Welcome and session overview

Rob: G'day, and welcome to the National Virtual Expo. I'm Rob Malicki, coming to you from Garigal land in Sydney. Welcome to this session on making the University of Sydney happen. We're going to be covering how you can get into the University of Sydney with some specialist staff from the institution. If you've got questions as we go, make sure you drop them in the chat. If you're joining us live, great. If you're watching on the replay, thanks a lot for watching. You can ask your questions in the Choosing Your Uni Discord -- details are in the session description below. If you're a parent, we have a Facebook community just for you, so ask your questions and go for it. We'll make sure that every single question gets a personalised reply. So without further ado, let's get into this session on making the University of Sydney happen for you.

Guest: Hello everyone, and thanks for joining us for our Equity Pathways and Support presentation today. My name is Nikki, and I'm from the Sydney Future Students team here at the University of Sydney. I'm also joined by one of our current students. Zelda is going to talk to you today about her journey to university. In this presentation we're going to explore equity admission pathways, scholarships, and support that we have available here. For those of you who may not know, equity is a term that we use when you experience circumstances beyond your control that have impacted you. We recognise and pay respect to the elders and communities past, present, and emerging of the land at the University of Sydney's campuses. For thousands of years, they have shared and exchanged knowledges across innumerable generations for the benefit of all. So I'd like to introduce you to our current student, Zelda, who's going to talk about her journey through university. Over to you, Zelda.

Zelda's path to physiotherapy through an equity scheme

Guest: Thanks, Nikki. Hi everyone. My name is Zelda, and I graduated from Carramar High School in 2021. My life before university looked a lot like this -- I was quite a sporty person, but also quite studious. Towards senior year I had no idea what I wanted to do at uni, and I had zero clue about what my dream career would be. But I was really interested in sports, health, and science, so I did a lot of track swimming, basketball, netball, pretty much every other sport that doesn't happen on grass. Not having a particular area of interest made my transition into uni very scary, but exciting, because it meant I got to reset my own independence, which was something I didn't have at home living with strict parents. Here's a picture of me and my group doing a clean sweep at each year's presentation day. I think it's really important to surround yourself with positive influences and friends who can encourage and support each other through tough times like the HSC.

Guest: When in doubt about what I wanted to study, I fell back on my strengths -- which was science -- and my passions, which are health, fitness, and sport. I put two and two together and ended up doing physio. But I didn't get in with the raw ATAR, which was 99.5 at the time, and actually came through an entry scheme that boosted my marks and allowed me entry into my dream course. Here are a few photos of me during my time in physiotherapy so far -- that's me in the hospital simulation working with a mannequin, and there's also a photo of me on my first day of placement in second year, which was very exciting. I was also part of a lot of different uni experiences, such as a health bowl in 2022, volunteering at Welcome Fest in 2023, and as a student ambassador I got to do the Instagram Stories for Open Day in 2023 as well. I joined a lot of societies, had a lot of extracurriculars, and I think it was one of the best decisions I could have possibly made, because I wouldn't have met my friends without those societies.

Degrees, faculties, and tailoring your study at Sydney

Guest: At the University of Sydney we offer a wide range of areas that allow you to personalise your degree to your interests. You might not know what you want to study yet, but we have over 400 areas of study to choose from, organised into ten faculties and schools. A lot of popular ones involve medicine and health -- that's where physiotherapy belongs -- and science, business, engineering, computer science, and law are also quite popular.

Guest: University life is so much more than just the classroom. We have jobs on campus -- as a student ambassador I actually get paid to speak to you right now -- and you can also work at local cafes around campus. There are over 270 student-run clubs and societies, including faculty societies such as the Physiotherapy and Health Society for more academic and networking activities, and interest-based societies like the Taylor Swift Appreciation Society, the Chocolate Society (with free chocolate every week!), the Ice Cream Society, the Dog Society, bouldering and barbell societies, and 25-plus cultural groups covering religions and cultural backgrounds including the Catholic Society, the Buddhist Society, and the Muslim Society. With Sydney Sport, we have an Olympic-sized swimming pool on campus, two to three gyms with memberships, and performance spaces, museums, and galleries such as the Chau Chak Wing Museum and the Verge Art Gallery.

