ATAR for Nursing in Australia

What ATAR do you need for nursing?

For most Bachelor of Nursing programs, the working range is an ATAR of about 65 to 80. The exact number depends heavily on the university and the campus.

Well-known metropolitan universities tend to sit at the higher end, sometimes near 80 to 90 in high demand. Regional campuses often sit lower. And some accept students well below 65 once adjustment factors are applied.

Unlike medicine, nursing usually has no admission test. A small number of universities use a short interview or a written statement, but for most, your ATAR and prerequisites decide the offer.

Prerequisites and what else matters

The most common prerequisite is English. Some universities also recommend or require a science subject, such as biology, though many treat it as assumed knowledge rather than a hard rule.

Meeting the subject prerequisite matters as much as the ATAR. A student who clears the cut-off but is missing a required subject can still miss the offer, so check each course carefully.

Because nursing leads to registration, you will also need to meet non-academic requirements later, such as a police check, immunisations and placement checks. These do not affect entry. But they are part of the course.

Getting in with a lower ATAR

Nursing is one of the easier health degrees to reach through an alternative pathway. If your ATAR falls short, several routes lead to the same degree.

A Diploma of Nursing at TAFE qualifies you as an enrolled nurse. It can then be used to enter a Bachelor of Nursing with credit. Enabling or foundation programs run by universities are another common way in.

Regional campuses and adjustment factors, such as regional bonus points or an equity scheme, also lift your selection rank. For nursing, these can make a real difference at the cut-off.

Nursing across the states

Nursing is offered in every state. And the entry range is broadly similar across the country. What changes is the admissions centre you apply through and the specific universities available.

You apply through your state admissions centre. And your ATAR is calculated the same way wherever you sit Year 12. Use the calculator above as a starting point, then confirm the current cut-off for the specific universities on your list.