You don't need a 75 ATAR to study at UWA – here’s how

14/07/2022 |

5 MINS

Whether you’re getting ready to take your exams, nervously waiting for your results or just received your final ATAR – you might be wondering ‘what if I don’t get the ATAR I wanted?’

We’re here to tell you – it’ll all be okay! There are many different pathways you can take toward your chosen course or career.

Believe it or not, you might not need an ATAR score above 75 – or even do ATAR at all – to kick-start your study and career journey with UWA.

So even if you have your sights set on a course with a 75 or 80 ATAR, don’t panic if you don’t meet that number! At UWA, we care about where you’re going in life and we’re here to be a part of your journey. Regardless of whether your path so far includes ATAR or whether you meet the typical entry requirements of a particular course, we’ll work with you to you achieve your study and career goals. There are many different entry options including ATAR adjustments (for Broadway school, regional or Indigenous students and if you’re the first in your family to go to uni) and non-ATAR pathways to choose from. We want to do everything we can to help you achieve your goals with us.

To make it easy, we’ve pulled together a quick summary of some of our pathways to UWA. But, your first step if you’re worried, is to contact our friendly Future Students team who can provide the best advice for your situation.

You could be eligible for other study options:

Start in a course with a lower ATAR

UWA has a range of courses, some with higher ATAR requirements and some with lower ATAR requirements. If your ATAR was lower than the course you were initially interested in, you could always switch to a course with a lower ATAR that still leads to your dream career.

For example, the Bachelor of Commerce has a minimum ATAR of 80 but the Bachelor of Business accepts applicants with an ATAR of 75 and above. The Bachelor of Business will give you a chance to learn practical and relevant business skills across a range of areas and you can still choose a second major from the Bachelor of Commerce.

Here are the undergraduate courses that accept a 75 ATAR and above:

Make the switch later on

Units you complete in one degree can even be transferred to another degree at a later date. So, you can get started and make the most of your uni experience while figuring out which course is right for you. If you’re still set on the original course you were hoping for, your grades at uni can help you get there.

Take the STAT to meet requirements

If you didn’t get the scores you need for entry or didn't sit ATAR at all, you can consider sitting the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) and pass to meet our requirements. The STAT is a national test designed to assess aptitude for undertaking an undergraduate degree. The STAT is comprised of two sections; STAT Multiple Choice and Written English.

AccessUWA or four units of undergraduate level studies

AccessUWA provides you with the opportunity to enrol in units without being formally admitted to a degree. Upon successful completion of four standard units, you can apply for your chosen degree based on your results in those units (rather than the results in your ATAR) and the units completed will count towards your degree.

Complete a Foundation Program

Foundation Programs are one-year courses to prepare you for university study. Completion of a TAFE Diploma, which is through a Registered Training Organisation and is accredited by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), will meet standard entry requirements into UWA’s undergraduate degrees that have an ATAR requirement of 80 or lower.

Two students sitting on a bench in the Tropical Grove

You could be eligible through other admission criteria:

Experience-based entry

Experience-based entry allows you to apply for a select number of our undergraduate bachelor's degrees using a combination of academic achievements and life experiences.

We will assess all your qualifications and life experiences using a point system, where points will be awarded for each item submitted, and the total number of points will determine your eligibility for your chosen course.

Check your eligibility

Checking your eligibility is easy! Simply use our eligibility checker and select the academic and life achievements relevant to you. Based on the items you select, you’ll be able to get an indication if you’d be eligible to kick start your career journey at UWA.

Broadway ATAR adjustments

Broadway UWA is designed to ensure access to our courses is available to the broadest range of students. We want to make sure everyone has the best chance of getting into uni and succeeding at UWA! If you studied at a Broadway-identified school in WA, you’ll automatically have your ATAR adjusted. Find out if you’re eligible and what your ATAR adjustment could be.

First in Family

If neither of your parents/guardians have completed a university-level degree, you may be eligible for a place at UWA with an ATAR of 70 through the First in Family program (even if you have siblings currently studying at uni).

Overcome challenging circumstances with Fairway

Fairway provides academic, financial and personal support for students completing Year 12 under challenging circumstances, and helps prepare students for university before they get started. If you are completing the Fairway program and got an ATAR of 70 or above, you could be eligible for one of UWA’s undergraduate degrees.

Indigenous pathways

Our School of Indigenous Studies runs a Provisional Entry Scheme offered to Indigenous students through a competitive application process.

We also offer a 12-month Aboriginal Orientation Course pathway which prepares Year 12 students for uni and provides entry to most UWA degrees.

Did you skip ATAR?

UWA Smart Start – Albany campus

If you didn’t achieve the ATAR you were hoping for, didn’t complete Year 12 ATAR, or would just like to prepare for university studies, UWA Smart Start may be the key. UWA Smart Start is a course that enables members of the Great Southern community to prepare for degree-level studies at the UWA Albany campus. The course is run collaboratively with our School of Indigenous Studies, based in Perth.

Take some time off before starting university

If you’re keen to take a break before starting university study, you can apply for mature-age entry after you turn 20 years old. Explore our entry pathways for non-school leavers.