UAC News - May 2020

A MESSAGE FROM UAC

UAC wants to reassure schools during this unprecedented time that we are working with universities, NESA and other stakeholders to ensure that Year 12 students can still reach their goals and that no student is disadvantaged in relation to university entry.

We also want to help schools in whatever way we can so please reach out to us and engage with our online events.

Read the latest statements from UAC

Join us online

UAC is running regular live online events to make sure you have the latest information from us.

You can watch the recent Facebook and Instagram live chats with UAC’s General Manager, Marketing and Engagement, Kim Paino and UAC’s Educational Access Schemes expert Adam Hennessy.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 6 May at 4pm, Kim will be hosting another live online session. Send her a question to answer or ask a question when it starts.

Information from the source

Keep up to date with the latest information from these education sources:

• Read updates from UAC in relation to Year 12 and the ATAR.
• The Higher School Certificate exams are going ahead in 2020 and NESA will release the HSC written exam timetable by 15 May. Read NESA’s latest advice to schools.
• Latest information from the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies.
• International Baccalaureate has released information about how its programs are being affected.
• Regular updates from the NSW Department of Education.
• The Department of Education, Skills and Employment published information.
• Latest news from UAC's institutions.

APPLY NOW

Applications for uni in 2021 are open

Applications for university in 2021 have opened strongly. We have received more than double the applications compared to the same time last year. This shows the confidence Year 12 students have in pushing forward with their plans for 2021 despite COVID-19.

To start their application students will need their Year 12 student number (issued through their school) and their UAC PIN (supplied by UAC).

Let them know that if they have any issues with logging in they can find helpful information on UAC’s website but the quickest way is to call us.

Email address reminder

Remind your students to provide their email address to NESA (preferably a personal email address rather than a school email address). NESA provides this information to UAC to send PIN information. Students will get another PIN reminder from UAC in early August.

Choosing courses

Institutions haven’t provided all 2021 course information to UAC, but let your students know that they can select any course commencing in 2021 for now to complete their application and come back later to review and update their preferences. All courses will be available by August.

Year 12 - Course Compass

If your Year 12 students need help deciding which uni course to apply for, direct them to Course Compass. They can answer a few quick questions about their HSC subjects and Course Compass will display the fields of study offered to recent applicants just like them. They can also drill down to institutions offering courses that might suit them.

ACCESS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Applications for Schools Recommendation Schemes, Educational Access Schemes and Equity Scholarships are all open.

This year SRS, EAS and ES have separate application guides. These are now available to download.

If you have students who may be eligible for these schemes, encourage them to begin their equity application as soon as they've applied through UAC.

UAC has also produced EAS fact sheets with key information and the Community Engagement team has produced PowerPoint presentations for EAS and SRS with information and instructions on both applications to help you direct student questions.

SRS update

In response to the current disruption to Year 12 studies many institutions will be taking Year 11 results into account when allocating places to Year 12 applicants. This includes the insight that schools can provide about their students’ future performance in different subject areas. Therefore, in the interests of Year 12 students, UAC will postpone the removal of the subject area ratings in SRS until 2021.

Student applications for SRS will be closing earlier this year, on 20 September, so schools can rate their students before school holidays.

EAS update

As you are aware a new disadvantage for natural disasters has been added to EAS and will be available from August. We are planning to add another disadvantage specifically related to COVID-19 and will provide more information on our website by the end of this week.

UAC PUBLICATIONS

The UAC Guide 2020–21 has been printed and will be distributed to schools as normal this month. In the meantime, download the PDF from our website.

Steps to Uni for Year 10 Students will be distributed free again this year, but due to the current situation we are only sending five copies to schools. If you need more, just let us know and we can send a limited number, also free of charge.

An PDF version of the Year 10 booklet is available on the website and an updated version of the UAC portal Subject Compass is also available – this portal was developed specifically for Year 10 students and based on the success of the publication.

Distribution of UAC's publications will begin from 18 May. If you haven’t received anything by the end of May, contact us.

CONNECT WITH US

Community Engagement

With the cancellation of school visits and careers expos, UAC’s Community Engagement team is working with schools to reschedule until later in the year or offer online alternatives. Many of you have already taken up the option of connecting with UAC through video conferencing. Contact CE directly if you’d like to connect with them.

The CE team have produced a series of short videos called Let’s Chat. Over the next few months, they will be chatting to you about applying to uni through UAC, changing course preferences, and what to do if students have been disadvantaged during their final years of school. You can find these under Resources in the Schools area of our website.

Virtual careers expos
UAC is also participating in several virtual Careers Expos which we encourage you and your students to attend. You can find these and other event information on our key dates page.

Open days
Many institutions are offering virtual open days and online sessions. Details can be found in News from our institutions below, or contact the institution directly to see what arrangements they have in place this year for their open days.

UCAT REGISTRATION IS CLOSING

If your students are interested in studying in the medical science area next year, advise them to check the course description on UAC’s website if the course they’re interested in requires them to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

The application deadline for UCAT is next Monday 11 May 2020. The late booking deadline is the following Monday, 18 May. Testing begins 1 July 2020 and at this point in time, testing is expected to go ahead. You can read more about how COVID-19 is affecting UCAT on the UCAT website.

KEY DATES FOR YEAR 12s, 2020–21

For a full list of dates, including offer rounds, visit UAC's website.

NEWS FROM OUR INSTITUTIONS

Read the latest news from our institutions.

• Australian Catholic University
• Griffith University
• Macquarie University
• SAE
• University of Canberra
• University of Sydney
• UNSW
• Western Sydney University