Year 12 Students

-Courses & Events

Early Entry Program Applications Now Open 

Applications for our Early Entry Program are now open for Semester 1, 2025. Our free Early Entry Program means students can receive an offer to study at the University of Newcastle before commencing HSC exams. 

Our Early Entry Program is limited to domestic Year 12 students completing either their NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) or ACT Senior Secondary Certificate (ACT SSC). Offers are conditional on students completing the HSC or equivalent. Applicants must be undertaking a study pattern indicative of eligibility for an ATAR in Year 12.  

Key Dates 

• 8 April – Early Entry Program applications open 
• 5 September – Round 1 early offers released 
• 19 September – Round 2 early offers released 
• 4 October – Round 3 early offers released 

Eligible applicants will receive only one early offer. Students should consider this when completing their preferences. After receiving an early offer, recipients cannot change their preferences to receive multiple offers in later rounds. 

Students can apply below

Further information about our Early Entry Program will be shared at upcoming Careers Advisers webinars and workshops. 

HSC Subject Specific Webinars – June 

In partnership with InspirationED, University of Newcastle will be offering Year 12 students additional HSC support through a series of HSC subject specific webinars running in June. Led by senior HSC markets, the sessions will delve into effective study techniques, exam hacks and strategies for excelling in the HSC. 

Newcastle UNI Nursing pathway: 

(Please see yr 12 canvas course)

We are pleased to advise that the School Based Traineeship (SBT) admission pathway to the Bachelor of Nursing has been approved for 2024 NSW HSC students.  The SBT admission pathway is now open to applicants from all Local Health Districts within NSW.  

To be considered for 2025 entry under the School Based Traineeship pathway, applicants must inform the domestic admissions team at the University of Newcastle by emailing 

  Their applications will then be manually reviewed and assessed, as applicants will not be automatically identified.  

To be eligible for admission via this pathway, applicants must satisfy all listed criteria:

·         Be a current school leaver, completing the NSW HSC in 2024 or have completed the NSW HSC in 2023 and;

·         Successfully complete the NSW Department of Education School Based Traineeship, including:

1.      Completed Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care) HLT33115; and  

2.      NESA HSC Human Services courses, including either codes 27109 and 27101 OR 27109 and 27102; and  

3.      Successful completion and accumulation of 100 days/shifts of industry-based learning in a recognised public hospital across the NSW Health system. This must be equal to at least a minimum of 700 hours of paid on the job training.  

Documentary evidence must be provided for assessment purposes and be able to support the above requirements. Clear colour copies or certified copies of supporting documents must be uploaded to the applicant’s UAC application, including:

·         Completed Higher School Certificate (HSC) and Record of Achievement, which lists the Human Services courses; and

·         A letter for NSW Health that verifies a minimum of 700 hours of industry-based learning has been completed by the applicant; and

·         Certificate of Proficiency issued from the NSW Department of Education and Training to support that the traineeship was successfully completed.

Once applicants have completed their HSC, obtained their supporting materials, and uploaded them to UAC, they are required to email the University of Newcastle Admissions team at admissions@newcastle.edu.au so that the application can be reviewed. Applicants must not forget to list their VET Certificate III qualification in their UAC application. Applicants should always include their UAC application number in any correspondence.  

For further information on entry requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing, please visit the UAC or University of NewcastleLinks to an external site. websites.