Homestead Careers and Pathways Newsletter

What is Early Entry 

More Early Entry Information is on Compass > HSSC Curriculum > Pathways > Year 12 Pathways

 

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Early entry: Quick facts

Early entry programs: Your fast-track to university offers

Early entry FAQs

Early entry: Quick facts

If you're in Year 12 this year, you've probably already started thinking about university. But you don't need to wait until the end of the year - you can secure your place at university before you sit your end of year exams. Read on to learn some interesting facts about early entry.

 

What is early entry? 

Early entry gives you the chance to receive an offer to university before you've finished your exams. This can give you peace of mind and help you be more relaxed during what can be a stressful time.

One important thing to note is that most early offers are conditional - this means you need to meet one or more 'conditions' before your offer becomes final. Common conditions include things like completing Year 12, achieving a minimum ATAR, or completing prerequisite subjects.

 

How do I apply for early entry? 

Most universities manage their own early entry programs, so you'll be applying directly instead of through a Tertiary Admission Centre (though sometimes you'll need to apply through both).

Unfortunately, this means they all have different application processes and dates.

But don't worry. Each year, we compile a guide with key information on every early entry program available in Australia, making it easy to find the information you need. You can grab the latest edition of the Early Entry Guide from the pathways office

 

Quick facts about early entry 

Curious to learn more? We've put together some interesting facts about early entry over the last year, and what you might be able to expect this year. You can read them in our infographic here.

 

Early-Entry-Infographic-2025.jpg

Early entry programs: Your fast-track to university offers

Exciting times are ahead as you start thinking about and planning for life after high school. By now, you've probably heard all the buzz about early entry programs - they've been around for a while, but if you still aren't 100% sure what they're all about or if you could be eligible, then you're in the right place.

 

What are early entry programs and why should you care? 

Early entry programs let you secure a university offer before your final exams or ATAR results are released. That's right – you could have a uni offer in your pocket while still finishing Year 12. So if you're planning on heading to uni next, this option could be worth applying for to reduce some of the stress in your final year.

 

Not just for academic superstars 

Here's something many students don't realise: early entry isn't exclusively for those with perfect grades. Universities offer various programs which take into account:

  • Community involvement and volunteering
  • Leadership experiences
  • Personal circumstances and challenges overcome
  • School recommendations
  • Portfolio submissions (for creative courses)
  • Subject-specific achievements

And that's not a complete list. There are lots of eligibility criteria that might apply - you'll just need to check each program or institution for the details. Some programs look at your Year 11 results and other qualities, making early entry accessible to a much wider range of students than you might think.

 

Prepare for early entry applications 

Most early entry programs open mid-year and close in September/October, so if you're not already preparing for early entry but would like to have a go, you might need to start getting organised ASAP.

If you are keen to give early entry a shot, here's what we recommend next:

 

Research available programs 

Each university has different early entry programs with varied eligibility requirements. Start researching which universities offer programs aligned with your interests and strengths.

 

Gather your supporting materials 

Depending on the program, you might need:

  • Academic transcripts
  • Personal statements
  • References from teachers/mentors
  • Evidence of extracurricular activities
  • Portfolios (for creative disciplines)

Having all these documents ready to go will make applying a breeze.

 

Perfect your personal statement 

Some applications require a personal statement explaining why you want to study your chosen course for example. Start brainstorming your educational journey, aspirations, and what makes you unique. 

 

Talk to your school's careers advisor 

They're experts in helping students to navigate this process along with all the other important phases of high school. So why not book an appointment to discuss which early entry programs might suit you best and ask any other questions you might have?

 

What if you don't receive an early offer? 

While it can definitely be disheartening, early entry is just one of the many pathways to university. If you don't receive an offer, it's absolutely not the end of your journey. You can still:

  • Apply through the traditional ATAR pathway
  • Consider TAFE qualifications that provide university credit
  • Look into portfolio entry options
  • Explore foundation or pathway programs
  • Take a gap year to gain experience and reapply

Early entry FAQs

We know that Year 12 is big - huge, in fact. You probably already have a lot on your plate, but have you thought about early entry? It's a pathway to university that could save you a whole lot of time and stress later in the year. If you have some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about early entry, we're here to provide you with all the answers.

 

What is early entry? 