Guest: Students at the University of Sydney can also tailor their degree to their goals and interests. Let's unpack the three types of degrees you can apply for after high school. First, a single degree -- your typical standalone degree, usually three to four years in duration, such as the Bachelor of Education (Primary). Second, a combined degree, which lets you complete two undergraduate degrees at the same time, such as the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and the Bachelor of Laws. Third, a double degree, which is different from a combined degree because you must complete the requirements of the first degree before starting the second. For example, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and a Doctor of Medicine will finish the Bachelor of Arts first, receive their certificate, graduate, and then commence the Doctor of Medicine.

Guest: A few key terms to understand: units of study are the individual subjects you take each semester to make up your degree. Majors and minors are essential components that allow you to specialise in specific subject areas, and they appear on your transcript when you graduate. For example, if you do a Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics and a minor in Microbiology, that will appear on your certificate. In many bachelor's degrees you'll need to complete a major and have the option of choosing a second minor or major. A major is a sequence of units from a related area of specialised knowledge, and a minor is generally a smaller collection of units. If you do a Bachelor of Commerce, for instance, there are twelve business school majors -- including finance, marketing, and international business -- and students can pick two of those to specialise in. We also offer honours degrees, where completing an extra year of study lets you investigate a topic and produce a thesis based on your research.

Selection ranks, prerequisites, and additional admission criteria

Guest: Thanks Zelda. Let's move on to entry and admissions. Your selection rank is your ATAR plus any adjustment factors you might be eligible for. If no adjustment factors apply, your selection rank will be equivalent to your ATAR. For all of our courses we list the selection rank, and that's what universities use to assess you for entry to a course, along with some additional admission criteria where applicable. Selection ranks are a guide only -- they can be slightly higher or lower each year depending on demand for that course, and the published selection rank is based on the requirement from the previous year. So, for example, if a student achieves an ATAR of 85 and receives five adjustment factors through an entry scheme, they will have a selection rank of 90 for an eligible course under that scheme.

Guest: Some of our courses do have prerequisites. A prerequisite is a subject you must complete at a required level in order to receive an offer to study. The main prerequisite at the University of Sydney is Mathematics Advanced. Assumed knowledge is different -- it's not essential, but it is recommended, and it will be really useful for your course. You can still receive an offer without meeting the assumed knowledge, but we do recommend completing a bridging course beforehand. We have bridging courses available in Maths, Advanced Maths, Extension 1, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Guest: Some of our courses require you to meet the mathematics prerequisite -- specifically Engineering, Advanced Computing, Mathematics, and Pharmacy. If you haven't picked up Mathematics Advanced or above in high school, do not worry. There are other alternatives and pathways, such as sitting an exam or potentially transferring into the course after completing a maths subject at university.

Guest: Some of our courses also have additional selection criteria. It's really important to be aware of and learn about any additional selection criteria well in advance so you can prepare throughout your final year of high school. For example, if your degree requires you to submit a portfolio of work -- such as our visual arts degree or some architecture portfolio pathways -- the work you do throughout Years 11 and 12 can be included. The instructions and deadlines around admission criteria are available under the Entry Requirements tab on the specific course page on our website, and they differ for every course. Some examples: medicine double degrees include a written assessment followed by a panel discussion, with eligible applicants attending the assessment in person at the university. For music, you'll need to register for an audition and interview, and have your chosen degree preference in UAC by the relevant deadline. If you don't meet the additional criteria, we will be unable to make you an offer for that course -- that's why it's so important to be aware of the dates.

Guest: Some education degrees also require an additional step. NESA has prerequisites for the Bachelor of Education (Primary), Health and Physical Education, and Music Education. A new update is that personal statements are no longer required for any of our teacher education courses -- it's just the NESA prerequisites. If you are not going to meet the NESA prerequisites, you can enrol in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), which has no NESA prerequisites, study that for one year, and then apply to transfer into your desired degree.

