Year 12 qualifications

Most undergraduate courses consider Year 12 qualifications. Use course search to check if Year 12 qualifications are used for entry to the courses you are interested in.

Eligibility to apply with Year 12 results

If you have completed Year 12 as described here, and you have never studied at higher education (e.g. university) level, you are eligible to apply to most courses.

If you have completed Year 12, but have also studied at higher education level your eligibility will depend on how much higher education level study you have done.

Find out more about Year 12 and higher education study

Note about SAIBT courses

For entry into courses offered by SAIBT you must have successfully completed SACE Stage 1 (Year 11) or equivalent.

Year 12 selection ranks

Selection ranks are the ranks used to determine your competitiveness relative to other applicants. If you are competing with Year 12 results your selection rank for most courses will be based on your ATAR. Your selection rank may include equity or subject adjustments, or other selection criteria.

Use course search to check ATAR profiles and selection ranks for individual courses.

South Australia and Northern Territory Year 12

Students completing the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) or the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) in 2023 must:

• Complete the SACE or NTCET
• Qualify for an ATAR
• Meet any prerequisite subject requirements for the course

Use course search to check prerequisites and assumed knowledge for individual courses.

Your selection rank is based on your ATAR but may also include equity or subject adjustments.

More information about tertiary entrance for SACE/NTCET students is in the Tertiary Entrance booklet for SACE/NTCET students.

If you completed the SACE or NTCET in the years 2011 to 2020 the requirements are the same.

SA and NT Year 12 1993 to 2010

If you completed the SACE or NTCE in the period 1993 to 2010 you must have:

• Qualified for the SACE/NTCE
• Received a university aggregate and an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) (formerly Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER))
• Fulfilled the Higher Education Selection Subject (HESS) requirements for the course
• Fulfilled any prerequisite subject requirements for the course.

Note that, for the years 1993 to 1996, the meeting of HESS requirements is determined by the possession of an appropriate ‘all courses’ or ‘some courses’ aggregate.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

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 (you will then receive an IB Admissions Score (IBAS) from SATAC, which is then converted to an equivalent ATAR, otherwise known as a Combined Rank)
• 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).

Your selection rank may also include equity or subject adjustments.

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

International Baccalaureate students must complete the IB Diploma Program and meet any prerequisite subject requirements.

Interstate Year 12

Students completing Year 12 interstate must complete an Australian Year 12 program, receive an ATAR and meet any prerequisite subject requirements.

Your selection rank is based on your ATAR and may also include equity or subject adjustments.

ATARs are comparable across all states and territories in Australia. An ATAR of 81.00 in South Australia is the same as an ATAR of 81.00 in any other state or territory.

Non-standard or overseas year 12 qualification

SATAC will assess non-standard or overseas Year 12 qualifications using the guidelines agreed to by our participating institutions. These guidelines determine your eligibility to apply and whether you have met any prerequisite subject requirements for the course.

The institution guidelines will also determine whether your results can be converted to an ATAR equivalent.

New Zealand NCEA students

New Zealand NCEA students must meet the requirements for entrance to a university in New Zealand as stipulated by the board of the NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority). You must also meet any prerequisite subject requirements for the course.

The NZQA will calculate an aggregated mark and convert this to an ATAR using a common index agreed to by the NZQA and all tertiary admission centres in Australia.