Year 11 pathway gives thousands entry to university

More than 2000 Australian students will today be offered a place at the University of Adelaide in 2021 based on their Year 11 performance thanks to an alternative pathway created in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Year 11 results have been used as a basis for early release of offers for all University of Adelaide undergraduate degrees, excluding competitive entry degrees and those with additional entry criteria.

Students must still complete an Australian year 12 qualification (SACE, HSC, VCE, or IB) and any applicable subject prerequisites.

“We know just how difficult this year has been for school communities so it’s wonderful to be able to offer this alternative pathway to students that recognises their resilience and achievements.’’ Professor Jennie Shaw

The alternative entry pathway is available to all South Australian schools and select regional schools bordering Victoria and New South Wales.

1952 SACE students, 79 IB students, and 19 students from regional Victoria and NSW have received offers through the new pathway.

University of Adelaide Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Jennie Shaw said the new entry pathway was created to relieve pressure for this year’s Year 12s and to provide certainty in addition to existing entry via ATAR and Year 12 subject-based pathways, which still remain in place.

“We know just how difficult this year has been for school communities so it’s wonderful to be able to offer this alternative pathway to students that recognises their resilience and achievements,’’ she said.

“This entry pathway enabled 2020 Year 12 students to apply for entry into the vast majority of our undergraduate degrees based predominantly on their 2019 Year 11 subject results, without compromising entry standards.

“We know that if students are achieving in Year 11 they are already on the pathway to higher education success. Being able to use these results as an alternative for students affected by COVID-19 this year ensures they aren’t unfairly disadvantaged into the future.

“We hope that having this additional entry option reassured students that they could still pursue a world-class education at the University of Adelaide no matter how disrupted their studies were by these unusual times.”