The My Sydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme

Guest: The best way to maximise your ATAR to meet the selection ranks for our courses is to understand the admission pathways and entry schemes you might be eligible for. Entry schemes award adjustment factors to help boost your selection rank. You can't combine adjustment factors from multiple schemes -- the scheme that offers you the most adjustment factors will be the one awarded to you. Each scheme has its own eligibility criteria, a different number of adjustment factors, and some have separate application processes and deadlines.

Guest: Let's start with the My Sydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme. This scheme offers eligible students residing in low socioeconomic areas adjustment factors to boost their selection rank. It also offers an $8,500 yearly scholarship for the duration of your degree, plus a range of additional support including tailored preparation programmes to help you transition from school to university, access to mentoring programmes, the Vice-Chancellor's Global Mobility Award valued up to $5,000 for eligible exchange programmes, and a complimentary University of Sydney Union Rewards membership. To be eligible, you must be a domestic student and reside at an address in the bottom 25% of the socioeconomic index -- either the Index of Education and Occupation or the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage -- based on the residential address you enter into your UAC application. Please note: if you receive a notification from UAC that your residential address is in the lowest 25% of socioeconomic disadvantage, this does not mean you are eligible for My Sydney. You must receive official confirmation of your eligibility directly from the university. We will notify you if you're eligible. If you aren't eligible for My Sydney but have received a UAC low notification, you can be considered for the Educational Access Scheme, which we'll cover shortly.

Guest: I do advise you to submit your UAC application as early as possible -- UAC applications are open now -- so you can find out whether you're eligible. The adjustment factors are one of the great benefits that can help you gain entry into your dream course. All the eligible courses and the different adjustment factors available through this scheme are published on the My Sydney website. No additional adjustment factors from any other scheme can be applied on top of My Sydney. You also need to meet any prerequisites or special admission criteria outlined in the course details.

Guest: I'd like to throw back to you, Zelda. I know that you came through on an equity scheme quite similar to My Sydney. Can you talk about how that helped you gain entry to the University of Sydney?

Guest: Yeah. When I was in Year 12 and I applied for physiotherapy, the selection rank at the University of Sydney was 99.5 at the time, and similar around other unis. I thought to myself, "I don't know if I can get a 99," so I started looking for alternative pathways -- maybe getting into exercise physiology first and then doing physio as a master's. Until I stumbled across a similar scheme to this that gave me ten additional adjustment factors specifically for the physiotherapy degree. That made me so relieved, because knowing I had ten additional adjustment factors on top of my ATAR was a big help. It lifted a real burden off my shoulders knowing I had the opportunity to apply directly into physiotherapy without having to do a master's degree first. My projected ATAR was in the low 90s, and having that scheme was ultimately what got me into my dream course. Without those adjustment factors, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Guest: That's a really great example, and I'm so glad you were able to get into your dream course. Please list your dream courses in your preference list, because you don't know what entry schemes you might be eligible for. You don't need to do a separate application for My Sydney -- eligibility is automatically assessed based on your residential address when you make your UAC application. All you need to do is list a University of Sydney course in your UAC preference list. The university will notify you by email, and we send those eligibility notifications roughly weekly to students who have placed University of Sydney courses as a preference. Once you've met the course requirements, including the selection rank and any other prerequisites or additional admission criteria, you will be made an offer to study. If we can't make you an unconditional offer to a course, we will offer you your next highest eligible University of Sydney preference in your preference list. The My Sydney scholarship applies to any eligible course in your preference list, not just your first preference.

Educational Access Scheme and other entry pathways

Guest: The Educational Access Scheme gives students who have experienced significant educational disadvantage the opportunity to have their circumstances taken into account when applying. You can be awarded up to ten adjustment factors depending on the type and severity of that disadvantage. This scheme is administered through UAC and is accepted by many institutions, so you only need to make one application. You will be required to provide supporting documentation -- you'll be prompted for that when you make the application. The disadvantages recognised under the scheme are quite broad, covering nine categories and 40 individual disadvantages, including financial hardship, family disruption, long-term illness or disability, English as a second language, and refugee status. Key dates to keep in mind: you need to apply by 30 September to be considered for equity scholarships, and by late November to be considered for adjustment factors. Zelda, I know you also came through the Educational Access Scheme. Can you talk about that?

