Bonus points
Are you sitting the HSC and receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)? You could score bonus points under the following schemes.
Year 12 Bonus Points Scheme
Points are awarded to students who perform well in HSC subjects that are relevant to the specific undergraduate degree they wish to study at the University of Newcastle.
The HSC subjects that attract bonus points are:
- English advanced
- aboriginal studies
- languages (various)
- mathematics
- chemistry
- physics
Under this scheme you can only be awarded up to four bonus points no matter the combination of subjects. However, you may receive four additional points under the Regional and Rural Preference Scheme.
For a list of full degrees see Yr 12 Bonus Points Scheme - 2012 Admissions (pdf 172kb)
How many bonus points are awarded?
Students completing particular subjects for the HSC can receive up to four additional points for admission to most degrees at the University of Newcastle. The number of points awarded is specific to each undergraduate degree.
How do I get bonus points?
You do not need to apply for bonus points. Bonus points will be automatically added as long as:
- you have listed a University of Newcastle degree that awards bonus points as a preference on your UAC (Universities Admissions Centre) application, and
- your performance in the HSC subject is in the specified band
For further Information please call the Enquiry Centre on (02) 4921 5000 or send us an email enquirycentre@newcastle.edu.au
Regional Bonus Points Scheme
If you attend a school in certain rural postcodes, you will be awarded four bonus points through the University of Newcastle Regional and Rural Preference Scheme.
This includes schools and TAFE colleges with postcodes in the Hunter, Central Coast, Central West, Northern Rivers, Mid-North Coast, New England, Western Plains and Broken Hill mail centres. It applies to all undergraduate degrees except the Bachelor of Medicine.
To make things easy, you do not need to apply for this bonus. If you've put a University of Newcastle degree program as a preference on your UAC application, we will automatically apply bonus points to your application.
Educational Access Scheme
If you have experienced educational or other long term disadvantage you can apply for up to four additional bonus points under the Educational Access Scheme (EAS). The scheme does not apply to the Bachelor of Medicine or Graduate Law degrees.
To apply, fill in the application form contained in the EAS booklet produced by UAC (available through UAC and high schools) by 30 November 2011.
For further information contact the Enquiry Centre on (02) 4921 5000 or visit the UAC website
Our graduates earn above the average
Bachelor degree graduates from the University of Newcastle are paid more than the national average for their first professional job, according to the latest findings of the Australian Graduate Survey.
The 2009 survey of graduates found that the median starting salary of Newcastle graduates was $50,000, a $3,000 increase on 2008 figures and $2,000 more than the national average of $48,000 for graduates from other Australian Universities.
The top three-ranked fields for graduate studies were engineering $56,000, earth sciences $55,000 and physical sciences $52,000.