Adjustment factors

Adjustment Factors are additional points applied to an applicant’s ATAR score to calculate their selection rank for admission to undergraduate programs. These factors recognise circumstances that may have affected an applicant’s educational performance. Adjustment Factors are awarded across several categories, including equity considerations, subject performance, elite athlete and others. Each category and its eligibility criteria are outlined below.

The selection rank determines an applicant’s competitiveness for entry into specific programs. Adjustment Factors can increase an applicant’s rank, providing them with a better chance of meeting entry requirements.

Applicants can receive a maximum of 10 adjustment factor points across the categories below

Notre Dame’s Adjustment Factors

• School Location (1 - 10 adjustment factor points)

  Applicants who have attended school in designated areas may be eligible for location-based adjustment factors.

  Rural and Regional
  
  Applicants who attended a school classified as rural or regional will qualify for up to 5 adjustment factor points. Eligibility is assessed based on the school details provided in the application. If applicants qualify, points are automatically applied. For applicants applying through UAC, these points are administered through UAC’s Education Access Scheme (EAS).

• Future You Pathway

  Applicants who attended a school with an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) value of 1000 or lower will qualify for 10 adjustment factor points. Eligibility will be assessed based on the school details provided in the application, and points will be automatically applied if applicants qualify.

  • To find your school’s ICSEA value, refer to the My School website.

  Eligible applicants who enrol at the University will also receive:

  • A $1,000 scholarship to help with the cost of starting university.
  • Application support, including one-on-one or small group sessions with a Notre Dame advisor.
  • Transition support from our Uni Success Coaches to help settle into university life.

  To see if your school qualifies, applicants can search the Future You schools list.

• Individual Factor Adjustments (1 - 5 adjustment factor points)

  As part of an application to Notre Dame, applicants are invited to provide details of personal qualities, work and life experience, and contribution to community life, which will be considered in the admissions process.

  Dependent on the level of contribution, applicants may receive 1 to 5 adjustment factor points.

  Further details and the application form are available on the Individual Factors webpage.

• Equity Adjustments (1 - 10 adjustment factor points)

  Applicants who have experienced significant educational or other disadvantage due to circumstances beyond their control may qualify for equity adjustments. Applicants may receive 1 to 10 adjustment factor points, depending on the level and/or severity of disadvantage experienced.

  Home address in a low socio-economic area

  Applicants living in an area classified within the lowest 25% of socio-economic disadvantage in Australia will qualify for 10 adjustment factor points. Eligibility is assessed using the residential address provided in the application, based on the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). If applying through UAC, these points will be administered via UAC’s Education Access Scheme (EAS).

  To view the latest SEIFA data, refer to ABS.

  Other equity adjustments

  Applicants who can provide supporting documentation may be eligible for adjustments related to:

  • Disrupted schooling
  • Financial challenges
  • Severe family disruption
  • Excessive family responsibilities
  • English language difficulties (recent immigrants from non-English speaking countries in Year 11-12)
  • Personal illness or disability
  • Refugee or humanitarian status

  Applicants must submit an application with supporting documentation for considered.

  If applying directly to Notre Dame, applicants should include documentation with a statement outlining the equity categories you are applying for and the reasons. If applying through UAC or TISC, applicants should refer to UAC and TISC.

• Elite Athletes & Artistic Performers (5 adjustment factor points)

  Athletes who compete at – and performers who have had success at – a state, national or international level may be eligible for 5 adjustment factor points.

  If you are an applicant who falls under this category, you must clearly indicate and provide evidence that you are an elite athlete or performer at the time of your application in order to have adjustment factor points applied.

• University Priority Groups (5 adjustment factor points)

  Notre Dame recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, along with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel as priority groups. Eligible applicants may receive 5 adjustment factor points.

• Subject Performance (up to 5 adjustment factor points)

  Current and recent school leavers who achieve outstanding results in school subjects will receive up to 5 adjustment factor points, depending on the level of results achieved. Points are applied automatically.

Admission pathways

At the University of Notre Dame Australia, we look beyond academic results as we view each student as the whole person. We offer a range of admissions pathways to our undergraduate degree, including secondary education, higher education, VET qualifications, Experience Based Entry and work/life experience.

The Tertiary Pathway Program is also available as an alternative entry option.

Contact us

If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Book a 1-on-1 advice session with a career advisor or visit us on campus.