Academic entry requirements

Charles Sturt University Sydney and Melbourne

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Admission information

You’ll generally fit into one of the following categories when you apply to university. The admission criteria and eligibility requirements are different for each of them.

You’re an international student if you are not an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident of Australia.

 Entry requirements for international students

To meet the minimum entry requirements at Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus, you’ll need to:

  • have previously completed a minimum of two subjects at university, and
  • be able to demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) achieved in these studies. 

To meet the minimum entry requirements at Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus, you must have either:

  • previously completed a Certificate III or higher qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) from a registered training provider, OR
  • completed more than 50 per cent of a Diploma level qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) from a registered training provider.

You must also be able to demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success through these studies. 

If you completed your Year 12 qualification more than two years ago, you could still use your results to apply for entry into Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus.

If you completed high school before 2009, your rank may have a different name. In Australian, you may have acquired a Universities Admission Index (UAI). If you completed your HSC at TAFE, this is considered a secondary qualification and you’ll be eligible for an ATAR.

If you completed Year 12 interstate: ENTER, TER and OP

If you have an interstate qualification, you still have the same chance of selection as a student from NSW with an equivalent overall result.

Ranking systems from other Australian states include:

  • Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) in Victoria
  • Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) in South Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Western Australia
  • Overall Position (OP) in Queensland

An ATRA of 81.00 is equal to a TER of 81.00 and an ENTER of 81.00. To see how the OP compares, take a look at the OP-ATAR conversion table published by UAC.

Some Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus courses are open to you if you have demonstrated work or life experience in a relevant area. Our Course Director will make this assessment for you. Take a look at your course online to see if work and life experience are listed as a criteria for successful application.

While academic achievement is not the main criteria for a successful application, you may be asked to complete the special tertiary admissions test (STAT).

You’ll need a minimum score of 144, or provide additional academic supporting information, to be able to demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success in the academic components of the course. It’s just our way of making sure you’ll be ok once you get started. 

Entry to Charles Sturt University Sydney Campus is assessed on your academic results, and your performance in additional selection criteria as set out for each course. This might also include an assessment based on an interview or portfolio.

Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is the mark of overall achievement given to a Year 12 student in NSW and the ACT. You can obtain your ATAR by satisfactorily completing at least 10 units of ATAR courses during your Higher School Certificate (HSC).

When we determine eligibility for highly competitive courses, we move down the ranking list for each of the competitive programs and make offers until no more places are left. When determining eligibility to less competitive courses, we’ll assess on the basis of rank to the minimum ATAR for the course. 

Additional requirements that may apply

For some of our courses, you’ll need to attend an interview or supply a portfolio in addition to submitting your main application. We’ll assess your performance in these areas along with your academic grades. Check the online course information for specific requirements. 

What if I don’t meet the eligibility criteria?

If you don’t meet the entry requirements, call one of our helpful Courses Advisors to discuss your options.

More information for Australian applicants

Useful links for Australian applicants

How to accept your offer

To secure your place at Charles Sturt University Sydney, follow these steps to accept your offer.

FEE-Help & fees

Eligible students can access the FEE-HELP loan scheme, which can cover all or part of their diploma tuition fees.

Special entry access scheme