Guest: Yeah. The process is super simple because it's accepted by a lot of institutions, so you only have to apply through UAC once. I personally applied under the financial hardship category, the low socioeconomic area category, and I also wasn't sure if I was eligible for the refugee status category -- since my parents are refugees and I was born here -- but I just applied anyway. I really encourage all of you students: if you're unsure whether you might be eligible for a particular category, just apply anyway. All I had to do was upload my supporting documents, whether that was income statements, Centrelink documents, and things like that. UAC will prompt you on exactly what documents you need to upload. And those categories aren't exhaustive -- there are a few more that haven't been mentioned, so please hop on the website and have a look. The process was super simple.

Guest: Thank you so much for sharing that, Zelda. Our Got-a-Go program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to gain entry to courses with a reduced ATAR. In addition to the reduced entry requirements, the program also gives you access to an early conditional offer, ongoing academic and personal support throughout your degree, and the Global Mobility Award for eligible exchange programmes valued up to $5,000. This pathway is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students on an ATAR pathway, and you can apply by ticking the Got-a-Go program checkbox in UAC, which will take you to complete the Got-a-Go application.

Guest: The STAT Entry Scheme supports students who either don't get an ATAR or don't do the HSC. You can apply for a small number of our undergraduate courses through this scheme, listed on our website. To be eligible you must be a domestic student, have completed Year 12 without obtaining an ATAR or left school without a high school certificate two or more years before the year of proposed admission, be 18 years or older by 31 July in the year of proposed admission, and have completed both the multiple choice and written English sections of the STAT. Please note you are not eligible through this scheme if you have completed a diploma, advanced diploma, or associate degree, or one or more years of full-time study in a bachelor's degree or higher qualification at a recognised tertiary institution.

Guest: The Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) Entry Scheme supports students who have not followed a traditional secondary studies pathway. You can apply for some of our undergraduate courses with a Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation, offered through TAFE. To be eligible you must be a domestic student, be 18 years or older by 31 July in the year of proposed admission, and have completed a Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation of at least 12 months in duration that results in a Tertiary Entrance Score that can be mapped to an ATAR. Please note that admission to the University of Sydney is competitive and places are awarded on academic merit, so your Tertiary Entrance Score must be assessed as equal to or greater than the minimum entry requirement for the specific course.

Alternative routes if you miss your first-choice course

Guest: If you don't make it into your dream course straight away, that's okay. There are still options available to you, and it's always smart to have a Plan B. The first option is the shared pool -- there are degrees and areas of interest you can study using the shared pool of majors and minors. For example, you could study an economics major through the Bachelor of Arts if you miss out on the Bachelor of Commerce. Another option is transferring: after one year of full-time study you can apply to transfer into another course, and at that stage we will look at your university results when assessing your application instead of your ATAR. And the third option is postgraduate study -- after you finish your undergraduate degree you can apply to competitive postgraduate courses such as the Doctor of Medicine.

Rob: Can I just chip in on that? I really believe that a lot of people going to university don't know all of the opportunities available once they're there. You get into a Bachelor of Arts, you get into any course, and you're going to discover the things that really light you up once you're actually there. Start that Bachelor of Arts and take some other subjects -- take your finance course, take that media course you're interested in, try different things, because eventually you'll discover things you're really passionate about. Even if you get into law, within law you're going to find niche areas you just want to do more of. So be less anxious about having to get it perfect the first time. Just get in, get started, try things, you'll find what lights you up, and then you have the opportunity to move sideways and do more of what you really care about.

Guest: I agree with you completely. We say that a lot. Students transfer multiple times throughout their studies -- even if they really thought they knew what they wanted to do, they might take electives and really enjoy those, and that can change their study path. You can definitely access our shared pool of subjects to try out different things.

Rob: The happiest people are the ones who do that. I've spoken to so many people who maybe got all the way through a first degree and then realised they don't really enjoy that work, went back, did another degree, found their passion, and off they went. Or people who started in one degree, did one elective, and ended up in something completely sideways from what they thought -- and they are the people who are happy. Be open, and when you find something that changes you, just change. The best thing about uni is you have the opportunity to explore and then to do more of what you really enjoy.

