Entry Requirements

The Faculty of Engineering admits undergraduate students to degree programs in Engineering, Computer Science, and Food Science and Technology. For admission to these programs, all students must first meet the UNSW English Language Requirements - UNSW website

Please note that there are no specific prerequisite requirements for entry to UNSW. All admissions to undergraduate degrees will assume candidates have studied certain subject areas in their final year of high school.

Assumed and recommended knowledge of relevant HSC subjects for the Faculty of Engineering programs are outlined in the table below. They provide a guide to the technical background knowledge necessary to succeed in your studies.
These are specified in terms of the NSW Higher School Certificate and it is expected that applicants will have achieved a level of performance at Band 4 or higher.

Programs	Assumed and Recommended Knowledge
Engineering	Assumed: HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics Recommended: Mathematics Extension 2 or Chemistry or Engineering Studies or Software Design and Development or Information Processes and Technology or Biology
Computer Science	Assumed: HSC Mathematics Extension 1 Recommended: Software Design and Development or Information Processes and Technology or Physics
Food Science & Technology	Assumed: HSC Mathematics and Chemistry Recommended: Physics or Biology

More information on how to assess whether your knowledge of a subject area is likely to be sufficient is available at
Assumed Knowledge - UNSW website

What Happens if I Don't Have the Assumed Knowledge?

Students who do not have assumed knowledge background are not prevented from enrolling but may be placed at a considerable disadvantage and are strongly advised to undertake a Bridging Program or other appropriate preparation. Bridging Programs - UNSW website are designed to bridge the gap between school and university, and can be taken before you start your degree program (pre-entry) or after you start your degree program (post-entry).

UNSW has developed bridging and transitional programs to help you achieve the level of assumed knowledge in mathematics, chemistry and physics. Note that Bridging Courses aren't substitutes for studying these subjects at high school level.

The DipSET is available to students who have the potential to do engineering at UNSW, but did not study the right subjects in high school.

As part of the UNSW HSC Plus scheme - UNSW website, the Faculty of Engineering awards bonus points to students who achieve outstanding results in relevant HSC subjects, namely Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and 2, and Physics.

The table below shows recent ATAR cut-off scores for Faculty of Engineering programs at UNSW.

Single Degrees	CSP UAC Code	CSP ATAR	CSP OP	CSP A Levels	CSP IB
Diploma in Science, Engineering and Technology (DipSET)	425030	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Flexible First Year	425000	89.10	7	12	32
Aerospace Engineering	425001	89.30	7	12	32
Bioinformatics	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Chemical Engineering	425007	89.30	7	12	32
Civil Engineering	425005	89.45	7	12	32
Civil Engineering with Architecture	425036	94.60	4	14	35
Computer Engineering	425010	89.00	7	11.5	32
Computer Science	425010	89.00	7	11.5	32
Electrical Engineering	425002	89.00	7	11.5	32
Environmental Engineering	425005	89.45	7	12	32
Food Science and Technology	425008	89.65	7	12	32
Industrial Chemistry	425007	89.30	7	12	32
Manufacturing Engineering and Management	425001	89.30	7	12	32
Mechanical Engineering	425001	89.30	7	12	32
Mechatronic Engineering	425001	89.30	7	12	32
Mining Engineering	425004	89.25	7	12	32
Naval Architecture	425001	89.30	7	12	32
Petroleum Engineering	425009	89.05	7	12	32
Photonics	425002	89.00	7	11.5	32
Photovoltaic and Solar Energy	425003	89.60	7	12	32
Renewable Energy Engineering	425003	89.60	7	12	32
Software Engineering	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Surveying and Spatial Information Systems	425006	89.50	7	12	32
Telecommunications	425002	89.00	7	11.5	32

 

Combined and Concurrent Degrees	CSP UAC Code	CSP ATAR	CSP OP	CSP A Levels	CSP IB
Bioinformatics / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Chemical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Computer Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Electrical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Mechanical Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Mechatronic Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Telecommunications / Biomedical Engineering	425012	89.35	7	12	32
Software Engineering / Biomedical Engineering	425013	91.10	6	12.5	33
Engineering / Arts	425014	89.15	7	12	32
Bioinformatics / Arts	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Computer Science / Arts	425014	89.15	7	12	32
Software Engineering / Arts	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Engineering / Commerce	425015	95.65	4	14	36
Software Engineering / Commerce	425015	95.65	4	14	36
Engineering / Law *	426000	99.40	1	17.5	42
Engineering / Science	425014	89.15	7	12	32
Engineering / Computer Science	425014	89.15	7	12	32
Computer Science / Science	425014	89.15	7	12	32
Bioinformatics / Science	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Software Engineering / Science	425011	89.00	7	11.5	32
Civil Engineering / Environmental Engineering	425005	89.45	7	12	32
Civil Engineering/ Mining Engineering	425005	89.45	7	12	32
Digital Media / Computer Science	421006	86.25	8	10.5	31

* Entry to Law requires a candidate to have four A Level (A2) results completed in the same academic year.

For students with an ATAR of at least 91.00, admission is based on the bonused ATAR, that is, the ATAR plus any HSC Plus bonus points awarded. For those who don't have the required ATAR or the right background, or need to adjust to living and studying in Australia, there are other options available through Alternative Entry pathways or the DipSET.
Please refer to the Admission page for more details.