Does UQ do early offers?

Early university offers can minimise stress at the end of Year 12, so you may be wondering whether UQ early offers are a thing.

In short, UQ does not participate in early offers – we do something much better. It’s called an ATAR guarantee and may provide peace of mind to many Year 12 students, rather than only a select few.

Read on to find out what the ATAR guarantee is, why it’s different from university early offers, and what makes it better.

What is an early offer for university?

In Queensland, most Year 12 students hoping to commence university in Semester 1, 2025 will receive their university offer through QTAC in the main round – January 2025. However, some universities release offers before students receive their ATARs in December 2024, and sometimes even before they sit their external exams.

Students eligible for consideration for an early offer typically submit their QTAC application as soon as it opens in August, but some documentation may need to be sent directly to the university. Whether or not they receive an early offer is based on things like their Year 11 grades, Year 12 internal assessment grades, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, personal statements and essays, and testimonials from their teachers or principal.

When do early offers come out?

Universities that participate in early offer schemes will start notifying students whether they have been successful in their application from as early as September 2024.

Is there a UQ early offer scheme?

Instead of early offers, UQ provides an ATAR guarantee. This means as soon as you find out your ATAR on 13 December 2024, you’ll know whether you’re guaranteed a spot in your preferred program at UQ.

How does UQ’s ATAR guarantee work?

At UQ, we have guaranteed entry score thresholds for most of our programs. If your ATAR or selection rank (this is your ATAR, plus adjustments) is equal to or exceeds the guaranteed threshold, and you meet all the other entry requirements for the program (e.g. subject prerequisites), you know that you’ll be offered a place in that program at UQ. This means you don’t have to wait until the next offer round is released by QTAC just before Christmas, or even the main offer round in January, to get that sweet peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that you’ll be studying your dream program at UQ in 2025.

Here are 2 quick examples to help you understand how the ATAR guarantee works:

• Nicole has UQ’s Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) listed as her #1 preference in her QTAC application. The guaranteed threshold for this program is 94. In December, Nicole finds out she receives an ATAR of 94. As long as Nicole meets the other entry requirements of this program (in this case, she meets all the subject prerequisites), she knows she’ll receive a university offer from UQ to study this program.
• Aleisha has UQ’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) listed as her #1 preference in her QTAC application. The guaranteed threshold for this program is 75. In December, Aleisha finds out she receives an ATAR of 72. She is concerned that she will not receive an offer because her ATAR is below the guaranteed threshold, so she looks into UQ admissions schemes that could grant her adjustments. Aleisha finds out she is eligible for UQ’s School Opportunity Scheme. Because the school she attends has an ICSEA value under 950, she receives 4 adjustments from UQ, converting her ATAR into a selection rank of 76. As long as Aleisha meets the other entry requirements of this program (in this case, she meets all the subject prerequisites and inherent requirements), she knows she’ll receive a university offer from UQ to study the Bachelor of Education (Primary).

Using adjustments to meet the guaranteed threshold

It’s important to know that QTAC may automatically apply some of the UQ adjustments they know you qualify for (such as the School Opportunity Scheme, which is based on your school) during the application process without notifying you. They convert your ATAR into a selection rank and use this number behind the scenes to help you get into UQ. So if you have a UQ program listed as one of your preferences, you could have a higher selection rank than you realise. This is why it really is worth reading up on UQ’s admissions schemes to see if you’re eligible for adjustments that could help you meet the guaranteed threshold for your desired program and secure your place at UQ. You can add up the adjustments you’re eligible for (a max of 5 at UQ) to determine your selection rank and whether you meet the guaranteed threshold.

If after reading through the admissions schemes, you’re still unsure whether you’re eligible for certain adjustments, you can contact our friendly Future Students Contact Centre for clarity or come along to our ATAR Advice online event on Sunday 15 December and speak directly with UQ Admissions staff.

What makes UQ’s ATAR guarantee better than early offers at other universities?

Universities that offer early entry do so for only a select number of Year 12 students, whereas all Year 12s can benefit from the peace of mind that UQ’s ATAR guarantee offers. From the moment you get your ATAR, if you meet the guaranteed threshold and entry requirements for your preferred program, you’ll know you’ve secured a place at UQ in 2025. If your ATAR doesn’t meet the guaranteed threshold, you can get advice from UQ about the adjustments you may qualify for or pathway options to your preferred program.  

If you have your heart set on studying a program at UQ, it’s worth waiting until you get your ATAR to see if you’re guaranteed a place studying with us. Remember that you have an option to conditionally accept an offer from another university while you wait to see if you’ll receive an offer from UQ in a later round (be sure to read the timeframes outlined in your offer letter carefully). And even if you don’t get a competitive ATAR for your preferred program at UQ, we can help you find a pathway that will get you where you want to be. There are many pathways to university, and using your ATAR to get in is just one of them.