An Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is a standard measure of a student’s overall achievement in relation to their peers and is produced as a percentile rank in any given year. It is calculated by each state’s relevant tertiary admissions centre (TAC).

It is important to note that it is not only the ATAR that students are assessed on to gain entry to a degree. Your child must also look at the prerequisite subjects that are required to gain entry – these will be subjects they complete during years 11 and 12. You may also notice ‘recommended study’ in course guides. This simply means that it will help your child prepare, but it is not compulsory.

Keep in mind that an ATAR is not the only way to gain entry to ACU. We accept a completed certificate IV, incomplete/complete diplomas and advanced diplomas as entry pathways into our degrees.

We also accept Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) qualifications, which will be converted to an ATAR based on the performing arts schedule.

If your child is studying, or has completed the International Baccalaureate (IB), they will be assigned a selection rank based on their completed IB diploma. This rank will be on the same scale as the ATAR and will be used – along with any other qualifications they complete while at school – to determine if they will be made an offer.

We offer a variety of pathway options and early entry schemes that are designed to help prospective students secure a place in their preferred course.

Our ACU Guarantee program offers eligible Year 12 students a place at ACU based on their Year 11 results.

We are committed to helping enthusiastic students who are devoted to their studies and want to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

We also offer an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Program where we support the academic, cultural and personal needs of the Indigenous community.

ACU also recognises those who are disadvantaged and/or require special consideration. If students have experienced or are experiencing difficult circumstances that impact their university application, they may be eligible to register via Special Access Schemes through the relevant TAC (QTAC, UAC or VTAC).

Learn more about our entry programs

One in four students at ACU pursue overseas studies during their degree. They could spend a semester at one of our 200 partner institutions around the world or complete a placement or internship overseas. We also have a campus in Rome, Italy where students can study units (often intensively) and travel afterwards.

Read more about our Rome Campus

When your child has made the decision that they would like to go to university, they need to apply through their relevant tertiary admissions centre (TAC). For each state, there is a different TAC that supports the application process and makes offers on behalf of institutions.

Australian Capital Territory: University Admissions Centre (UAC)

New South Wales: University Admissions Centre (UAC)

Queensland: Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC)

Victoria: Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) 

As mentioned above, there are certain entry pathways to ACU that require a direct application, although we encourage TAC applications to all desired courses to allow for multiple options.

Students at ACU are equipped with necessary skills and knowledge designed for the modern workforce, making them sought-after by employers. Throughout your child’s studies, they will be given opportunities to volunteer in the community and participate in professional placements (a requirement in most courses, such as nursing and law).

Depending on the course they’re studying, students will experience first-hand what it’s like to work in primary school classrooms, hospital and maternity wards, legal offices, ambulance services, physiotherapy clinics and many more. Preparing our students through internships and placements and helping them acquire experience outside of the classroom ensures they learn how to put theory into practice and become job-ready.

Learn more about work experience