ATAR
If you graduated from Year 12 with an ATAR, you can use your ATAR to be considered for admission to any of our undergraduate courses.
Each course has a minimum ATAR of 60, 70 or 80. This is the minimum rank you must achieve after applying any adjustment factors (see below for details). To find the minimum ATAR find your course and check under the entry requirements tab.
CDU accepts ATAR (or equivalent) of any age; you don’t have to be a current school leaver.
ATAR related adjustments
CDU offers two adjustment point schemes:
- University Equity Scheme for Year 12 completers from selected schools.
- Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme. Offered to Year 12 students who studied specific subjects at school.
| Adjustment type | Number of points |
| University equity scheme | 5 |
| University language, literacy and mathematic scheme | 2 or 4 |
| Total maximum points | 9 |
Any adjustments will be applied to the university aggregate (not the ATAR) from which selection ranks are calculated.
Best of 3
Completed Year 12 but didn’t get an ATAR? Or didn’t get the ATAR you needed to enter your chosen course? Don’t worry. You may still receive an offer for any remaining places based on your Year 12 subject grades.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you:
- Are applying to study a CDU undergraduate course in any semester in the year following your Year 12/13 completion; and
- Are currently enrolled in your last year of high school (Year 12/13).
- Are completing Year 12 (and receiving their certificate) prior to class commencement.
- Have (or expect to receive) at least 3 letter grades of A-C in 20 credit point TAS subjects.
How to apply?
To be considered for this pathway, you simply need to:
- Submit a SATAC application with a CDU preference.
- Ensure your school candidate number is in your application/you have your Year 12 results in your application. SATAC can typically get this directly from the school board with your candidate number.
Assessment and Offers
Your application will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Your best three A-C letter grades from 20 credit point TAS subjects.
Offers will be made after school/ATAR results are released in December.
Eligible courses:
You can apply for the following courses with this pathway:
- Bachelor of Computer Science
- Bachelor of Environmental Science
- Bachelor of Information Technology
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Humanitarian Aid and Development
- Bachelor of Health Science
- Bachelor of Health Services Management
- Bachelor of Public Health
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science
- Bachelor of Digital Enterprise
- Bachelor of Business
- Bachelor of Accounting/Diploma of Laws
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Associate Degree of Information and Communication Technology
- Associate Degree of Network Engineering
- Associate Degree of Exercise and Sports Science
- Diploma of Network Engineering
- Diploma of Engineering
- Diploma of Indigenous Research
- Diploma of Health Science
- Diploma of Social Care
- Diploma of Arts
- Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science
- Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs Practice
- Diploma of Counselling
- Diploma of Psychology
- Diploma of Science
- Diploma of Educational Studies
- Diploma of Laws
- Diploma of Digital Enterprise
School Recommendation Program
CDU understands there is more to student success than your final ATAR results. That’s why we offer a School Recommendation pathway for our current school leavers. Through this pathway, we will consider your school’s recommendation as well as your final ATAR ranking.
Application form (PDF, 260.16 KB)
Who can apply?
This pathway is open to current school leavers who are:
- Applying to study a CDU undergraduate course in any semester in the year following your Year 12/13 completion.
- Currently enrolled in your last year of high school (Year 12/13).
How to Apply
To apply for this program, you need to:
- Have a current South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) application for a CDU course.
- Complete Section 1 of the below form.
- Have your School Principal or your chosen delegate complete Section 2 of the form.
- Submit the completed form to admissions@cdu.edu.au by 1 November.
Assessment and offers.
Your application will be assessed on the following factors:
- School Recommendation scoring.
- Year 12 performance, including the final ATAR score.
- Applicant Statement.
Note that applying with a school recommendation doesn’t guarantee an offer.
If successful, you’ll be offered your chosen course through SATAC. If you’re unsuccessful in applying for your preferred course, we’ll contact you to discuss other pathway options.