A university degree gives you the skills and qualifications for your dream career. How important is your ATAR? It’s natural to wonder if your ATAR will get into the course you want, but even if it’s not what you hoped for, there are still excellent pathways and options to help you achieve your goals.
You can get an accurate prediction of your raw and scaled study scores using our VCE Study Score Calculator or easily estimate your ATAR with our VCE ATAR Calculator. Once you have an idea of what your ATAR will be, use Deakin's find a course by ATAR tool to identify courses that interest you.
How important is your ATAR?
Amazing Year 12 performance isn’t the only way into uni. If you get a bad ATAR and it isn’t quite high enough for the course you really want or you don’t have the prerequisite subjects, there are alternate entry pathways to your ideal course.
You can still start studying at Deakin now and work toward your dream job. Here are some great options to get you started.
Enrol in a different course at Deakin
If your ATAR is too low for your ideal course, apply to study a different course with a lower ATAR that has similar subjects or major sequences. After successful completion of the first year, your demonstrated academic performance may make you eligible to transfer to your first choice. You would even get credit for the subjects you've completed. You might also be eligible to transfer from a single degree to a double degree, or from a general degree to a specialised one.
A good option is an associate degree in arts and education. These are transition courses into undergraduate study. When you complete a Deakin associate degree, you may be eligible for up to 18 months’ credit and guaranteed entry to courses to a bachelor degree at the University.
Study at a different Deakin campus
Many Deakin courses are offered on multiple campuses in Victoria and online. Entry requirements and ATAR may vary based on location. If your ATAR isn’t high enough for one campus, you may still be eligible to enrol at one of our other campuses. The quality and content of the course remains exactly the same and after your first trimester of study, you may be able to apply to transfer and take your course credits with you. Or you may fall in love with the campus where you started and want to continue your studies there.
Upgrade at Deakin College
If you got a bad ATAR, Deakin College offers guaranteed alternative pathways to your preferred course at Deakin University. Deakin College diplomas, in many of the University’s most popular areas, are thev equivalent of the first year of university. When you finish your diploma, you may be eligible to move straight into the second year of your chosen degree. And because Deakin College operated on our three campuses Melbourne Burwood and Geelong, you get the university experience right from the start.
Start with a single unit
You can still study a single unit if you get a low ATAR, giving you a taste of university study before committing to a whole course. After completing your units, you can apply to enrol in a full course and use them as credit towards your degree.
Deakin Guaranteed ATAR
Do you attend an under-represented school, live or study in a rural or regional location or come from an Indigenous background? We're providing lower upfront guaranteed ATARs for eligible students from under-represented cohorts, so you can secure a place in the course you want.
Other pathways to Deakin if you have a low ATAR
Around half of Deakin undergraduate students are admitted based solely on Year 12 results, while the other half follow a different pathway.
Start at TAFE
A qualification from a TAFE or private provider may give you the boost you need to start a degree. And it could even count towards your Deakin degree, with recognition of prior learning that reduces the time you study. Deakin also has guaranteed TAFE entry pathways for specific TAFE courses from eight TAFEs across Victoria and New South Wales. This means academic success at TAFE will guarantee you a place at Deakin afterwards. Use Deakin's credit for prior learning tool to see what you might be eligible for.
Transfer from another uni
Other universities may offer similar courses with lower ATAR entry requirements. If you enrol at another institution, you may be eligible to apply to transfer to Deakin for a similar course. And you could receive credit for the work you’ve already completed. Our mid-year intake options may mean you can transfer after only a few months.
Bring your work experience
Not every first-year student has come straight from high school. Work experience or industry training can help you gain entry to or credit towards a university course. Deakin considers all relevant experience that demonstrates your capacity to complete an undergraduate degree.
Take a special exam
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is a general aptitude test that shows whether you’re ready for tertiary study. If you've been out of high school for a year or more, a good STAT result can supplement a low ATAR when you apply for uni. Note that the test is most often sat by people with no formal qualifications or whose qualifications are outdated and not all courses or all institutions use the STAT for selection.
I was demotivated in Year 12, and stopped trying. A year later, I wanted to study journalism, so sat a Special Tertiary Admissions Test to supplement my low ATAR. A couple of months later, I was accepted into Deakin.
Penny Cannata
Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
Study support after you enrol
Did you find high school a challenge and are concerned about how you will succeed at uni? It might be easier than you think because Deakin is the #1 university for student support in Victoria.
Excellent teachers
Deakin is the top ranked Victorian university for teaching quality. Our instructors are dedicated to their field and want to make sure you understand difficult concepts so you succeed in your career.
Study support
Deakin has a dedicated support team to help with every aspect of study. You can talk to someone face-to-face or online about writing assessments, researching, finding resources, planning your trimester and more. They will help you identify pressure points in your calendar and give you tips on managing the busiest times.
Peer mentors
Book a mentor meet-up and hear how a fellow student finds time to study, get their advice on study skills or fitting in to uni. You can even have a study session led by a student who has successfully completed your unit.
Online resources
Deakin's website has tonnes of valuable resources from assignment planners to referencing guides. Have a good look through Study Support for an essential overview and helpful study advice.
Learn more and get advice about your pathway to study at Deakin
Rankings and footnotes
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.