Anderson Stuart Building
Process_

Academic Excellence Scheme

Recognising achievement by rewarding academic excellence
The Academic Excellence Scheme recognises high performance in English and mathematics by applying adjustment factors to boost your selection rank.

Depending on the course you have applied for and whether you achieved a Band 5, 6 or E4 in high-level English or mathematics in the NSW HSC (or equivalent scores in other Australian Year 12 qualifications and the IB) in 2024, you can have an adjustment of up to five points added to your ATAR or equivalent IB score, to raise your selection rank for an eligible course.

From Semester 1 2025, the mathematics prerequisite will no longer apply to several courses. If you receive a Band 3 or 4 in Mathematics Advanced and apply for a course that no longer has the mathematics prerequisite, you may be eligible to receive adjustment factors through the Academic Excellence Scheme. Please visit this website for updates in the coming weeks.

If your ATAR or equivalent IB score is below the entry requirement for your course of choice, through excellence in English or mathematics you can potentially still gain entry to that course.

Am I eligible?

You will automatically be considered for the Academic Excellence Scheme if:

  • you are a domestic current school leaver applying for an undergraduate course at the University of Sydney (via UAC) to commence study in 2024
  • you are completing the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) or any other Australian state or territory Year 12 qualification, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, in or outside Australia in the year before admission
  • you have achieved one of the below results in English or mathematics.
  Subject Required band performance
NSW 2024 HSC Subject English Advanced 5 or 6
English Ext. 1 E4
English Ext. 2 E4
IB 2024 Year 12 Subject English A: Language and Literature (HL) 5, 6 or 7
English A: Literature (HL) 5, 6 or 7
Interstate students

For the equivalent subjects and grades required in interstate year 12 qualifications, visit the UAC website.

  Subject Required band performance
NSW 2024 HSC Subject Mathematics Advanced

5 or 6

3 or 4 (from 2025)

Mathematics Ext. 1 E4
Mathematics Ext. 2 E4
IB 2024 Year 12 Subject Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations HL 5, 6 or 7
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL 6 or 7
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL 5, 6 or 7

 

Interstate students

 

For the equivalent subjects and grades required in interstate year 12 qualifications, visit the UAC website.

 

How many points will I get?

The adjustment (or number of points) you will be awarded will depend on your performance in either English or mathematics, and which course you apply for. View the below list of courses included in the scheme:

  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Architecture and Environments 3 5
B Design (Interaction Design) 3 5
B Design/B Advanced Studies (Interaction Design) 3 5
B Design in Architecture 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Arts 3 5
B Arts/B Advanced Studies 3 5
B Arts/B Advanced Studies (International and Global Studies) 3 5
B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Languages) 3 5
B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Politics and International Relations)
3 5
B Visual Arts 3 5
B Visual Arts/B Advanced Studies 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Commerce 3 5
B Commerce/B Advanced Studies 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Economics 3 5
B Economics/B Advanced Studies 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Education (Early Childhood) 3 5
B Education (Health and Physical Education) 3 5
B Education (Primary) 3 5
B Education (Secondary) 3 5
B Education/B Advanced Studies (Secondary) 3 5
B Social Work 3 5
B Arts/B Social Work 3 5

  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Advanced Computing 3 5
B Advanced Computing/B Commerce 3 5
B Advanced Computing/B Science 3 5
B Advanced Computing/B Science (Health) 3 5
B Advanced Computing/B Science (Medical Science) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Aeronautical) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Biomedical) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Chemical and Biomolecular) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Civil) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Electrical) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Flexible First Year) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Mechanical) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Mechatronic) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Software) 3 5
B Engineering Honours/B Arts 3 5
B Engineering Honours/B Commerce 3 5
B Engineering Honours/B Science 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Civil)/B Design in Architecture 3 5
B Engineering Honours/B Project Management 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Biomedical)/B Science (Health) 3 5
B Engineering Honours (Biomedical)/B Science (Medical Science) 3 5
B Project Management 3 5

 

  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) 3 5
B Applied Science (Exercise Physiology) 3 5
B Arts/M Nursing 3 5
B Nursing (Advanced Studies) 3 5
B Pharmacy (Honours)/M Pharmacy Practice 3 5
B Pharmacy and Management (Honours)/M Pharmacy Practice 3 5
B Science/M Nursing 3 5
B Science (Health)/M Nursing 3 5
B Science/M Nutrition and Dietetics 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Music 3 5
B Music (Composition) 3 5
B Music (Music Education) 3 5
B Music (Performance) 3 5
B Music/B Advanced Studies (Composition) 3 5
B Music/B Advanced Studies (Performance) 3 5
  Band 5 Band 6 (E4)
B Agricultural Science 3 5
B Agricultural Science Honours 3 5
B Liberal Arts and Science 3 5
B Liberal Arts and Science (Advanced) 3 5
B Psychology 1 2
B Psychology Honours 1 2
B Science 3 5
B Science (Advanced) 3 5
B Science (Health) 3 5
B Science (Medical Science) 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies (Advanced) 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies (Animal and Veterinary Bioscience) 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies (Health) 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies (Medical Science) 3 5
B Science/B Advanced Studies (Taronga Wildlife Conservation) 3 5
B Science/M Mathematical Sciences 3 5
B Veterinary Biology/D Veterinary Medicine 1 2

These courses are not included in the Academic Excellence Scheme.

