Answering the most common Early Admission questions

Take the pressure off your Year 12 exams and worry less about ATAR expectations with Early Admission to the University of Wollongong (UOW). We're here to support you every step of the way, with answers to your most common questions, key dates and requirements.

What is UOW Early Admission?

UOW Early Admission is our early offer program for students finishing Year 12 (HSC or other Australian equivalents), giving you the chance to secure a place at UOW before your final exams even begin.

Instead of relying solely on your final Year 12 results, we consider your Year 11 performance, whether you’ve experienced challenges that have impacted that performance, and your skills and experiences through a written questionnaire.

Who is eligible for Early Admission?

To be eligible to apply, you must be:

• In Year 12 in 2026,
• Completing the HSC, an interstate equivalent, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma at an Australian high school, and
• Eligible to be awarded the HSC, IB Diploma or interstate equivalent.

Students in their final year of HSC Pathways are also eligible to apply.

If you’re not eligible for Early Admission, you can still apply for UOW through the admission process that’s right for your situation.

When do applications open?

Applications open (NSW and ACT): Monday, 15 June, 2026.

If you’re applying from another state in Australia, we recommend subscribing to the UOW Future Student newsletter to be notified when you can submit.

Applications close: Friday, 7 August, 2026.

Unfortunately, we can't accept late applications or offer any extensions. If you miss the Early Admission cut-off date, you can still apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) for Australian high school leavers, or through the admission process that's right for you. 

How do I apply for Early Admission?

You can submit your application directly through UOW Early Admission. Before you start, explore our courses to decide what you want to apply for and get your documentation ready. 

The application has six parts:

1. Register with your personal and contact details – Make sure to use an email address you can access, as we'll send a verification email before you can proceed. 
2. Opt-in to receive additional information – Find out about UOW scholarships, accommodation and other offerings.
3. Share your qualifications – NSW HSC and ACT students who enter their NESA number and UAC PIN will have their Year 11 marks pre-populated automatically. Interstate and IB students will be asked to fill in a template and manually upload their qualifications as PDF documents.
4. Select up to two UOW courses – You can search by keyword, study area or UAC code. Use the UOW Course Finder to explore your options. 
5. Complete the questionnaire – Answer four questions based on UOW’s indicators of success. This is your chance to showcase your unique skills, experiences and achievements and why you are perfect for your chosen degrees. 
6. Review and submit – Proofread and check your application, read the Early Admission program conditions, and hit submit. 

You can edit any part of your application until 5pm Friday, 7 August 2026 by logging back into the portal. Remember to re-submit after making changes so they're saved. 

Will I have to attend an interview?

No. Early Admission applications are assessed on the written application alone, so no interview is required. 

Do I also need to apply through UAC?

Early Admission is separate from your UAC application. If you submit your UOW Early Admission application by the close date and receive an offer, you won't need to list that course on your UAC application.

However, if you’re interested in applying for more than two UOW courses, you can still submit a UAC application to include them.

UAC applications for 2027 entry are open now, with Early Bird applications closing in early September 2026.

When will I find out if I've got a place?

If your application is successful, you'll receive your offer in the first week of September 2026, well before ATARs are released. 

Still have questions?

Get in touch with the UOW Future Students team, sign up to receive updates, or explore more about UOW Early Admission.