1. Why should my child attend Macquarie University?
Macquarie is known for providing students with a quality, world-class education, as well as opportunities for students to supplement their degree with extra skills and experiences. We invite students to participate in the Global Leadership Program, volunteer on international aid projects or study overseas as well as fully participate in all areas of campus life.
All of these programs are designed to enhance the educational experience and provide students with greater prospects of employment opportunities. It is this combination of excellence in education and unique extra-curricular opportunities that ensure Macquarie students are some of the most highly paid graduates in the country .
2. What are the entry requirements?
The best resource to get all this information is on our Course Finder pages. Students should check selection ranks for each course, and make sure they understand that selection ranks are not ATAR alone, but are in fact a combination of their ATAR and any adjustment factors they may be eligible for.
Each course has an entry requirements tab which details, for example, English language requirements, as well as prerequisites, assumed knowledge and recommended knowledge.
3. What if a student didn’t go as well in the HSC as they’d hoped?
We tend to encounter this question once ATARs have been released. If a student didn't quite make it into their dream degree, they may be able to gain entry through the following options:
- Students should first consider diversifying their range of preferences when they are thinking about what courses to apply for at university – for example, they might select a degree with a lower selection rank (preferably in a related area of study). Students can also gain entry into their desired degree through Macquarie’s flexible internal transfer program after meeting the transfer criteria. For some degrees, transfers are even possible in just one session.
- Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Foundation programs offered at Macquarie also allow a seamless transition into their chosen Macquarie degree, with no time lost. For example, successful completion of a diploma allows students to commence in the second year of their chosen degree, while an undergraduate certificate provides one semester of credit.
4. What if a student hasn’t done many activities for Leaders and Achievers?
We understand the pandemic situation may have impacted a student's ability to complete community involvement, which is a component of our Leaders and Achievers early entry scheme. They should consider any activities they completed in Year 11 or Year 12. They need to provide a minimum of two activities.
Their application will be reviewed on their responses, not how much time they have spent on the activity. We want to know about their involvement, what they have learnt and how their activity may have impacted the community.
5. Is ATAR the only thing that matters?
At Macquarie, we’ve long recognised that you’re more than just your ATAR. Rather, we recognise that you’re an individual with different strengths, interests and personal circumstances. This is why we offer a range of entry schemes:
- Macquarie Leaders and Achievers early entry scheme, where eligible students have performed well in Year 11 and can demonstrate initiative and commitment through leadership, community, sport or casual work activities.
- The Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) through which you can receive an early offer to study at Macquarie before your receive your ATAR. The scheme, which you apply for through UAC. uses Year 11 results and your school’s rating of your aptitude for university study.
- Adjustment Factors, which take into consideration your achievements, location and circumstance. These are added to your ATAR and boost your selection rank
- The UAC Educational Access Scheme (EAS), which considers educational or social disadvantage. (Apply through UAC).
- Guaranteed entry, in which students are guaranteed an offer if their selection rank is the same or above the previous year’s rank for the course in question.
- Pathways options – including Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Foundation programs, all available at Macquarie
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entry Pathway (ATSIEP), through which Indigenous people can apply for an early offer; if they have not completed HSC or received an ATAR score lower than required for their chosen degree; or if they are a mature-aged student.
6. How can students maximise the opportunities across entry schemes?
It's highly encouraged for students to consider all possible entry points and to not limit themselves! As the saying goes, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket". Applying through all available schemes relevant to a student will increase students' chances of getting an offer or even multiple offers.
- Apply to as many early entry schemes as possible, including Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander entry (if applicable).
- Complete your UAC application before early bird deadline in September to avoid higher fee.
- Have a look at Macquarie’s Adjustment Factors. You will need to apply for adjustment factors that are not automatically applied. These include the Duke of Edinburgh scheme; Elite Athletes and Artistic Performers; and the Educational Access Scheme (EAS).
7. How do Adjustment Factors work exactly?
With Adjustment Factors, you can receive up to 15 points across seven schemes to add to your ATAR. For example, if you live in Macquarie’s catchment regions, you receive five points, and if you live in rural or regional Australia, up to 9 points.
Performing well in Year 12 HSC subjects that correspond to Macquarie University courses listed in your UAC preferences is worth up to 6 points, while completing the Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, Queen’s Scout or Queen’s Guide Awards can also add up to 6 points.
If you have experienced educational or social disadvantage or other special circumstances that may have hindered your year 11 or 12 academic performance, you can apply through UAC for up to 5 points under the Educational Access Scheme. See here for all the details.
8. What is Combined Studies and how does it work?
Want to study two degrees that are not already offered as a double degree combination? That’s where combined studies comes in. A Bachelor of Combined Studies is what you need to apply for through UAC if you wish to choose your own double-degree combination.
Here’s how to do it:
- The UAC code for selecting your Combined Studies degrees is 302000 – it’s a single UAC code as otherwise there would be hundreds of combinations.
- When the UAC code above is selected, students will need to nominate the two areas of study from a pop-up box. They need to choose this unique combination carefully.
- Students also need to understand how to determine their custom degree's selection rank. They will need to meet the selection rank for both degrees or, more simply, they will need to meet the higher rank out of the two nominated degrees.
- The double degree advising tool will help students understand the length of their degree and have a better idea of what fees to expect.
9. What do you have in place that will help my child get a job at the end, and transition well to work?
Macquarie University’s PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) is a program that trains students to be Olympically nimble, ensuring they hone their problem-solving, critical thinking, cultural competence, and creativity, with an eye firmly on employability.
PACE aims to produce engaged and active employees who can problem-solve and grapple with the ethics and complexities of the workplace, in the process expanding career opportunities and social networks. Above all, PACE boosts a graduate’s confidence in his or her abilities.
Employability Connect is an online jobs board that advertises job opportunities from employers who want to hire Macquarie students. Those opportunities include graduate roles, entry-level work, part-time and casual jobs, and volunteering opportunities.
It also provides students with access to many resources to support job searches such as CV and cover letter templates, industry webinars and guidelines. Students through Employability Connect can also book appointments with a careers adviser, register for upcoming career events and take part in professional skill development workshops.
Through the Global Leadership Program – a free, self-paced, co-curricular program designed to produce multifaceted global citizens - students can expect to gain knowledge, experiences, community, networks and professional skills, all of which will provide them with a competitive edge after graduation.
10. How can students find out more about Macquarie?
Open Day 2023 will be held on campus on Saturday August 12. Registrations are now open.
There are regular campus tours, information sessions and one-on-one consultations where expert student advisers will answer your specific questions.
See all the details and book your spot here. You can also call the University on (02) 98506767, or live chat with us on our website, mq.edu.au.
Find out more about studying at Macquarie on our Parent Information page.
