How to compare university courses, ATARs and entry requirements

Compare university courses by reading the entry figure, prerequisites, intake year and applicant conditions together. A number labelled ATAR is not interchangeable with a selection rank, and a past offer threshold does not promise a future place.

The ATARMAxxing university course and entry requirements finder helps you search published Australian undergraduate information, compare courses and open the official sources. Its coverage is incomplete. Use it to organise your research, then confirm the details with the university.

Search for the course, then check the record

Start with an area of study or a course name. Use the available filters to narrow the results, open a record and add relevant options to the comparison. Check the institution, course and campus or delivery details where provided; similar names do not guarantee identical entry requirements.

Read the intake-year and source labels before comparing numbers. Records with an unconfirmed intake year are separated from current-year numeric comparisons. An older record can be useful context, but it is not a substitute for the current official listing.

Keep the different entry figures separate

How to read the entry figures shown in the course finder

Figure	What to check
ATAR	A rank before course-specific adjustments. Check whether the published requirement names ATAR or another measure.
Selection rank	Can include adjustments. Check which adjustments and applicant conditions the university accepts.
Previous lowest selection rank	Describes past offers for the stated round or year. It can change for a later intake.
Minimum entry figure	Allows consideration under the stated rules. Reaching it does not by itself guarantee an offer.
Guaranteed-entry figure	Only applies to the named intake, applicant category and conditions. Read all of those conditions.

Some official fields do not clearly explain whether adjustments apply. The finder keeps that uncertainty visible. It does not calculate your adjusted selection rank. For the underlying distinction, read UAC's Year 12 assessment guidance and the relevant institution's admission rules.

Check the requirements the number cannot answer

Open the official source for each course you are seriously considering. Check subject prerequisites and minimum subject results, English requirements, additional tests, interviews, portfolios or auditions where applicable. Confirm the application deadline and applicant category.

For example, two records might display the same number but ask for different prerequisite subjects. That number alone cannot tell you which course your subject plan supports. Keep a separate list of requirements you have confirmed and those you still need to ask about.

Missing information is not permission to assume. An unknown figure is not zero. “No numeric figure published” only describes the named source. A course missing from this catalogue may still be available; check the coverage and missing institutions page and search the university's own course directory.

Connect course research to your subject choices

If you are choosing senior subjects, open the Year 11 and Year 12 subject selector for your curriculum. Compare the subjects against the prerequisites you have just checked. Use the subject selection checklist to prepare for a discussion with your school.

If you are exploring an ATAR target, use the calculator or guide for your own curriculum. VCE students can also use the reverse ATAR calculator to explore a target against published 2025 points. That is a historical scenario, not a forecast for your graduating year. Eligible IB applicants should use the applicable IB to Notional ATAR conversion table.

Keep a comparison you can act on

1. Choose a small set of courses you would actually consider studying.
2. Record each figure's type, intake year and source.
3. Check prerequisites and additional tasks on the official course page.
4. Confirm unknowns with the university or admissions centre.
5. Use the admissions guide to find the relevant authority and application information.

Study resources can help you prepare for your subjects. Buying a pack does not establish admission eligibility or guarantee an offer.