Career News
Commencement of Compulsory Pathway Interviews with Year 12 Students and Applying for University through UAC
This is a crucial period for Year 12 students to begin seriously considering the course or career they want to pursue after completing Year 12. To assist them in making informed decisions, Pathway Interviews will begin on 10 April.
The following important information was emailed to Year 12 students this week. I recommend that they take some time during the upcoming school holidays to read through this material and conduct further research.
Applying for university courses through UAC (Universities Admission Centre)
Below is a link to UAC that provides information on how to start a UAC application. The purpose of initiating a UAC application is to apply for courses at universities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. This process allows students to apply to multiple universities with a single application, monitor the progress of their application, and receive updates on offers. A fee is associated with starting this application, so access to a credit card is required.
The application period for university study through UAC opens on 3 April. Please note that students have until the end of September to complete their application. While not all courses may be immediately available for selection in UAC, they will all be listed by August. However, students residing in areas classified within the lowest 25% of the 'socio-economic indexes for areas' (SEIFA) should start their application as soon as possible to determine eligibility for any associated benefits. If eligible, UAC will notify the student via email. In this case, students should schedule an appointment to meet with me before the middle of next term to discuss available opportunities.
UAC Pins
The UAC pin is required when applying for University through UAC. Students will receive their pin to their personal email address (the one registered with NESA). If a student does not receive their UAC pin, they will need to contact UAC on 9752-0200 to request it. Please note, the school does not have access to student's UAC pins. When contacting UAC, they will require the student's ID.
UAC Publication – Steps to Uni for Year 11 and 12 Students
The guide below offers information on calculation of the ATAR, applying for university, early offers, Educational Access Scheme (EAS), School Recommendation Scheme (SRS), changing preferences and accepting offers.
UAC Guide 2024-25
The UAC Guide for 2024-25 has not yet been published or provided online. The link to the UAC Guide for 2023-24 is provided below. There will be some changes as additional courses may be offered in the 2024-2025 guide. The link to the 2024-2025 UAC Guide will be provided once the new guide is available. UAC is no longer issuing hard copies of these guides.
UAC Video
Below is a link to a video from UAC that provides guidance on the ATAR and applying for university, including details on the School Recommendation Scheme and Educational Access Scheme.
Careers Pathway Interviews and Questionnaire
The compulsory Pathway Interviews will commence in Week 11, starting on Wednesday, 10 April, once Year 12 students receive their half yearly reports. Students can start booking appointments now.
Students should attempt to schedule the appointment during their study period. If this isn't feasible, students will need to obtain permission from their class teacher to attend the interview during class time.
If students wish to include a parent/carer in the interview, they should notify me. A virtual meeting can be arranged via Teams, or if preferred, in my office for an in-person discussion.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS) – SEIFA Disadvantage (living in the lowest 25% socio-economic areas)
If a student resides in the lowest 25% of the 'socio-economic indexes for areas' (SEIFA), they will be eligible for an adjustment (bonus) towards their ATAR and may qualify for:
- USYD MySydney Scheme – Reduced ATAR and a scholarship of $8,500 per year.
- UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway – Reduced ATAR and a one-off cash scholarship of $10,000 in the first year. Apply by 21 July for early offers and by 8 November for the second offer round.
Applicants will receive an email notifying them of their eligibility for an EAS adjustment based on their SEIFA classification, the day after submitting a UAC application. If students do not receive this email, this indicates they are not eligible for the USYD and UNSW schemes mentioned above. Therefore, students are recommended to start their UAC application as soon as possible if they feel their area may be eligible.
Educational Access Scheme – P01A: Disability or long-term medical condition disadvantage
If a student is receiving disability provisions approved by NESA, they may be excluded from submitting certain paperwork when applying for EAS. The information about providing a NESA disability provision and original provision application is listed under P01A (EAS circumstances you can claim and required documents - UAC) Scroll down to ‘Personal illness/disability’.
In summary, an Educational Impact Statement (prepared by me) or a Medical Impact Statement (completed by a Specialist) isn't required if the original NESA medical application can be uploaded along with the NESA grant of provisions document. These documents can be combined to complete a full P01A assessment. In this situation, the only necessary application is the Applicant Statement completed by the student.
Joanne Cupac
Head of Vocational Education and Careers