How to apply
Applying to the University of Sydney for your preferred course is a simple process:
- Submit a UAC application through www.uac.edu.au. You should also check whether you need to fulfil additional requirements, such as organising an interview or submitting a portfolio.
- You can change your preferences via the UAC website as many times as you like until 11.59pm on 5 January 2012. Please note that the site will be increasingly busy with other visitors leading up to 5 January. To avoid missing out on changing your preferences, we recommend that you don't leave it until the last minute.
- When you receive your ATAR (or equivalent), check the entry requirements for your courses of choice, and investigate Flexible Entry.
- You will only receive one offer in the main round on 19 January 2012 – the highest ranked preference for which you are eligible. Find out how preferences work.
- If you don’t receive the offer you want, plan your next move.
The UAC process
On-time applications to UAC were due by 30 September 2011. If you didn't submit your application by that date, you will have to pay an extra fee.
The preferences you chose when you applied can be changed as many times as you like until the deadline for main round offers (11.59pm, 5 January 2012). This means you must finalise your preferences by that deadline as these choices will be used to determine your main round offer. If you’re unclear how your offer is decided, read on.
How preferences work
When UAC main round offers are released, applicants can receive up to one offer. During the selection process your course preferences are considered one at a time, starting at your first preference.
This makes planning your preferences a very important task.
If you are eligible for your first preference, you will receive an offer for that course and none of your other preferences will be considered. You need to make sure that your first preference is the course you most want to do.
If you are not eligible for your first preference, UAC will assess you for your second preference. If you receive an offer for your second preference, none of your other preferences will be considered.
UAC will continue down your list of preferences until they either find one they can offer you, or, if your application is unsuccessful, it will be considered complete. You may change your preferences to be considered in the late and final offer rounds. Find out how offers are made.
It does not matter if your second, third and fourth preferences are courses with higher or lower ATAR requirements than your first preference. If you are eligible for your first preference, it is the only offer you will receive.
Make sure you order your preferences based on the courses you most want to do. You should not order your preferences by their ATAR, the institution, or randomly as you may miss out.