With respect for Aboriginal cultural protocol and out of recognition that its campuses occupy their traditional lands, Western Sydney University acknowledges the Darug, Eora, Dharawal (also referred to as Tharawal) and Wiradjuri peoples and thanks them for their support of its work in their lands in Greater Western Sydney and beyond.
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1. About Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University is a world-class university with a growing international reach and reputation for academic excellence and impact-driven research. Ranked among the top two per cent of universities in the world, we value academic excellence, integrity and the pursuit of knowledge. We are globally focused, research-led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with. As a dynamic place of learning, we continue to challenge traditional notions of what a university ‘should’ be by pushing the boundaries of how knowledge is exchanged.
The College Diploma programs
The College at Western Sydney University provides students with a clear pathway to Western Sydney University through its comprehensive range of Preparation and Diploma programs. Small class sizes and individualised attention from academic staff provide a well-supported environment for students to succeed in their tertiary studies. Depending on your results, completion of a Diploma program guarantees you entry to the second year of the corresponding Bachelor degree at Western. Diploma programs are offered in a format to prepare students with a variety of skill levels, from those who have a competitive ATAR, to those who did not receive an ATAR at all or who have not studied for a long time.
Application is made through Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or through the Western Portal (free of charge) – refer to Pathway program descriptions for programs offered by The College (not all Diploma programs are available in each term).
For further information, visit The College or call 1300 668 370.
Western has campuses located in:
Bankstown City, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Nirimba (Blacktown), Parramatta, Parramatta City, Penrith, Sydney City, Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.
For more information, including campus maps and transport options, refer to Our Campuses.
Open Day –2 July 2023
Whether you are choosing a future career path, returning to study after some time in the workforce or a current high school student, the information at Western Sydney University Open Day can help steer you in the right direction.
Find out more about Open Day and register your interest.
University Semester Dates
Spring session: 24 July – 19 November 2023
Autumn session: 4 March – 30 June 2024
Spring session: 22 July – 17 November 2024
Sydney City campus
Trimester 2: 3 July – 8 October 2023
Trimester 3: 30 October 2023 – 11 February 2024
Trimester 1: 4 March – 9 June 2024
Trimester 2: 1 July – 6 October 2024
The College
Term 2: 3 July – 8 October 2023
Term 3: 30 October 2023 – 11 February 2024
Term 1: 4 March – 9 June 2024
Term 2: 1 July – 6 October 2024
Western Sydney University
Locked Bag 1797
Penrith NSW 2751
tel: 1300 668 370
website: westernsydney.edu.au
facebook: facebook.com/westernsydneyu
twitter: twitter.com/westernsydneyu
youtube: youtube.com/c/WesternSydneyU
2. Admission criteria
If you have completed or partly completed any university studies, you may be considered for admission on the basis of those studies.
Applicants with tertiary study may be eligible to apply for Credit for Prior Learning (see Section 5 – Enrolment for more information).
If you have completed or partly completed any TAFE courses or accredited AQF programs from private colleges, you may be considered for admission on the basis of those studies.
Completion of a Diploma from Western Sydney University, The College allows progression into the second year of the relevant degree at Western Sydney University. See The College for more information.
Applicants with VET study may be eligible to apply for Credit for Prior Learning (see Section 5 – Enrolment for more information).
If you have relevant work experience you can be considered for entry into most Western programs. A vocational rank, based on paid employment of one year or more, is determined by the type of work and the length of service detailed on a statement of service you must provide with your application.
Undergraduate Preparation Programs are designed for students who need to build up a set of academic study and subject skills before undertaking a university degree. These one- or two-term programs are ideally suited to students who: have not performed to their full potential in their HSC; do not possess the specific prerequisites or assumed knowledge for the degree of their choice; or have not studied for some time and need to bring their study skills up to date. Depending on your results, successful completion of The College Undergraduate Preparation Programs offers guaranteed direct entry into specific Western Sydney University first-year undergraduate programs.
