ANU Adjustment Factors
At ANU, we know there's more to your story than your academic results alone. Adjustment factors recognise your achievements, experiences and circumstances, helping ensure your potential is considered when we assess your application. If you're eligible, they may increase your selection rank for your preferred program.
Every ANU program has minimum admission requirements you'll need to meet. Adjustment factors can lift your selection rank above that minimum — all ANU applications are assessed competitively.
The essentials
- Your selection rank is your school result (ATAR or equivalent) plus any adjustment factors you're eligible for.
- Adjustments don't change your school result (ATAR or equivalent); they change your selection rank for a particular program preference.
- Because they're program-specific, your selection rank can differ across the different programs you apply for.
- You can receive up to 15 adjustment factors in total, across all schemes combined. For excluded programs (see below), the maximum is 5.
- The Elite Athlete Friendly University Entry Scheme and Subject Adjustment Scheme share a combined cap of 5 adjustment factors, within your overall limit of 15. Excluded programs don't accept adjustment factors from these three schemes at all.
Applying through ASA Early Entry?
- Your early offer application is assessed using your Year 11 results plus any adjustment factors you qualify for. Subject adjustment factors aren't applied at this stage.
- Your final offer is based on whichever is stronger — your Year 11 or Year 12 results — combined with your adjustment factors.
Are you eligible?
You can be considered for adjustment factors if:
- you're applying for an undergraduate coursework program
- Your school results (ATAR or equivalent), or Year 11 results (for ASA Early Entry applicants), must be equal to a rank of 70 or higher (before adjustment factors are applied).
- you've completed less than one year of full-time equivalent tertiary study, if you've studied at this level before
- your selection rank is based on results from an accepted qualification and meets the requirements set out in the ANU Admissions Procedure.
Four ways to boost your rank
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply through one or more of the following schemes.
Education Access Scheme (EAS)
For applicants who have encountered circumstances outside of their control that may have had a negative impact on their secondary school results during Year 11 and Year 12.
Diversity Scheme
For applicants from backgrounds that help build a more balanced student community at ANU. This scheme also includes portfolio-based adjustment factors for selected programs.
Elite Athlete Friendly University Entry Scheme
For applicants who are registered with a National Sporting Organisation as recognised by the Australian Sports Commission, have competed in a sport at a state, national, or international level, and that their participation has impacted their secondary study.
Subject Adjustment Scheme
For applicants who've achieved strong results in particular secondary school subjects.
How to apply for adjustment factors
The way you apply depends on whether you're applying directly to ANU through the ASA Early Entry Application or through UAC.
Some adjustment factors are applied automatically. You don't need to do anything for:
- Subject Adjustments – automatically assessed once your final results are available.
- Diversity Scheme – automatically assessed if you're eligible.
Other adjustment factors require an application and supporting documentation, including:
- Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
- Elite Athlete Scheme
- Portfolio-based adjustment factors
If you're applying through ASA Early Entry
- Log in to your ANU application and select Adjustment factors.
- Complete the eligibility questions for each relevant scheme.
- If you're eligible, download the UAC coversheet, using your ASA Early Entry application number where an application number is requested.
- Upload the completed coversheet and your supporting documentation before the application deadline.
If you're applying through UAC
Complete the relevant adjustment factor sections within your UAC application and upload any required supporting documentation through UAC.
Take the time to review the eligibility requirements for each scheme before applying to ensure you provide all required documentation.
Programs with a different cap
A small number of highly competitive ANU programs work a little differently: they accept a maximum of 5 adjustment factors overall, and only through the Education Access Scheme and the Diversity Scheme.
- Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) – Humanities and Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Finance, Economics and Statistics (Honours)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Research & Development) (Honours)
- Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Research & Development) (Honours)
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
- Flexible Double Law
- Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) – Science
Ready to strengthen your application?
Explore each scheme in more detail, check your eligibility, and start your ANU application when you're ready.
Have a question first? Get in touch with ANU Future Students — we're here to help.
