29 Dec 2014

There are many reasons why you might not get the Year 12 results you wanted. Universities understand this, so they offer bonus points which will help boost your score. Most universities offer bonus points, and they’re available to almost any school leaver–no matter your experience, background or academic history. You may have heard to get bonus points you have to be some kind of elite athlete, music genius or be financially disadvantaged, but that isn’t true.

Here are six common bonus point schemes you should consider.

1. Subject Bonus Points

When universities see a student who is acing their science subjects and wants to pursue a degree in science, they do the math. Good science student + science degree = awesome career in science. This student might only be scraping by in Home Economics, but if they want to be a scientist, why does that matter? Universities get this, so they’re willing to offer bonus points on the subjects that you do well in and are related to your chosen degree.

The best part, a lot of the time bonus points are awarded automatically if you list a participating university in your preferences, so you don’t even have to apply! Just nail the subjects you’re good at and let the bonus points come to you.

2. School Relationship Bonus

Many universities want to increase their accessibility to school leavers, so they have a number of access schemes that can award you bonus points just for living where you live. Pretty sweet, right?

School relationship bonuses focus on giving bonus points to students if they attend a school that has a strong relationship with the university, or is in close proximity to the campus. So, if you’re planning on heading to a university that’s close to your high school, you might just be eligible for some extra points.

These are often automatically added by the Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) when you list participating universities in your preferences. You can check with your universities of interest if you would be eligible for this bonus.

3. Campus Bonus

Campus bonuses are awarded to students living in areas that are identified as being important to the university. If you live in one of these areas, your bonus points will automatically be added by the TAC. You can check with your university of interest if you would be eligible for this bonus.

Let’s say you didn’t do your best in the Year 12 exams. If you live in one of the areas identified as eligible for a campus bonus, you’ve already bumped up your admission score. If that still doesn’t get you into your chosen degree, remember bonus points can be accumulative. So, if you’re an elite performer or have experienced hardship during your studies, you might be able to nab some more bonus points to bump up your score. If neither of these apply to you, check out these other cheats  for getting into university.

4. Region Schools Bonus

Thinking you probably won’t be eligible for any of the previous schemes? Don’t worry, it’s not over yet. If you attended a high school in a regional area, then you’re probably eligible for regional schools bonus points without needing to apply.

Live in a regional area and you’re a rock-star cricketer? You could be looking at up to ten extra bonus points to add to your admission score. If you live somewhere remote and you’ve had limited access to education, many universities still see your potential, and they’ll reward you for it. Who knew you could get extra points just for living far away?

5. Special Entry Access Schemes

Not everyone has the same opportunities when it comes to education. You may have experienced hardship or sickness during your studies, or had a home life which required you to put more time into responsibilities other than school. You could be financially disadvantaged, disabled, or struggle with the English language–all of which can have a major impact on your studies.

TACs want to hear about these experiences. If you would like to be awarded bonus points that will help you get access to university, you should submit an application for the Special Entry Access Scheme, or the Educational Access Scheme. There’s nothing to lose in applying, and you might just be given an opportunity you’ve never had before.

6. Elite Athletes Program

Heavily involved in sport? Then you know how much time and effort it takes. You’ve got training, competitions, workouts–and all of this takes time away from your studies. Being an elite athlete often means your grades don’t get the attention they deserve, but that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. You can be awarded bonus points just for doing what you love best, and on top of that, many universities will further support you through your tertiary studies if you wish to keep sport in your life.

You’ll have to apply for the elite athletes programs separately, but you can get up to five bonus points. If you want to keep a happy balance of sport and study, a program like this is perfect for you.

Keen to grab some bonus points? Check out what your university has to offer.