Special entry schemes
The University offers a variety of special entry schemes to assist applicants whose results in their entry qualifications may not be quite good enough to qualify them for admission into the course of their choice.
Some of these schemes are designed to assist applicants whose results have been affected by disadvantage, while others are aimed at certain groups of applicants such as elite athletes, country students, or applicants who were unable to start university study directly after high school and are now mature-age.
In most cases, these schemes are only available to applicants from a particular academic background, such as current Year 12 students, and the scheme may only allow entry into certain courses. Not every scheme will be available to every applicant or for every course.
Please note that all applicants seeking consideration under these schemes are required to present an approved academic qualification to be considered (such as the NSW HSC) with a result which is close to the standard normally required to qualify for a place. Admission is never granted solely on the basis of an applicant's special circumstances, or if the applicant’s results are significantly below the course entry standard..
All applicants are required to apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) to be considered for entry but in some cases, applicants are also required to make an additional application to be considered under a special entry scheme.
The various special admission and other concessional entry schemes are normally only available to domestic applicants. This includes citizens of Australia, permanent residents of Australia and citizens of New Zealand. Applicants cannot benefit from being approved under more than one scheme.
Special admission schemes and equity programs
The following schemes are offered by the University in an effort to assist applicants who have suffered disadvantage during the course of their studies, or to improve accessibility to university courses for certain groups for equity reasons.
- Broadway Scheme for disadvantaged Year 12 applicants
- Cadigal Scheme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
- Special Consideration for Admission Scheme for admission for applicants with a record of tertiary study
- Mature-age Entry Scheme for older applicants who do not have a competitive Year 12 result and have not attempted tertiary study.
Concessional entry schemes
The University offers a number of concessional entry schemes which can assist certain types of applicants to gain admission. These schemes are designed to target particular groups of applicants to encourage them to apply, rather than to address disadvantage.
- Flexible Entry Scheme for Year 12 students whose ATARs fall just below course cut-offs (only available for certain courses)
- Elite Athletes & Performers Scheme for applicants whose results have been by affected by training commitments
- Rural Entry schemes for applicants who are seeking entry into the Bachelor of Pharmacy, the Bachelor of Veterinary Science, or courses offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences
Further information
You are welcome to contact the Admissions Office for further information.
Admissions Office
Level 3, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Phone: + 61 2 8627 8210 / 8209 (General inquiries, including those about overseas qualifications)
Phone: + 61 2 8627 8207 (Special admission)
Fax: +61 2 8627 8278
E-mail: (General inquiries)
Email: (Special admission)