Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

rdf:langString Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

rdf:langString The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is the primary criterion for domestic student entry into undergraduate courses in Australian public universities. It was gradually introduced to most states and territories in 2009–10 and has since replaced the Universities Admission Index (in NSW and ACT), Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (in VIC), Tertiary Entrance Rank (in ACT, TAS, NT and SA) and the Overall Position (in QLD). It is a percentile ranking between 0.00 and 99.95 which shows student’s relative position compared to all other students in the age group of 16 to 20 years for that year. Though ATARs are calculated independently by each state, they are all considered equivalent. Since some students quit studying early or do not qualify for an ATAR in their state, the average ATAR amongst students who achieve one is 70.00. Admission to universities is granted based on the "selection rank" calculated by each university based on its own unique criteria. Selection ranks are a combination of ATAR and additional points based on universities' own criteria used for selecting students such as a "personal statement, a questionnaire, a portfolio of work, an audition, an interview or a test". Some universities also provide additional points on the basis of disadvantage such as for rural or Indigenous Australian applicants. The ATAR rank provides an indication of the overall position of the student in relation to the student body for that year across the state. A higher ATAR gives preference to that student for the course to which they wish to enrol in a university of their choice. The ATAR is used by all Australian public universities via their respective state-level admissions centres: * Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, * South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) in South Australia and the Northern Territory, * Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) in Victoria, * Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) in Western Australia, * Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) in Queensland. These bodies then allocate positions for the tertiary institutions in their relevant states. Tasmania is an exception, where the University of Tasmania is the only tertiary institution and therefore acts as a self-governing admissions centre. Private universities, with the exception of Bond University, do not primarily consider the ATAR and students must apply directly.