With so much emphasis placed on one result, at one specific time of your life, wondering how to get into university without an ATAR can be a daunting prospect. But hundreds of people do it every year.
Several factors may have prevented you from receiving an ATAR. Perhaps you took non-ATAR subjects in high school and have changed your mind about wanting to go to uni, or you’re a non-school leaver looking to pursue higher education after multiple years in the workforce. Whatever is the case, your first question is bound to be...
Can you get into uni without an ATAR?
The answer is yes – there are multiple non-ATAR pathways to uni and studying your dream undergraduate degree. You just need to find the one that best suits you and your circumstances.
Jump to the information that's relevant for you:
- What if you’re finishing Year 12 but didn’t take ATAR subjects?
- What if you take a gap year?
- What if you’ve been out of high school for several years and don't have an ATAR?
- What if you’ve been out of high school for several years and have an ATAR or OP?
What if you’re finishing Year 12 but didn’t take ATAR subjects?
In Queensland, to get an ATAR, you need to complete 1 of the key English courses and 5 general subjects OR 4 general subjects, plus an applied subject or VET course (Certificate III or higher). If your high school subjects didn’t fall into one of these categories, then you won’t receive an ATAR.
But don’t panic. If you’re finishing Year 12 this year and you’ve changed your mind, deciding you want to go to uni after all, you still have options.
Have more questions about how to get an ATAR as a recent school leaver? Come along to our ATAR Advice online event on 18 December 2025.
What if you take a gap year?
Many Year 12 students choose to take a gap year after high school to give themselves a break from study so they can approach their university education fresh.
If you apply for university in Year 12, receive an ATAR and get a university offer, you can usually defer your studies for up to one year (though some institutions may allow you to defer for longer) through your state's tertiary admissions centre (QTAC for Queensland). This means your offer still stands for you to study the following year, and you don’t have to re-apply to your program of choice – just enrol in your first semester courses by the due date.
There will be terms and conditions to your deferment, however, so make sure you read the rules provided by your institution carefully. For example, if you've deferred an offer from UQ, you can’t enrol in study at bachelor level or higher at any tertiary institution during your gap year.
How to apply for uni after a gap year
Did you take a gap year but didn't apply for uni and defer your offer the year you finished high school? You'll need to apply for uni through your state's tertiary admissions centre when university applications open for the year following your gap year (this could mean applying mid-way through the year of your gap year so keep an eye on your tertiary admissions centre's key dates webpage). If you received an ATAR in Year 12, you can use this to apply*. If you didn't receive an ATAR, skip down to How to get into uni as a non-school leaver if you didn't get an ATAR.
*If you undertook any tertiary level studies in your gap year, your university entry may be based on the marks you received for this study, rather than your ATAR. Check with your tertiary admissions centre, and the university you wish to apply to.
What if you’ve been out of high school for several years?
If you’ve been out of high school for several years and would like to commence or recommence your first bachelor's degree, we’re here to help you figure out where to start. As a non-school leaver (sometimes also referred to as a mature-aged student), you may have a few options for getting into uni.
How to get into uni as a non-school leaver if you didn’t get an ATAR
The first thing you probably want to know is how to get an ATAR. But an ATAR isn't actually what you're looking for. If you didn’t get an ATAR, OP (Overall Position; the ranking method in Queensland before ATARs were introduced) or similar ranking for your high school exams, you'll want to know how to get a QTAC selection rank to get into uni in Queensland. Here are a few of the most common ways to obtain a selection rank.
How to get into uni as a non-school leaver if you received an ATAR or OP
If you've been out of school for a few years and your Year 12 exams seem like a distant memory (or fever dream), you may be wondering 'does ATAR expire?'. The good news is, your ATAR doesn’t expire. HOWEVER, if you’ve undertaken (even if you haven't completed) tertiary studies such as a bachelor's degree, diploma or certificate since finishing high school, the university may calculate your selection rank from your grade point average (GPA) for these studies, rather than your ATAR or OP (Overall Position; the ranking method in Queensland before ATARs were introduced). Contact the university you wish to study at to find out how to attain your selection rank if you have an ATAR or OP but you’ve also previously enrolled in tertiary education.
In some cases, UQ may be able to disregard tertiary study from more than 5 years ago. Get in touch with UQ's Future Students Contact Centre for more information.
When you ask yourself “How can I get into uni without an ATAR?”, think about your circumstances, experiences and strengths. This will help you choose the right pathway to university, and the option that will assist you to achieve the highest selection rank you can.
If you need further advice, call or email UQ’s friendly Future Students Contact Centre to talk over your options.
Remember, obtaining a selection rank is just one part of what you need to get into a university program. You’ll also need to meet subject prerequisites, any program-specific requirements and inherent requirements (if applicable). Find out more about entry requirements.
