SATAC may add adjustment factors to your university aggregate to calculate a selection rank, which you can use when applying for a degree.
There are two schemes that provide adjustment factors to applicants:
- Universities Equity Scheme: eligible applicants can have their university aggregate adjusted by 5 points
- Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme: eligible applicants can have their university aggregate adjusted by either 2 or 4 points for completing an eligible subject.
An individuals’ aggregate can be adjusted by a maximum of 9 points. SATAC administers these schemes on behalf of UniSA.
The information below outlines the different schemes available at UniSA.
1. Universities Equity Scheme
The Universities Equity Scheme will apply adjustments in two ways: to all applicants in certain specified schools and to eligible applicants in other schools. Eligible applicants will receive 5 points in the calculation of their university aggregate.
The Scheme applies to all degrees offered by UniSA.
School based adjustments
South Australian and Northern Territory schools attracting equity adjustments will be identified using criteria which consider:
- schools’ remoteness as defined under the Australian Standard Geographical Classification
- the ‘participation rate’ (the percentage of students in each school gaining an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR))
- the mean ATAR achieved in each school
- schools’ Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage
Interstate schools attracting equity adjustments will be identified using a subset of these criteria.
Schools are identified on an annual basis when data for all criteria becomes available. SATAC contacts all SA/NT schools each year regarding whether their students will be eligible for a schools-based adjustment in the following year. The classification of individual schools may change from year to year.
You will not need to apply for a school-based adjustment— your University aggregate and selection rank will automatically be adjusted by SATAC.
Individual adjustments
Applicants from other schools can make an application under the same Scheme to demonstrate their individual disadvantage. Applicants will be eligible during the year they gain their ATAR providing:
- they or their parents are in receipt of a Commonwealth means-tested income support payment, or
- they or their parents are the holders of a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card, or
- they are the holder of a School Card (under the Government of South Australia's School Card scheme)
Details of applicants who receive an individual equity adjustment will be stored by SATAC so the individual adjustment can be applied in future SATAC applications.
How to apply for individual adjustments
You can apply for consideration under the Universities Equity Scheme when completing your SATAC undergraduate application.
The Universities Equity Scheme applies to all degrees offered by UniSA.
2. Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme
The Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme encourages students to strengthen their preparation for undergraduate studies by undertaking a language other than English, or specified English and Mathematics subjects.
The Scheme applies to all degrees offered by UniSA.
Applicants eligible for subject-based adjustments will have their university aggregate adjusted by 2 or 4 points, for successfully completing a subject in any one of these four categories:
- 20 credits of a LOTE in the Languages Learning Area (not including the subject Language and Culture – two 10 credit Australian indigenous language subjects can be paired in lieu of a 20 credit LOTE)
- 2ESH20 English or 2ELS20 English Literary Studies
- 2MHS20 Mathematical Methods
- 2MSC20 Specialist Mathematics.
Successful completion is defined as gaining an Overall Grade of C- or better. Because subject-based adjustments are designed to encourage enrolments in these subjects rather than reward outcomes, no further adjustments will be granted for higher achievement.
Applicants undertaking the International Baccalaureate or interstate senior secondary certificates in Australia are also eligible for subject-based adjustments. International Baccalaureate and interstate subjects equivalent to the SACE/ NTCET subjects listed above can be found in the table “Interstate/IB subjects pre-approved as Recognised Studies”, available online at www.satac.edu.au/pages/recognised-studies.
