ATAR explained

If your ATAR is equal or higher than your chosen degree’s entry requirements, and you meet any other entry requirements of the degree, you are in a great position to receive an offer from UniSQ. 

Don’t forget, UniSQ’s Academic Excellence Scholarships are automatically awarded to eligible Year 12 Students who put UniSQ as #1 on their QTAC application for 2024 and achieve the required ATAR.

If you want to change your preferences after receiving your ATAR score, you have three days to do so in QTAC.

That’s okay! The UniSQ team can help you get into your desired degree, no matter what your ATAR. There are several options available:

1. Our free Pathway Programs can help you get into your chosen degree. They can be short as one semester and can guarantee you entry into most UniSQ degrees.
2. Include the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies in your QTAC preferences. You can start your studies and may be able to transfer into another degree after you’ve successfully completed your first semester.

Remember you can go over all your options with our Degree Advisors. 

No worries. There are plenty of other ways to get into uni and we are here to help make it happen.

UniSQ’s Pathway Programs can be completed in as little as one semester and can guarantee you entry into most UniSQ degrees. You'll learn how to succeed at university, and the confidence to follow your dream career.

If you have a TAFE (VET) qualification, you may be able to use this to gain entry into UniSQ and receive recognition of prior learning. 

Chat with our Degree Advisors to chat about your study options.

ATAR (Australian tertiary admission rank) is the primary criteria to assess and compare the results of high school students for entry into and undergraduate university degree.

ATARs are expressed as a number on a scale from 99.95 (highest) to 0.00 (lowest) in 0.05 increments with ATARs below 30.00 are reported as “30.00 or less”. The amount of students in each increment is determined by the Year 12 population in Queensland.

An ATAR of 75.00 does not mean you received a score of 75%, it indicates you were placed in the top 25% of Queensland in your Year 12 cohort.

The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) calculates ATARs for Queensland school leavers.

The ATAR is calculated using a student’s best 5 General subject results or:

• best results across 4 General subjects plus an Applied subject
• best results across 4 General subjects plus a VET qualification at a Certificate lll level or above.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) then provide QTAC with student subject results and completed VET qualifications to complete the ATAR calculation.

Further information on Queensland ATAR is available.

QCE and ATAR are different and have different purposes.

The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) will remain as Queensland’s senior secondary school qualification. 
ATAR tells us the students ranking compared to other students in the state. The only intended purpose of ATAR is to assist universities with selecting applicants. 

QCE is awarded and released by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) whereas the ATAR is calculated and released by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

General subjects will replace authority subjects in the new ATAR system.

Some UniSQ degrees only require assumed knowledge, however some have English as an entry requirements and some degrees may require Mathematics and/or Science. There are many general subjects you can choose from to meet pre-requisites for English, Mathematics and Science.

To meet the pre-requisites you must have a minimum grade C in Units 3 & 4. It is important to check what pre-requisites are required for the program you want to study when you make your year 10 subject selection.

Further information on UniSQ entry requirements is available.

Some programs may include additional entry requirements that must be met before an applicant can gain entry to a program.

If you do not receive an ATAR or achieve the result you were hoping for, don't worry UniSQ has pathway options for you. UniSQ will continue to accept certificate III or higher as a pathway option.