Recent School Leaver Applicants

  • If you are applying based on recent secondary education, you should have completed these studies in the past two years and not have undertaken any tertiary study after completing high school. As the entry requirements can change from year to year, please check the information that applies to the year in which you'll be commencing your university study.

    The information covers standard, direct entry to degree courses. If you do not meet these requirements, there are a range of alternative entry pathways which may help you gain entry to university study.

    The information is correct as of the date of issue, is based on information supplied by the participating universities and is subject to change without notice. The universities reserve the right to change, withdraw or amend any course or program that they offer, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or course and/or vary arrangements for such course. Enquiries regarding university admission requirements should be directed to the individual university(ies) concerned.

    WACE students

    If you are under 20 years old as of 28 February in the relevant admissions year, you are considered a standard WACE applicant. Apply for admission via TISC and refer to the Admissions Requirements brochure for University Admission 2025. Also see the Prerequisites and Specific Requirements sections of the courses you're interested in on Course Search.

    If you're in Year 10, University Admission 2027 (available in May 2024) will help you choose your senior secondary courses, so that you can meet university entry requirements. Check the undergraduate admissions information that applies to the year in which you'll be commencing your university study. Remember to choose subjects that will set you up for entry to a wide range of university courses.

    Mature Age WACE students
    If you are currently studying WACE courses as a mature age student (ie you will be 20 years or older on 1 March 2025), check the School Leaver Admission Requirements brochure for 2025, as its information and requirements will be relevant to you (with the exception of the WACE requirement from which mature age applicants are exempt).

    You may obtain a 4- or 2-course ATAR if you are a domestic student (Australian or NZ Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or holder of Humanitarian Visa). International students are only eligible for the 4-course ATAR.

    Your 4-course ATAR will be calculated in the same way as the ATAR for a standard WACE applicant. You may combine scaled scores obtained in the previous four years to form an ATAR.

    Your 2-course ATAR will be calculated using your best two scaled scores from your current year's study, multiplied by 2, and with any LOTE bonus or Mathematics bonus(es) added, to form the TEA. The TEA will be converted into an ATAR in the same way as a standard 4-course ATAR. It is not necessary for a result in English or Literature or EALD to be included in the ATAR, however you may need to rely on this course to prove English Competence.

    The higher of the 4-course school leaver ATAR or 2-course ATAR will be used for admission purposes. Note that a 2-course ATAR is not considered for Medicine at Curtin, or Assured Pathways to Medicine and Dentistry at UWA. Also note that some universities have prerequisite WACE course requirements for their courses, which you will need to satisfy for your preferred course of study. STAT may satisfy some prerequisite requirements.

    Applying for Vet Science at Murdoch
    Applicants who have left secondary school more than two years previously and have undertaken no postsecondary study and want to study Veterinary Science as an Undergraduate (recent secondary education) applicant should study four ATAR courses in the one year. Applicants applying on the basis of fewer than four ATAR courses are ineligible for the Undergraduate (recent secondary education) category and will be considered as Other Undergraduate applicants (Post-secondary studies or work/life experience). They should note that there are a limited number of places available in the Other Undergraduate (post-secondary studies or work/life experience) applicant category and that they are competing for a place along with applicants who may have completed a year or more of tertiary study.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

    Apply for admission via TISC and click here for information on university admission for IB (International Baccalaureate) students and here for the background to the Combined Rank Table TISC uses to convert IB results to a notional ATAR.

    Check also Interstate Year 12s and IB comparison for English competency requirements and prerequisites equivalencies. The universities will generally require that you be awarded your IB Diploma.
  • Admission from Non-Standard Schools

    Examples of non-standard schools include Perth Waldorf School, Montessori School, Big Picture schooling or homeschooling.

    Apply for admission via TISC, but also include with your application a statement giving full details of your upper secondary school studies. If further information is required TISC will contact you by email. WACE isn't required by any of the universities for applicants from non-standard schools.
  • Admission from Interstate Australian Schools

    If you're attending an Australian school outside Western Australia and wish to apply through TISC, check Interstate Year 12s and IB comparison for English competency requirements and prerequisites equivalencies. The universities will generally require that you achieve your state’s senior secondary certificate (for example HSC, VCE, QCE, SACE, TCE).
  • Admission from New Zealand Schools (NCEA)

    If you're taking the NCEA or Cambridge International Examinations A Levels in New Zealand and wish to apply through TISC, check the university website you are interested in applying to for English competency and prerequisites.
  • Overseas schools

    If you are at an overseas school completing an Australian Year 12 qualification, you should follow the instructions above for Admission from Interstate Australian Schools.

    If you are at an overseas school completing another qualification (eg A Levels, US High School Diploma, Gao Kao), check the university website you are interested in applying to for English competency and prerequisites.