What ATAR Do I Need for Engineering in NSW?
Engineering ATAR requirements in NSW vary widely by specialisation and university – from around 75 for civil engineering at some institutions to 99 for software engineering at Sydney. Here is the 2024 overview.
NSW university ATAR requirements for Engineering
| University | Course | ATAR Cut-off (2024) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Sydney | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | 92.00 – 99.00 | Varies by specialisation; software highest |
| UNSW | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | 90.00 – 96.00 | Civil/Mechanical lower; CS/Software higher |
| Macquarie University | Bachelor of Engineering | 80.00 | Focus on electronic and telecommunications |
| UTS | Bachelor of Engineering | 83.00 – 90.00 | Strong industry partnerships; co-op programs |
| Western Sydney University | Bachelor of Engineering | 70.00 | Civil, mechanical, electrical streams |
| University of Newcastle | Bachelor of Engineering | 72.00 | Strong mining and mechanical programs |
Prerequisite subjects for engineering
Most NSW engineering programs require Maths Advanced as a minimum. UNSW and Sydney typically expect Maths Extension 1 for higher-ATAR specialisations. Physics is assumed knowledge for electrical and mechanical streams and formally required at some universities.
Choosing Maths Extension 2 adds significant scaling advantage and signals the depth engineering faculties want to see. Students who drop from Extension 2 to Extension 1 mid-Year 12 often regret it when ATAR results come out.
Not sure what ATAR you need?
Use our free ATAR calculator to estimate your score based on your current marks.
Try the ATAR Calculator →How to hit your ATAR target
Your ATAR is calculated from your best 10 units of HSC subjects, scaled by subject difficulty. Choosing the right subjects and performing consistently is more important than cramming in Year 12.
LearnCore students in Year 11 and 12 work with tutors who topped their own HSC subjects. If you are aiming for a competitive ATAR, starting specialist tutoring early in Year 11 gives you the most time to build the skills the HSC actually rewards.
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