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You may have heard of UWA’s Experience-based entry pathway – or maybe this is the first time you’re learning about it. Either way, if you’re wondering whether you can study at UWA without an ATAR… you’re in the right place!

We sat down with Shu Hui and Nica from our Future Students team to answer five of the most common questions we get asked about our new(ish) pathway. And if you’re unsure whether you can apply because you didn’t get the ATAR you were hoping for – or didn’t study ATAR at all – we’ve got you covered!

Watch the video to learn more:

What is Experience-based entry?

While ATAR is one way to measure academic potential, it’s not the only one. Experience-based entry allows us to look beyond your school results and consider your life experiences. This means we look at things like work experience, volunteering, TAFE qualifications, sporting or music achievements. So, if you’ve built skills and knowledge outside the classroom, you can use them as part of your application.

Is Experience-based entry the same as portfolio entry?

You may have heard terms like ‘non-ATAR’, ‘alternative entry’ or even ‘Portfolio entry’. While they are similar, UWA’s Experience-based entry pathway goes beyond just a portfolio. Along with extracurricular activities and projects, we also consider work experience and high school study – so if you’ve completed Certificates, through VET or TAFE, or general subjects in school, these can count towards your application!

If I apply with my ATAR and don’t get the score I need, will I be considered for Experience-based entry?

You’ll be happy to know that the answer is yes. If you’re in Year 12 and applying through TISC, there are two main offer rounds after ATAR results are released. If your ATAR isn’t quite high enough for your chosen course, you’ll automatically be considered for Experience-based entry. If you want to be prepped and ready to go make sure that you upload supporting documents to TISC. If we need more, we’ll request further supporting documents. If you’re not applying through TISC, you’ll need to apply directly to UWA. From there, we’ll assess your application under Experience-based entry.

I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get into UWA with my old transcripts as I didn't complete ATAR but I was able to use my Certificates in Tourism, Business and prior work experience as a Dental Assistant which helped me with my application.

Mikko, UWA Bachelor of Science Student.

What life experiences can I include in my application?

If you’ve applied through TISC, we already have your schooling details, including ATAR and general subjects. Beyond that, we also consider:

• Sporting achievements at a state or national level
• Music exams
• Volunteering experience
• Work experience

Want to check your eligibility? Our eligibility checker lets you select the experiences relevant to you and tells you which documents you’ll need to provide.

Taking all these experiences into account, Experience-based entry was a perfect fit for me and my circumstances. The range of different experiences gave me a well-rounded application that led me to being successful in receiving my UWA acceptance.

Libby, UWA Bachelor of Commerce student.

Can I study any UWA course through Experience-based entry?

There’s a wide variety of undergraduate bachelor’s degrees that you can study when you apply through Experience-based entry:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Education (Primary) (Honours)
• Bachelor of Environmental Design
• Bachelor of Media and Communication 
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability
• Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

There are plenty of majors to choose from under these bachelor’s degrees – from anthropology to zoology and over 100 different majors in between. If your preferred course isn’t available through Experience-based entry, you may be able to transfer into it once you meet the transfer requirements after your first year.

Can I get an Early Offer with Experience-based entry?

Yes, you can! Even if you’re not studying enough ATAR subjects for university entry (or not taking ATAR at all), you can still apply to UWA through Experience-based entry. As long as you meet the English Language requirements and upload your supporting documents to TISC or the UWA Apply portal, you’re on your way to securing an early offer. Just be sure to upload all supporting documents to TISC or your UWA Apply application.

We’re here to help

We have more information and additional FAQs on our Experience-based entry page and in our FAQ article. If you’re still not sure what to do next, give our friendly team a call on 131 UWA (131 892), submit a question through AskUWA, or book an appointment.