Glossary

Commonly used terms related to Admissions. 

ATAR - Your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a score between 0.00 and 99.95. It shows you how you rank compared to all the students in your year group in Australia – so, for example if your ATAR is 80.00, that means you’re in the top 20 per cent.  You can find out more information about the ATAR at uac.edu.au. 

Selection rank - A selection rank is the combination of your ATAR and any other adjustment factors that make up your overall university entrance score. Most universities will consider your application based on your selection rank rather than on your ATAR alone. Your selection rank may differ from university to university, and even from course to course within a university, depending on the adjustment points granted to you for each course you apply for.

Adjustment factors - Adjustment factors (previously known as bonus points) are considerations beyond your ATAR that contribute to your overall selection rank. For example, you could receive adjustment points if you’re from a regional or remote area, if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or if you’ve experience socioeconomic disadvantage – any points you receive will be added to your ATAR, increasing your overall selection rank.  

Here’s how it works: if you’re a year 12 student with an ATAR of 70 and you’re eligible for 10 adjustment points through an equity admissions scheme, your application would be assessed based on an overall selection rank of 80.  

At UTS, adjustment points can be gained through the following adjustment factor schemes: Year 12 Subject Scheme, inpUTS or the Elite Athlete and Performers Scheme.  Further information is available at the Admission Schemes page. 

Current school leaver* – applicants who completed Year 12 in the year prior to intake (e.g. if you are applying to start at UTS in 2021, a current school leaver is anyone completing Year 12 in 2020)

Non-current school leaver* – any other applicant who is not completing Year 12 in the year prior to intake

Recent school leaver* – applicants who completed Year 12 in the two years prior to intake and have done no further study since within higher education (e.g. current school leavers and anyone who took a gap year)

Non-recent school leaver* – any other applicant not considered a recent school leaver (e.g. an applicant who has completed some study after finishing Year 12 or completed Year 12 three (3) or more years prior to intake)

*An important note –  The above school leaver terms are relevant in the context of admissions schemes and selection rank requirements. Some schemes may only be eligible to current school leavers or non-current school leavers or other specific groups of applicants.