ANU Admissions · Domestic and International Entry Requirements

ANU has a unique admissions process in Australia — the most selective university for domestic admissions and one of the most flexible for international admissions. This article covers entry requirements for both cohorts.

Domestic Students (Australia and New Zealand)

ATAR Requirements (2026 indicative)

  • Bachelor of Philosophy (PhB): 98+
  • Law (Honours): 97+
  • Advanced Computing: 95+
  • International Relations: 90+
  • Engineering: 85–90
  • Commerce: 85–87
  • Science: 80–85
  • Arts: 80–83

Wait, these are lower than expected? ANU’s published ATARs are “guaranteed entry” ATARs — the threshold at which admission is guaranteed. The actual “cut-off” is often higher because ANU also uses a holistic admissions approach: personal statement, co-curricular activities, and academic performance in relevant subjects are all considered. A student with an ATAR of 93 and a strong personal statement may be admitted to Law, while a student with 99 and a weak statement may be waitlisted.

This is different from other Australian universities, which typically offer purely ATAR-based admission.

Alternative Pathways

  • ANU College Foundation Studies: For students who don’t meet direct entry; 1-year program → guaranteed pathway to ANU (upon meeting GPA)
  • TAFE/VET pathway: Diploma-to-degree articulation in selected programs
  • STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test): For mature-age students without recent ATAR

International Students

Academic Requirements by System

  • International Baccalaureate (IB): 29–35 · 39+
  • GCE A-Levels (best 3 subjects): 11–14 points · 16–17
  • Gaokao (China): 70–85% (varies by province) · 90%+
  • India (CBSE/ISC Year 12): 85–92% average · 95%+
  • SAT (US) + AP: 1250+ SAT + 2 APs (3+) · 1400+ SAT + 3 APs (4+)
  • STPM (Malaysia): 2.5–3.5 GPA · 3.8+

English Language Requirements

Standard: IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 80, PTE 64. Higher requirements: Law (IELTS 7.0, no band below 6.5), Medicine (IELTS 7.0, no band below 7.0).

English language tests are valid for 2 years. ANU accepts IELTS One Skill Retake (for test-takers who narrowly missed one component).

Direct Application (Not UAC)

ANU processes undergraduate applications directly — not through UAC (Universities Admissions Centre), unlike most NSW/ACT universities. This means:

  • One application to ANU (via ANU’s online portal)
  • Multiple preferences within ANU
  • Results released independently of other universities (typically August–September for Semester 1 intake)