Scholarships: what's on offer and how to apply

Guest: Each year we offer over $135 million in scholarships and prizes to domestic applicants across a broad range of categories: general scholarships (applicable for Year 12 students ahead of enrolment, including those awarded for academic merit), faculty or degree-specific scholarships, equity-based and specific background scholarships, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships, student exchange scholarships, and international student scholarships. For domestic students, we've made applying for multiple scholarships simple with a centralised application form. Once you've applied, we'll match you to any scholarships you're eligible for, so you don't need to do multiple applications. You may also be able to receive multiple scholarships -- in that case you can hold one primary scholarship valued at $8,500 or more and as many secondary scholarships as you'd like to be considered for. To apply for equity scholarships you'll also need to submit a UAC application alongside your scholarships application.

Guest: To apply, you'll need a current UAC application with at least one University of Sydney course in your preference list by the deadline of 30 September. You'll also need your Year 12 half-yearly report or HSC trial exam result, and your Year 11 report. Applications are open now and close on 30 September. You'll need to answer four statement questions in the form, covering your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, choice of course, and your intended future impact once you graduate.

Student support services and building community at Sydney

Guest: We have various support services to help you succeed at uni. There's an extensive offering of support available to assist when things don't go to plan, to help you get the most out of your studies, and to support your health, wellbeing, and academic success. Our Student Centre provides guidance and assistance on all things university -- enrolment, timetabling, finding your way around campus, and accommodation. They're really great to use when you first enrol. We also have academic support: bridging courses, Peer Assisted Study Sessions, online learning resources, and English language programmes. Our wellbeing services offer a wide range of free and confidential health and wellbeing support, available both on campus and online. If you experience financial difficulties that impact your studies, you may be able to apply for financial support -- the university has bursaries, financial support vouchers, and interest-free loans to assist with essential study and living costs.

Guest: I might hand over to Zelda, because you mentioned earlier that you were part of clubs and societies. Do you feel that helped you foster a sense of community at the University of Sydney?

Guest: Yes, 100%. I tell everyone this story. On my first day on campus, the Physiotherapy Society organised a first-day barbecue for everyone to get to know each other and start familiarising themselves with campus. I decided to go along thinking maybe I'd make some new friends. I started talking to a few people, and eventually found out that they actually lived in my local area -- I'm based in the Fairfield area, and it takes about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to travel to and from uni. I thought bumping into someone else from Fairfield would be super rare. But after talking to a bunch of other people, we found a small group of six of us who were actually from the same areas -- Fairfield, Carramar, Liverpool. We were basically a family from the start, and now in my fourth year they're still the same people I take the train up to uni with. Societies definitely build community. I've also met people who live outside my area, and we get along super well because we share the same hobbies -- going to the gym, health and fitness. Societies are the way to go when it comes to meeting new friends and building community.

Guest: Absolutely. Sounds like you really found your people here.

Q&A: What if I don't meet the required selection rank?

Rob: Nikki, one of the questions that came in ahead of the expo -- and I'm sure you get this all the time -- is: what if I don't meet the required selection rank for a course?

Guest: We get this question quite a lot. The answer is you do have multiple options. The first thing we always say is: list your dream course as your first preference in UAC anyway if you are close to the entry requirement. We say this because you still might receive an offer depending on the availability of places, and sometimes the selection rank can fluctuate up or down. You might also be eligible for adjustment factors you're unaware of that could make you eligible for an offer. Do ensure you have a course you're confident you can meet the requirements for as a backup preference to maximise your chance of receiving an offer. The second option is to apply for a similar course and access our shared pool. The shared pool gives you the flexibility to study your desired major through a different course -- for example, you can enrol in the Bachelor of Arts and study finance as a major or minor if you miss out on the Bachelor of Commerce, which has a higher selection rank. Another option is transferring: start in a course with a lower selection rank, complete one year of full-time study, and apply to transfer. We'll use your university results to assess you for admission. An important thing to note: if you've come through the My Sydney Scheme, the Regional and Remote Scheme, or the Gadigal program, you'll also be able to transfer to your new course with reduced university results. And lastly, there's graduate entry -- undertaking postgraduate studies if you don't receive an offer to the undergraduate course of your choice.