If you have not completed an Australian Year 12, do not possess any formal degree, or want to improve your chances of selection, you are advised to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) – Multiple Choice. Western Sydney University will consider STAT results from 2020 onwards for admissions into 2023, or from 2021 onwards for admission into 2024. If you have more than one STAT result, we will consider your best results of any STAT sitting from 2020 or 2021 onwards. STAT is considered for all programs except those with additional selection criteria.
Bridging or Enabling Programs
If you do not have the assumed knowledge indicated in the program description, you are still eligible to apply for that program. Western Sydney University runs a number of bridging programs in February each year, before the start of session. Academic literacy and grammar workshops and Mathematics workshops are available to new and continuing students. While these bridging/enabling programs do not benefit students into gaining an offer to a program at Western Sydney University, they provide an opportunity for students to find out what is expected at university and to develop their academic skills in preparation for studying their degree.
- Regional Bonus Points - If you live or go to school in Western Sydney and are completing the NSW HSC or International Baccalaureate (IB) in 2023 you will automatically receive 5 bonus points when you apply through UAC or the Western Portal to study at Western Sydney University. If you are a non-current school leaver (not completing the HSC or IB at the time of applying to university) and live or study in the Western Sydney region you also automatically receive 5 bonus points when you apply through UAC or the Western Portal to study at Western Sydney University.
- Subject Bonus Points - Western Sydney University rewards outstanding academic achievement of 2023 HSC or IB students with up to 10 subject bonus points. You must achieve Band 5 or 6 results in HSC subjects relevant to the participating Western Sydney University course you want to study. This scheme does not apply to all undergraduate programs.
- Educational Access Scheme (EAS) - EAS bonus points are awarded to applicants who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage. To qualify, you must demonstrate that your educational performance during Year 11 and/or Year 12, or equivalent, has been seriously affected by circumstances beyond your control. EAS applications are processed centrally through UAC. If you have a record of tertiary study, your EAS eligibility for Western will always be ‘No’.
- Elite Athlete and Performer Bonus Scheme - Western Sydney University is recognised as an elite athlete-friendly university and welcomes applications for the Elite Athlete and Performer Bonus Scheme. If you have been disadvantaged during your current or previous Year 12 studies due to performance and training commitments, you are encouraged to apply to be awarded bonus points.
Criteria that may apply in addition to ATAR
All The Academy programs, i.e. Advanced programs, require a minimum ATAR or equivalent of 90.00 to be eligible for admission.
- 4758 Doctor of Medicine applicants must complete all additional requirements in their UAC application, register and sit the UCAT test and for those applicants who meet both UCAT and academic threshold, attend an interview in late November.
- 4684 Bachelor of Midwifery applicants who reach the academic threshold may be invited to attend an interview. Entry is based on both academic merit and performance at an interview.
Other admission options
1659 Bachelor of Music, 1655 Bachelor of Music (Dean's Scholars), 1841 Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries and 1838 Bachelor of Creative Industries (Music major only) students will be selected by either:
- interview/audition; or
- demonstrated level of attainment in 6th grade AMEB musical performance (instrument or voice) or equivalent, and 4th grade AMEB music theory and/or musicianship or equivalent; or
- successful completion of Music 1 or Music 2 in their 2023 HSC, with a band 4 or higher.
1571 Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication), 3729 Bachelor of Design and Technology, 3730 Bachelor of Industrial Design, 3731 Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) - Where academic requirements are not met, students may be selected by an interview and portfolio.
3753 Bachelor of Architectural Design - Where academic requirements are not met, entry by portfolio demonstrating creative ability may also be possible.
Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS)
Western Sydney University participates in the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS), processed centrally through UAC, allowing Year 12 students who are UAC applicants to receive early offers of undergraduate admission. SRS aims to assist access to higher education using selection criteria other than the ATAR, including school recommendations and senior secondary studies. For more information, please click here.
Interstate Year 12
For ACT, SA, NT, QLD, TAS, VIC and WA Year 12 applicants, the ATAR they receive from ACT BSSS, SATAC, TASC, VTAC and TISC respectively is equivalent to the NSW ATAR.
More information can be found on the Interstate page.
HSC True Reward
Western Sydney University offers the HSC True Reward program, which provides Year 12 students with an early offer into Western based on their HSC subject results, instead of the scaled ATAR. For 2024, offers will be based on Year 11 results and Year 12 results.
