What if I get a lower ATAR than I expected?

Did you get a lower ATAR than expected? That’s fine! Many pathways still exist to reach your desired course or career so take a breath and don't stress.

Receiving your ATAR can be exciting and nerve-wracking so it’s a good idea to be prepared, understand your options early and create a backup plan. Here are our top tips to help take the pressure off for when you receive your exam results.

This information is for domestic undergraduate applicants.

Are you eligible to receive adjustment factors?

Adjustment factors are added to your ATAR to increase your selection rank for eligible courses, which will help you gain entry to your preferred course if you do not meet the required ATAR.

Some schemes require you to submit an application and some award adjustment factors automatically, so you don't have to apply for them. If you are just below the selection rank for your desired course, keep it in your preferences as you may be eligible for adjustment factors that you are not aware of!

Explore some of our schemes

Does your dream course offer Guaranteed Entry?

Most of our courses offer Guaranteed Entry, so you will receive an offer if your ATAR meets the required selection rank for that course plus any adjustment factors through our entry schemes (above).

Guaranteed Entry only applies to the first UAC offer round in which you are eligible to receive an offer after receiving your Australian Year 12 qualification and ATAR. Keep in mind, guaranteed Entry is also subject to places being available in the course you apply for.

Seek advice about different pathways to your course or career

Seek advice from your family, friends and career advisers and get as much information as you can to help you make an informed decision before preferences close.

Chat with us at events throughout the year and make sure you attend Open Day or Info Day. Our staff and students are on hand to answer your questions, as well as help you finalise your preferences. Here are a few pathways you could consider:

Apply for a similar course with a lower ATAR, and study what you want through our shared pool of majors and minors.
Complete the first year of a related course with a lower ATAR then apply to transfer into your preferred course.
Apply for a graduate entry into postgraduate coursework, such as a master's degree, after you have completed your undergraduate degree.

Trust the process

Again, it is not the end of your career hopes if you don’t get the marks you were hoping for. Entry scores are a signal about the demand for a course, not its inherent quality.

There are so many pathways into university and your ATAR is just one of those routes. If you don’t do as well as you had hoped, there are still many opportunities and ways to get the education you want for a rewarding career.