Q&A: What if I don't meet the mathematics prerequisite?

Rob: And you did touch on this in the session -- the maths prerequisite. What if I don't meet the mathematics prerequisite?

Guest: If you don't meet the maths prerequisite you have two main options. The first is a course transfer. You would apply for and enrol in an alternative degree that doesn't require the maths prerequisite. If you already have the required ATAR for your dream course (which has the maths prerequisite), you would only need to complete one semester of study that includes the required studies in mathematics. If you don't have the ATAR for your dream course, you'd need to successfully complete one year of full-time study in a bachelor's degree that does include the required studies in mathematics. The second option is to complete the Introduction to Calculus Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC. That gives you a second chance to meet the maths prerequisite. It's a self-paced online course made up of five modules, and you have to successfully complete both the online course and the post-MOOC exam to satisfy the maths prerequisite. Just note that the MOOC isn't recommended for students who haven't taken any studies in mathematics, and it shouldn't be used as a substitute for studying the required mathematics in high school.

Rob: That sounds like a really great opportunity. High school students here might not be familiar with massive open online courses -- these are a great way to learn, available online in your own time. Definitely look that up. We'll put the details in the session description as well.

Q&A: Eligibility for My Sydney, adjustment factors, and applying for scholarships

Rob: How do I know if I'm eligible for the My Sydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme?

Guest: Once you've submitted your UAC application and listed a University of Sydney course in your preference list, you'll receive an email from the University of Sydney if you are eligible -- you don't need to make a separate application for My Sydney. Eligibility emails are usually sent a couple of weeks after you submit your UAC application. We do have specific notification dates, which you can find on the My Sydney website. I also really recommend checking your junk and spam folders just in case.

Rob: It's a fantastic scheme, so fingers crossed for folks out there. How many adjustment factors will I receive through the Educational Access Scheme?

Guest: The number of adjustment factors awarded through the scheme won't actually be disclosed to you beforehand -- there's no way to know in advance -- but the maximum number you can receive is ten.

Rob: That could make a huge difference. And I'd just come back to what you said earlier: always put your dream option as number one. You just never know. Please put your dream course first. Last question we have time for: can I apply for more than one scholarship?

Guest: Definitely. You can apply for unlimited scholarships. You can apply for most of our undergraduate domestic commencing student scholarships through one application -- our single scholarships form -- which covers most undergraduate commencing scholarships for domestic students. There are some scholarships that will require a separate application, and the best way to find out about those is to go to our website, browse the scholarships section, and apply separately for those.

Rob: I have to jump in on this: apply for scholarships even if you think you'll never win one. You would be stunned by how many scholarships go unfilled across Australia because no one applies for them. It's absolutely shocking. And here's a red-hot tip: a lot of people think about scholarships when going into uni, but very few remember to go back and apply when they're in their second or third year -- because there's plenty of support out there at every stage, and so many scholarships that don't get filled. Sydney is one of the most generous universities in the country when it comes to scholarships, so you must apply. There's $135 million on offer and it doesn't all get used. So get your slice of the 135.

Closing remarks

Rob: We are out of time. It's been fantastic having you here at the National Virtual Expo. Thank you so much, Nikki.

Guest: Thanks for having me. It's been great.

Rob: Ladies and gentlemen, the University of Sydney -- I feel like people sometimes look at Sydney and Melbourne as prestigious institutions and think it's snobby, too late, or out of reach, and nothing is further from the truth. These are institutions that were founded on the principle of being open and giving opportunities to people. Sydney is literally one of the most generous universities in the entire country when it comes to opening opportunities for students. So do not hesitate to put Sydney as your number one if that's what you really want. Thanks again Nikki, and thanks to everyone watching along. I'll see you in one of the upcoming sessions soon. Thanks for joining us at the National Virtual Expo.