UTS’s new Pathways Plan set to open the door to university for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Sonal Singh, Executive Manager, Student Access and Equity at UTS, and Omar Moussa, Business student who came to UTS through an alternate pathway.
Education is a fundamental human right. However, circumstances beyond individual control often determine how accessible university is. This could include socioeconomic background, location, or disability – to name a few.
Relying on ATAR as the sole measurement of potential means that too many capable students are falling through the cracks and missing out on the benefit from the opportunities that university offers – and Australia is missing out on their contribution to our nation’s success and stability.
To address this, UTS launched a new Pathways Plan in February 2025. It offers multiple entry routes into higher education for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Equity and excellence are not competing forces – they are 2 sides of the same coin. Our job is to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive.
Universities have a responsibility to ensure they are accessible to all. We are not just institutions of learning – we have to ensure that we have a service focus, and we must design our systems to truly serve our students and communities. This means breaking down barriers, challenging outdated structures, and creating real opportunities for those who have been historically excluded.
– Professor Andrew Parfitt, UTS Vice-Chancellor and President
Under the Pathways Plan, UTS aims to offer more flexible and equitable opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. This includes:
- Scaling up existing non-ATAR entry pathways, such as the UTS U@Uni Academy.
- Guaranteed places and packaged support for First Nations students, including scholarships and subsidised accommodation.
- Expanding the Schools Recommendation Scheme, including changing the ATAR threshold from 69 to 60 for that program.
- Integrating equity targets into institutional processes and strategic planning.
- Developing discipline-specific outreach and marketing campaigns.
- Securing external funding and philanthropic support to enhance equity initiatives.
These measures are designed to not only widen access but to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed. Because access without support is not real equity.
UTS Pathways Plan launch.
The Plan prioritises First Nations and low socio-economic status (SES) students in line with UTS’s commitment to social justice and inclusion.
While these groups are the initial focus, we remain dedicated to supporting a wide range of equity groups including:
- students from humanitarian backgrounds (refugees and asylum seekers)
- students with disabilities
- students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- women in non-traditional areas of study
- students from regional and remote areas.
Executive Manager, Student Access and Equity, Sonal Singh says that improving pathways for cohorts of students from a range of educational and social backgrounds is a complex challenge requiring multiple, coordinated solutions.
Access is often the most difficult and overlooked pillar in the student journey and addressing this requires innovation and a commitment to creating sustainable, inclusive pathways.
With the right systems and support in place, students can achieve whatever they set their mind to.
At UTS, setting students up for success is a priority, achieved through initiatives like the Student Experience Framework, Financial Inclusion Action Plan and student success programs. These efforts create a supportive, inclusive environment, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the resources and opportunities to thrive both academically and personally.
The Financial Inclusion Plan addresses financial barriers, offering scholarships and counseling to help students focus on their studies without financial stress. Student success programs provide targeted support, such as mentoring and academic coaching, to ensure that access to education translates into meaningful success. UTS believes that access without success isn’t equity and is committed to empowering all students to reach their full potential.
Vice-Chancellor Andrew Parfitt says that equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive.
‘If we take that stance, then we have an obligation to see that we define what merit means around entry, and that doesn't just mean that whoever comes out at the top of a narrowly defined pool gets the first seat.
‘UTS still has a long way to go. We’re not perfect. We are still learning, still growing, and still pushing to do better.
The future of university admissions must be one where talent is recognised in all its forms, potential is nurtured, and systemic barriers are dismantled rather than reinforced so that we can ensure student success. The UTS Pathways Plan is a step toward that future, but it is not the final step.