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Mathematics course prerequisites

All you need to know about our mathematics prerequisites
We have mathematics prerequisites for some courses to help you thrive in your degree and prepare you for future career challenges.

From 2025, we’re making changes to mathematics prerequisites for undergraduate students commencing in Semester 1, 2025. Find out more about mathematics prerequisites in 2025.

Year 12, high school or secondary school applicants

The mathematics course prerequisites will apply to you (as a domestic or international student) if you are applying:

  • with an Australian state or territory secondary education (Year 12 or high school) qualification, such as the NSW HSC, undertaken in or outside Australia
  • with the IB Diploma or GCE A Levels, undertaken in Australia.

If you apply through the Gadigal Program and do not achieve a Band 4 in Mathematics Advanced (or equivalent), you may be admitted if you complete an approved mathematics prerequisite course in your first year of study (or in a subsequent attempt if required).

Other applicants

The mathematics course prerequisites will apply to you if you are applying:

  • as a domestic student with previous higher education study, such as:
    • one year of full-time or equivalent part-time study in a bachelor’s degree
    • an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma 
  • as a domestic student with an approved preparation program or other qualification accepted by the University, including the Mature-age Entry Scheme
  • as an international student with the University of Sydney Foundation Program.

If you are applying as an international student with a different qualification, the mathematics prerequisite does not apply.

What is required?

To find out what the mathematics course prerequisite requires, select the qualification you will apply with.

If you are applying with an Australian secondary education (Year 12) qualification, you will need to achieve the following minimum subject/grade requirements:

Qualification Mathematics subject Required result
NSW HSC Mathematics Advanced* Band 4
Mathematics Extension 1 or 2 Band E3
ACT Senior Secondary Certificate (ACT SSC) Mathematical Methods (Major) or Specialist Mathematics (Major) 133-153
QLD Certificate of Education (QCE) Mathematical Methods B
SA Certificate of Education (SACE) Mathematical Methods B-
NT Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) Mathematical Methods B-
TAS Certificate of Education (TCE) Mathematical Methods 4 CA
VIC Certificate of Education (VCE) Mathematical Methods 28-32
WA Certificate of Education (WACE) Mathematics Methods 54-63

*Mathematics Standard (or equivalent) does not meet the minimum requirement.

The following mathematics prerequisites only apply to students undertaking the IB or GCE A Level in Australia:

Qualification Mathematics subject Required result
IB Mathematics** SL or HL, or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations HL, or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL or HL SL 5 or HL 4
GCE A Level Mathematics or Further Mathematics B

**Not Mathematical Studies

If you have completed the equivalent of a minimum of one year of full-time study in a bachelor’s degree (and have not already satisfied the mathematics prerequisites through secondary school studies), you are required to have undertaken studies in mathematics in your degree that are assessed by the University to be equivalent to an acceptable mathematics unit of study.

We will consider studies in a bachelor’s degree in STEM study areas such as science and engineering and additionally in commerce/business as equivalent to the required mathematics standard.

Where you have undertaken studies in other areas but have completed mathematics specific subjects, we will assess this as a potential means of meeting our mathematics prerequisites.

If you have completed an AQF Diploma or equivalent (and have not already satisfied the mathematics prerequisites through secondary school studies), you are required to have undertaken studies in mathematics in your completed diploma that are assessed by the University to be equivalent to an acceptable mathematics unit of study.

We will consider studies in STEM study areas such as science and engineering and additionally in commerce/business as equivalent to the required mathematics standard.

Where you have undertaken studies in other areas but have completed mathematics specific subjects, we will assess this as a potential means of meeting our mathematics prerequisites.

Domestic students

If you have completed an approved university preparation program, you will need to have undertaken specific studies in mathematics, see Mature-age Entry Scheme.

International students

If you are completing the University of Sydney Foundation Program, you will need to have undertaken the relevant studies in mathematics as part of your foundation program.

