Changing your preferences
Checklist for changing your preferences
Step 1
Don't waste a preference - check the entry in the UAC guide for the course you are adding to see whether there is an early closing date or additional selection criteria that might result in an early close of preference date.
Step 2
Check the change of preference closing date for each round. You can add, delete, or change the order of your preferences as many times as you like during the periods shown below:
If you receive an offer in any round you can change your preferences for the next round until the closing date for that next round.
Step 3
Visit the UAC website for detailed information about how to change your preferences.
Step 4
If you have already been made an offer, and you are changing your preferences in the hope of receiving an offer in a later round, we strongly advise that you enrol in your first offer. Accepting an offer won't affect your chances of receiving another one but if you don't, your offer will lapse and you are not guaranteed of receiving an offer in a later round.
Frequently asked questions
Now that I have my UAI can I add new courses to my preferences?
Yes. As well as shuffling the order of your preferences, you can add or delete courses. You can have up to nine preferences including any combination of courses you like.
Some courses have closing dates earlier than UAC closing dates. Don't waste a preference: check table 1 and part 2 of your 2008 UAC Guide before adding any NEW courses to determine whether any course you intend to add specifies an early closing date or has additional requirements such as questionnaires, interviews or tests.
Does the order of my preferences matter?
Yes. It is important you place your preferences in the order in which you would most like to receive an offer. Enter the course you would most like to do first, then the course you would next prefer to do second, and so on.
This is because during the selection process your preferences are considered one at a time in the order in which you have them listed on your application.
If you are not selected for your first preference you will be considered equally with all other eligible applicants for your second preference and so on.
If you have both a Commonwealth supported and a domestic fee-paying preference it is possible to receive two offers in the Main Round - one to your highest eligible Commonwealth supported preference and one to your highest eligible domestic fee-paying preference.
What if I don’t receive a Main Round offer?
You will automatically be considered for all your preferences again in the Late Round of offers, providing those courses still have vacancies. Call the University of Sydney Helpline for advice 1300 362 006.
What if I receive an offer but change my mind about what I would like to study?
If you wish to be considered for other courses in the Late Round, we would advise you to accept your Main Round offer and also lodge a change of preference for the Late Round. You do not jeopardise your chances of receiving a Late Round offer by accepting your Main Round offer but you could risk missing out on an offer altogether if you don't accept your Main Round offer.
You can add courses or shuffle the order of your preferences for the Late Round via the UAC InfoLine until midnight on Tuesday 22 January 2008. You do not need to change your preferences if you want to be considered for preferences higher than your offer, e.g. if you receive a Main Round offer for your 3rd preference, you will automatically be considered for your 1st and 2nd preferences again in the Late Round if those courses still have vacancies.
Do not assume you will receive a Late Round offer. Not all universities make Late Round offers to all courses – it depends on whether there are vacancies after the Main Round. The cut-off for a course in the Late Round could be less than, greater than, or the same as the cut-off in the Main Round.
How do I change my preferences?
You can change your preferences free of charge through the UAC website
How much time do I have to decide on my new preferences?
You may add, delete or change the order of your preferences as many times as you like up until UAC's change of preference closing dates. These dates are listed above.
Can someone change preferences on my behalf?
Yes, but you must provide UAC with written authority for someone to act on your behalf.
If you didn't send UAC a Supplementary Form A giving authority for someone to act on your behalf, you must provide UAC with a letter of authority signed by yourself, which names the person who has the authority to change your preferences and shows his/her signature.
