Didn’t get the ATAR you wanted?
One thing they don’t tell you while you’re in high school is that there are so many pathways to get into your dream course, even if you miss out on the ATAR you needed for that degree.
From TAFE courses to mature-age entry, here are a few of the pathways you can take to study your dream degree. We’ve also broken down a couple of career pathways visually so you can see how simple it really is!
UTS College
UTS has an adjacent College that provides a pathway to high school leavers who didn’t receive the ATAR they needed for their ideal degree. For example, if a Year 12 student who wants to get into a forensic science degree but missed out on the ATAR, they would be able to do a Diploma of Science at UTS College and jump straight into the second year of a Bachelor of Forensic Science once they have the Diploma. Students attend classes on UTS’ campus and can also join the uni’s societies to get amongst the culture.
TAFE
If you just missed out on the marks you needed for your dream degree, TAFE is a great alternate pathway. After completing most one or one and a half year diplomas, you’ll be able to jump straight into the second year of a similar degree at uni. Plus, you’ll get a chance to see if you’ll even like that uni course before committing to an actual degree.
For example, if you’re keen to get into nursing, you can study a Diploma of Nursing or the Advanced Diploma of Nursing at TAFE, then transfer into the second year of a Bachelor of Nursing at UTS.
VET
Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses like apprenticeships and traineeships can provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for university-level study. If you have VET qualifications, in most cases you will be able to use them to gain credit towards a relevant university degree.
For example, if you studied an IT VET course, like the Diploma of Information Technology, the Diploma of Software Development or the Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games, you will be able to study a Bachelor of Information Technology at UTS, and skip the first two semesters due to your prior knowledge.
Mature Age Entry
Despite what you might think, anyone over the age of 21 is eligible to enter a university course as a mature age student. To study, you have to show the university that you have work experience or life experience that proves you will be dedicated to your course.
Like recent school leavers, mature age students are also able to transfer from TAFE or VET courses into a university degree if they wish, or through other pathways such as UTS College. Alternatively, if you have experienced educational disadvantage or faced other challenges that made it difficult to meet traditional entry requirements, you can apply for a special entry scheme.
So if you missed out on the ATAR you wanted, you haven’t completely missed out on your dream degree. There are many alternative pathways you can take to enter a university degree, whether it's through TAFE, mature age entry, VET courses, or a college, your dream degree is never out of reach.