Some universities and Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs) have programs in place that allow them to process applications for specific programs that allow offers to be issued before the main rounds begin after the academic year is over. By applying for one of these programs, you could receive an offer earlier than if you apply through the normal process, often before you've even sat your end of year exams.

It's a way to give you some peace of mind knowing you have a place secured at university next year and one less thing to stress about during exam time.

 

Who is eligible to apply for early entry? 

Each program has it's own eligibility criteria, but here are some of the most common:

  • Academic achievement
  • Community involvement, e.g. volunteering
  • Leadership roles, e.g. school leader, team captain
  • Disadvantage - consideration of factors that may have cause challenges to your studies during your final years e.g. financial, social, or physical

If there's a program you’re really interested in applying for but you’re unsure if you meet the criteria, it’s definitely worth doing some more research. Get in touch with the university or TAC and ask what your options might be.

Which universities have early entry programs? 

A lot of universities now provide early entry programs. Here's a list:

Don't see your chosen university on this list? You might like to contact them directly anyway and ask about their pathway options.

Note: many of these programs are still showing information from 2024, and it is up to the university whether they will be offered again in 2025. Dates, courses, and eligibility requirements are subject to change.

 

When can I expect to receive an early offer? 

Each program is different; some of them might send you an offer within a couple of weeks of submitting your application, while for others you may need to wait until later in the year. But all of them will send out offers earlier than the normal application timeline.

However, in 2024 in Australia the Universities Accord recommendation was adopted that "university offers to secondary school students in 2025 and 2026 should not be issued before September in the preceding year."

 

When do applications open? 

Some programs are opening now or very soon, and closing dates can come around as quick as the end of Term 2. So make sure that you carefully check the key dates for all the programs you’re interested in to ensure you don’t miss out.

 

What is a conditional offer? 

If you receive an offer, be proud! It means that the university definitely sees your potential and thinks you’ll be a great candidate to study with them. Usually, the offer you’ll receive will be “conditional” – basically, this means it comes with conditions. For example, your offer might be conditional on you achieving a certain ATAR or completing specific subjects.

If you fail to meet the conditions of your offer, it might expire. But you can still always apply through the normal processes, as well as see what your alternative pathway options are.

 

What’s the difference between guaranteed and conditional offers? 

Guaranteed offers are much less common than conditional offers. As the name suggests, once you receive a guaranteed offer, your place at university is secured, no matter what.

But do note that some conditions still apply in extreme circumstances (e.g. not finishing Year 12 may void your guaranteed offer). Make sure you thoroughly check the small print before accepting any offer.

 

What are the advantages of applying for early entry? 

If you're still unsure about whether to apply, here are a few benefits to consider:

  • Get the applications requirements out of the way now, instead of worrying about it when you're already busy with study
  • Enjoy the security of knowing you already have an offer before going into exams
  • Many programs have scholarships, bursaries, and other perks affiliated with them
  • It can help you concentrate better on schoolwork later in the year
  • You could get a head start on getting organised for life at university
  • If you’ll be moving away from home, you can get your accommodation applications in early
  • You could save money, as the majority of early entry program applications are free (whereas TACs charge a fee for the application process)
  • There's no commitment - you don’t have to accept any offers and can still apply through the traditional route later in the year

How many early entry programs can I apply for? 

As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for every early entry program on offer. There are no limits, and applying for one program will never make you ineligible for another.

 

What happens if I receive more than one early offer? 

There is a chance you could receive multiple offers, and there's nothing wrong with that - it just broadens your choices. But you can only accept one of them. So think carefully before making any final decision, and of course don't forget to reply to your other offers with a 'no'.

 

What happens if I don’t receive any early offers? 

You might be disappointed if you don’t receive an offer, but that’s about as serious as it gets. You can still apply to the same university and course through the traditional application system later in the year.

On the bright side, now that you're familiar with the application process, you’ll find it easier and quicker next time, and you’ll probably have all the documentation you need already organised.

 

Early entry sounds great – what’s next? 

If you think you're ready, the last thing to do is apply.

Each program and university has their own processes and systems, so navigating it all can seem like a bit of a nightmare. That's why each we created the Early Entry Guide - it details all the different options available, eligibility criteria, important key dates and deadlines, and much more.

When the Early Entry guide is available we will share it with you!