10 Jun 2020

Throughout your last couple years at school, heaps of emphasis is placed on that ATAR number. Especially during exam time, there’s a lot of pressure to get the highest ATAR possible in order to ensure you can get into university and have a “successful future”.

Well, we’re here to tell you that this pressure is pretty unnecessary. Sure, it's good to strive to do your best and your ATAR can open some doors, but it is by no means the be-all-and-end-all of your future. Nor is it the end of the road to university.

If you’re someone who isn’t planning on getting an ATAR, or someone who is worried about not getting super high marks but still wants to head to uni, don’t fret. There are lots of different pathways into uni that don’t depend on that pesky ATAR.

Known for being an equal opportunity provider, our mates over at the University of Newcastle wanna show you all of their options that don’t require an ATAR, the kind that focus on your real skills and abilities that aren’t necessarily assessible in a two-hour exam.

If you don’t get the marks you were after, are studying non-ATAR, or know that you’re not the strongest in exams, the options available to you will open up heaps of doors to uni that you never thought were there before. Regardless of your background, level of previous education, or accessibility to study, they’ve got ya back.

With all kinds of pathways for different needs, it’s no wonder that the University of Newcastle has got themselves a 5-star rating for social equity and a rep as one of the top providers of these types of programs in Australia. They’re really keen to help everyone get the same chance at university, so they’ve got pathway and entry schemes such as Open Foundation and Newstep, as well as support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, or those from regional and rural areas who maybe don’t have easy access to education.

They’ve also got stuff sorted for those coming from TAFE, elite athletes or people who have experienced educational, financial and other disadvantages. The University of Newcastle is dedicated to giving every one if its students a fair opportunity to succeed in following their career goals, and we rate ‘em for it.

The ATAR is often talked-up to be this super important and all-powerful number, which can be daunting leading up to your final days at school. But it’s just not the case. For those of you who are concerned that your marks won’t get you where you need to go, think again. This university’s pathway options are all about getting you exactly where you want to be, bridging that gap between you and your goals regardless of who you are or where you’re from. 

Suss out more information about the University of Newcastle over here.