International students undertaking other approved foundation studies are advised to undertake the highest available level of mathematics that corresponds to the assumed knowledge mathematics the University has specified for your intended course.

Degrees with a maths prerequisite in 2024

From 2023, some education degrees will have a mathematics prerequisite required by NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Please note that this is not a University of Sydney prerequisite, and further information is available on the NESA website.

What if I don't meet the maths prerequisite?

If you do not meet the mathematics prerequisites, there are other options.

You can complete the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for mathematics and the post-MOOC exam, or you can apply for and enrol in a course that doesn’t have a mathematics prerequisite, complete the required studies in mathematics and then apply to transfer to your initial course choice.

To meet the requirements in this way, you must complete the Introduction to Calculus MOOC and post-MOOC examination with the required grades.

The MOOC is not a substitute for studying the required mathematics subjects in high school. The MOOC is not intended for students who haven't undertaken any studies in mathematics, it is available online and open to anyone to enrol in.

The post-MOOC examination will be available to register* for and complete only immediately prior to the University intake you are eligible to commence your university course. 

Students who successfully complete both the MOOC and post-MOOC examination will be eligible for an offer of admission to courses with mathematics prerequisites if they also meet the ATAR (or equivalent) and other applicable admission criteria.

Some courses have limited places and/or may not be available each intake, check the course details.

*To be eligible to register for the post-MOOC exam, you must have an active UAC or direct applicant number.

Students can apply for and enrol in a course that does not have mathematics prerequisites and then apply to transfer to a course that does require the prerequisites after completing the required studies in mathematics (as specified by the University)*.

Where you already have the required ATAR or equivalent for your course which has mathematics prerequisites, you would only be required to complete one semester of study that includes the required studies in mathematics (see table below).

If you do not have the ATAR (or equivalent) for your chosen course which has mathematics course prerequisites, you would be required to successfully complete one year of full-time study in a bachelor’s degree that includes the required studies in mathematics. Admission is based on the better of a student’s ATAR (or equivalent) or performance in at least one year of higher education study or a bachelor’s degree; and completion of an accepted mathematics subject at university. Refer to the information above on requirements when applying with studies in a bachelor’s degree.

* Transfers are not permitted to the following courses: B Arts/D Medicine, B Economics (Sciences Po Dual Degree), B Science/D Dental Medicine, B Science/D Medicine.

Equivalent units of study

The following units of study (subjects) are accepted by the University as equivalent to the required mathematics standard if applying with studies in a bachelor’s degree or completed AQF Diploma.

Unit of study (subject) For what course?
MATH1111 Introduction to Calculus* All award courses subject to mathematics course prerequisites
ECON1003 Quantitative Methods in Economics
  • Bachelor of Economics
  • Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Advanced Studies
ENVX1002 Introduction to Statistical Methods
 
  • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience)
  • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Taronga Wildlife Conservation)
Equivalent unit (subject) from another university As assessed by the University

*MATH1111 represents the minimum standard for an acceptable mathematics subject that meets the mathematics course prerequisites. Mathematics subjects taken at a higher level will also be considered to meet the prerequisites.

Changes to mathematics prerequisites in 2025

From 2025, we’re replacing the advanced mathematics prerequisite for most of our degrees with more individual and targeted mathematics support upon commencement. 

Students applying to transfer into another course where the mathematics prerequisite requirement has been removed, will no longer be required to meet the mathematics prerequisite. For example, if a student enrolled in a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science in Semester 1 2024, and then submitted a subsequent application for the Bachelor of Science commencing in Semester 1, 2025, they (pending meeting all other entry requirements) may be eligible to apply to transfer in 2025 post-removal of the mathematics prerequisite.

Students applying to transfer into another undergraduate course which has not removed the mathematics prerequisite in 2025 will still need to meet the mathematics prerequisite to be eligible for entry in 2025. For example, this applies to the Bachelor of Pharmacy or Bachelor of Engineering Honours courses in 2025.

More information about the changes to prerequisites is available on our website.

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