Offers based on Year 11 results will be made from September 2023. Offers based on Year 12 results will be made from December 2023 on the day of HSC results release. For more information on the True Reward program, including eligible programs click here.
3. Additional information
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Program is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who do not have a HSC or other degree, or who have an ATAR lower than required for their chosen program.
There are three steps to complete an application:
1. Apply through the Western Portal (make sure you indicate you wish to be considered for the Pathway Program)
2. Confirmation of Aboriginality and Torres Strait Islander Identity and complete the forms available here
3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pathway Program (August and November dates available)
Australian citizens, permanent residents of Australia or Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders with overseas degrees can contact Western Sydney University to discuss eligibility for admission.
Overseas degrees must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian degrees in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
If you hold degrees from countries where English is not the standard language of instruction, you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.
If you have not completed secondary education within Australia, in order to meet English Language Proficiency Requirements, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- A minimum of 4 years completed Australian Secondary studies but you were not eligible for an ATAR/UAI/TER.
- Australian university studies where the minimum full-time equivalence is one semester.
- Completed overseas University studies where the full length of the course is taught in English and the duration of the course is a minimum full-time equivalence of one year. Your degree will be assessed by the University on a case-by-case basis.
- IELTS test with 6.5 overall (min. 6.0 in each subtest)
Please note: Some courses have specific English language proficiency requirements, which may differ from the above.
For more information, visit Western’s UAC English Language Requirements webpage.
4. How to apply
Applications are now open for undergraduate programs. Domestic students can apply either:
- Directly to Western Sydney University through our Western Direct Application (free of charge); or
- Through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Early offer opportunities (before ATAR release):
- Schools Recommendation Schemes (SRS) - for Year 12 students who apply through UAC by 18 September 2023 and could be eligible for a huge range of programs before ATARs are released.
- HSC True Reward - for Year 12 students who apply through the Western Portal and who can receive an offer on the basis of their subject results in either Year 11 or Year 12, not ATAR.
For more information, visit our How to Apply page.
5. Enrolment
To accept your offer and enrol, you need to activate your student account (called your 'WesternAccount').
This account gives you access to all our online services (including My Student Records (MySR) – your online student record, the Library, your student email account and more).
You'll need your Western Student ID number (which is sent to you with your offer). If you're having problems finding this, please call our course information line 1300 668 370.
Credit for Prior Learning is recognition of prior experience and/or studies. When you apply for credit, we will assess your application and may award you Credit for Prior Learning in the program in which you are currently studying in recognition of what you have achieved.
At Western Sydney University, we have two types of credit for previous study:
- Pathways Credit - If you have completed a Diploma or Advanced Diploma that is listed as an approved Western Sydney University tertiary education pathway, you may be eligible to claim pathways credit. Check your eligibility here.
- Credit for Prior Learning - You can apply for credit for previously completed studies at the level of at least a diploma. Credit is applied for through an online form after an offer has been accepted and you’ve progressed through the enrolment steps. Apply for Credit for Prior Learning here.
For most programs, you may be able to defer your offer for a maximum of 12 months to start at a later date through MySR.
For more information about deferring an offer, please visit Domestic Student Deferment Information.
Tuition fees
As a student, you will need to pay a number of fees throughout your studies, depending on your degree and your enrolment status. These fees may include student contribution and tuition fees. If you're eligible, you may also be able to obtain a HELP loan for payment of your student contribution or tuition fees.
Fees for undergraduate International students are different than for local students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, NZ citizens, and holders of an Australian permanent resident humanitarian visa).
For more information, please visit out Fees webpage.
SSAF
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a fee all students pay, which funds services and amenities including sporting and recreational activities, employment and career advice, health and welfare, study skills programs, orientation, child care, financial advice, overseas student services and food services.
The University consults with students and their representatives about what you see as the priorities for student services and amenities. For more information, please visit our SSAF webpage.
6. Student Profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at the institution. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available, including those admitted through all offer rounds, across all Australian campuses, and international students studying in Australia.
7. Where to get further information
Acknowledgement of Country