Architecture, design and planning

  • B Design in Architecture (Honours)/M Architecture

Arts and social sciences

  • B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Dalyell Scholars)
  • B Arts (Dual Degree, Sciences Po, France)
  • B Arts/B Advanced Studies (Media and Communications)

Business

  • B Commerce/B Advanced Studies (Dalyell Scholars)

Economics

  • B Economics (Dual Degree, Sciences Po, France)

Engineering and computer science

  • B Engineering Honours (Dalyell Scholars)
  • B Engineering Honours with Space Engineering

Medicine and health

  • B Applied Science (Diagnostic Radiography)
  • B Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)
  • B Applied Science (Physiotherapy)
  • B Applied Science (Speech Pathology)
  • B Arts/D Medicine
  • B Oral Health
  • B Science/D Dental Medicine
  • B Science/D Medicine

Law

  • B Arts/B Laws
  • B Commerce/B Laws
  • B Economics/B Laws
  • B Engineering Honours/B Laws
  • B Science/B Laws

Science

  • B Science/B Advanced Studies (Dalyell Scholars including Mathematical Sciences)

Do you have further questions?

Take a look at the frequently asked questions below or contact us for more information.

Adjustment factors will automatically be added following the release of your Year 12 results to UAC. For most eligible students, this will mean that the subject-based adjustment factors will raise your selection rank by up to 5 points for eligible courses from December round 2 offers released by UAC.

Most undergraduate courses at the University of Sydney have Guaranteed Entry. This means, if you achieve the guaranteed selection rank and any other non-ATAR admission criteria that may apply to that course, you are eligible to receive an offer if you placed that course as your highest eligible preference.

Guaranteed Entry only applies to the first UAC offer round you are eligible to receive an offer in. Guaranteed Entry is also subject to available places in the course you apply for.

The Academic Excellence Scheme aims to encourage prospective students to put their course of choice as their highest eligible preference even if their ATAR is a few points below the entry requirements. This is because the subject-related adjustments can raise your selection rank for eligible courses helping you potentially achieve the guaranteed rank.

Yes. All other admission criteria including the mathematics course prerequisites still apply where relevant. The Academic Excellence Scheme supports admission into the course only by applying adjustment factors to raise your selection rank for eligible courses.

International Baccalaureate (IB) applicants eligible for the Academic Excellence Scheme will have any earned ATAR Adjustment Factors added to their ATAR equivalent rank and not their IB score (out of 45).

No. Only one subject in either English or mathematics will be considered. Points based on adjustment factors do not accumulate if you have achieved the required band in more than one subject. For example, if you achieved a Band 6 in HSC Mathematics and E4 in Mathematics Extension 1, only one of these results is required to be considered under the Academic Excellence Scheme.

The maximum number of points that you can receive under the Academic Excellence Scheme for eligible courses is 5, except for the Bachelor of Psychology and Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine which do not award the maximum.

From Semester 1 2025, you can combine your adjustment factors from two eligible entry schemes up to a maximum of 10 adjustment factors.

Some competitive courses have a maximum number of allowable adjustments that is lower than the 10 potential adjustments you could receive from combining two eligible schemes. Combining adjustment factors does not override any course exclusions from schemes or maximum number of allowable adjustments at a course level across schemes. For example, you could receive 5 adjustments for one course from the Academic Excellence Scheme and 5 adjustments from the Educational Access Scheme for the same course. If the maximum number of allowable adjustments for that course is 8, you will receive 8 adjustments.

Eligible entry schemes are the Educational Access Scheme, Academic Excellence Scheme, and Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme. All other schemes are excluded.

You will be awarded the adjustment factors from the two schemes that are of highest benefit to you.

2025 course and entry requirements will be finalised in the coming months.

As long as you have not undertaken any tertiary study you can still receive adjustment factors from this scheme for up to one year after you complete Year 12 (or the equivalent).

Student Centre

Phone
Address
  • Level 3, 160 City Road, Darlington NSW 2008 Jane Foss Russell Building G02
Make an enquiry