Progressing from high school to university is a significant milestone in one’s life journey. International students who are currently studying in Australia or planning to enroll in an Australian high school may be curious about the steps to transition from high school to an Australian university.
There are two pathways for international students to progress from high school to university in Australia. One is through Foundation Year, and the other one is through ATAR.
Continue reading to learn more about ATAR.
1. How can international high school students apply for university?
Same as local Australian students, the primary pathway for international students to apply to universities is through the university admission ranking system ATAR via TAC.
However, international students have an advantage in admissions because each university adopts a distinct admission system for them. In addition to the unified ranking system of ATAR, international students can also secure offers through the international student admission system. But you should keep in mind that for Quota Programs, admissions are determined on a case-by-case basis.
2 What is ATAR ?
How does ATAR work?
The ATAR is not a score but rather a ranking system. It ranges from 0 to 99.95, in increments of 0.05, and is divided into 2000 rank levels. At the end of each year, each state’s TAC collects the scores of all graduating students, including both internal and external exam results, within their state. They then calculate the ATAR through a complex scaling and ranking process that takes into account the difficulty level of the courses.
For example, if a student receives an ATAR of 99.00 in Queensland, it means they are among the top 1% of graduates in Queensland. Conversely, if a student receives an ATAR of 40.00, it indicates that 60% of Queensland’s graduates have higher rankings.
What is ATAR used for?
All Australian universities and each degree program have their specific ATAR requirements for admission. For example, the Bachelor of Business at Monash University requires an ATAR of 75.15 (See below figure). It’s also important to note that ATAR standards are based on the previous year’s admission situation, and it may vary accordingly.
3. How does the university admission ranking system work in Australia?
In Australia, ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) is released by TAC (Tertiary Admissions Centre), which is independently managed by each state’s education department. For instance, Queensland has QTAC, Victoria has VTAC, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) have UAC, while Western Australia and South Australia have SATAC.
The main responsibilities of TAC include:
- Calculating the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) for individual students based on scores obtained from students across the state.
- Handling student applications for tertiary education on behalf of universities and institutions.
In Australia, students have the flexibility to apply to universities in states different from where they currently study in Australia.
For example, if a student desires to study at the University of Queensland, they can submit their application through QTAC. Similarly, if they intend to apply to universities in Melbourne, such as the University of Melbourne and Monash University, they can apply through VTAC. For universities in Sydney and other regions, the application process is facilitated through UAC and SATAC.
An application fee will be incurred when you go through each TAC. However, AAS can help all grade 12 international students to waive the fee, enabling you to apply to universities in multiple states, thereby enhancing your chances of receiving more offers. Contact us now.
4. Applying to Universities Through TAC
Different TACs (Tertiary Admissions Centres) in Australia have varying rules in the university application process.
QTAC (Queensland): QTAC typically opens its applications in August. Students can apply for up to 6 preferences, and each school will make one offer to those who have applied.
VTAC (Victoria): VTAC also opens its applications in August. Students can list up to 8 preferences, but they will receive only one offer, usually released in January of the following year.
UAC (New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory): Students can list up to 5 preferences when applying through UAC. Those applying to New South Wales don’t need to worry about the order of preferences because they will receive an offer if they meet the requirements.
SATAC (South Australia & Northern Territory): Similar to the others, SATAC typically opens its applications in August. Students can apply for 6 preferences, and each school they apply to will make an offer.
5. ATAR Admission Timeline
You might be wondering when you should start preparing for university applications. The answer is: right now, even though your ATAR won’t be released until December.
The unified admission systems in each state typically open in August and close in October. Waiting until December to apply is not a good idea because most state’s TACs close their applications by October to November.
While international students can still apply individually to each school, many university admission departments also close during Christmas and New Year. As a result, applications may not be processed until mid-January. Most undergraduate programs usually start in February, which means you will have very little time to sort out your application if you delay.
The process and timeline for applying to universities through ATAR should be as follows. Swipe to see the timeline.
Preparation Stage
AAS consultants will guide and assist students in this stage by:
- Explaining the Australian high school examination system.
- Guiding students to consider and decide what major they want to study, how to study, and where to study.
- Assisting in arranging application preferences, as a good preference list can enhance students’ chances of receiving offers from their desired universities and majors.
Submit Preference Forms
You should submit preference forms to the TAC of the different states where your desired universities are located. You are able to make changes to your preferences at this stage if needed.
Receive Offers
From September to January, you will receive offers one after another, but the time may vary depending on the state or university.
ATAR Results Released
ATAR results will be released in mid-December. Students and parents can then review the offers they have received and make decisions accordingly.
Accept Offer
Finalise your decision and accept your preferred offer. Then, complete the enrolment procedures. AAS can certainly help you with this.
Start Uni and Apply for Student Visa
Most of the universities in Australia commence their academic year in February. International high school graduates can apply for a new student visa in February as the majority of high school student visas expire on 15th March. This timeframe allows students sufficient time to apply for a new student visa after enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
FREE ATAR Admission Services
AAS offers FREE ATAR admission advice and application services to international students. Contact us now for assistance.
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