What ATAR Do I Need? NSW Degree Cut-off Guide

ATAR cut-offs in NSW change every year based on how many students apply and how many places are available. This guide collects the 2024 minimum ATARs for the most popular degrees at NSW universities, with subject advice for each pathway.

Choose your target degree

How ATAR cut-offs work

The published cut-off ATAR for any degree is the lowest ATAR that received an offer in the previous admissions round. It is not a threshold set by the university. If more students apply for a course, the cut-off rises – even if nothing else changes.

This means the safest strategy is to aim 2-3 ATAR points above the published cut-off for your target degree and university. Cut-offs can shift by 1-2 points year to year based on applicant numbers alone.

Many universities also offer bonus points schemes for factors like being a first-in-family student, attending a partner school, or completing a bridging course. These can effectively lower your required ATAR by 2-5 points, so check each university’s equity pathway before ruling one out.