequisites.

Prerequisite subjects do not have to contribute to your university aggregate. We use them to determine eligibility, not rank.

Assumed knowledge

Assumed knowledge is background knowledge which will help your understanding of course content.

It is usually expressed as a Stage 1 or Stage 2 subject, or other skills or learning.

Assumed knowledge doesn’t affect your eligibility, so it’s not compulsory. It is not used in the selection process for entry to undergraduate courses.

If you are enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in a school in Australia, you must qualify for the IB Diploma to be eligible for selection into an undergraduate course.

In addition to successfully completing your IB Diploma you must:

  • obtain a minimum IB score of 24 points (your IB score is then converted to an equivalent ATAR)
  • fulfil any prerequisite subject requirements for the course

In order to fulfil a prerequisite subject requirement, you must obtain a minimum grade of 3 if the subject has been taken at higher level (HL), or a minimum grade of 4 if the subject has been taken at standard level (SL).

Information about tertiary entry for IB students is available in the International Baccalaureate booklet.

If you are studying Year 12 interstate you must complete your Australian Year 12 program, receive an ATAR and meet any prerequisite subject requirements.

The grades required for interstate students to meet prerequisite subject requirements are in the table below.

State Grade
Australian Capital Territory (HSC) Scaled score of 125 or better
New South Wales (HSC) Performance Band 2
Queensland (QCE) S (Satisfactory) or better
Tasmania (TCE) SA (Satisfactory Achievement)
Victoria (VCE) Study Score of 25 or better
Western Australia (WACE) Scaled score of 50 or better