2025 ATAR cut-offs for every SA university course: See the full list
It will take a near perfect score to get into the course with SA’s toughest entry requirements. Would you make the grade? Search the full list of ATAR cut-off scores.
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The hardest university courses to get into at South Australian institutions have been revealed – and one requires a near-perfect score.
More than 13,000 undergraduate students have received first round offers to study at SA’s three major universities.
Students hoping to study a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry at Flinders University must have achieved an ATAR score of at least 98.7 to secure a place.
It is the highest course cut-off score (for courses where the ATAR is the main entrance factor) across programs offered at UniSA, Flinders University and The University of Adelaide.
The next-highest required score is 97 to study a Bachelor of Psychology (Advanced) (Honours) at the University of Adelaide.
However the highest course cut-off score for all offers made by the SA Tertiary Admission Centre (SATAC), was at Charles Darwin University, based in the Northern Territory, for their Bachelor of of Nursing (Online) course with Western Australia placements.
Both the full time and part time courses each require a 99 minimum selection rank to be accepted.
In 2024, the same courses only required a 70 selection rank, which represents a 29-point increase for this year’s offering.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) acting vice-chancellor Professor Dominic Upton said the increase came as nursing is “a highly competitive course with a limited number of places available”.
About 130 students were offered positions in the course through SATAC.
CDU made 22 offers to South Australian students across all of their nursing programs.
Prof Upton said the university was open to expanding their course offerings “given the need for nursing and other health care professionals across the country” but CDU would have to consult professional bodies which cap student intake.
Biggest ATAR cut-off changes for 2025
Other courses with high bars for entry include a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Medical Imaging) (96.5 at UniSA) and a Bachelor of Laws double degrees.
There are 34courses which require an ATAR of 95 or more.
While first round offers have been made it is not too late for students to enrol for Semester 1.
Search the full list of 13,000 university course offers for SA students in 2025
SATAC has advised applicants “still have time to make decisions” about study plans for 2025.
“Many courses are still open to new applications or changes of preference,” a spokesman said.
It will continue making offers throughout January and February, subject to course availability.
The next round of undergraduate offers will be releasedon January 23.
University of Adelaide student Caleb Rodgers’ studies have taken him across the world.
He is about to begin his fourth year of a double degree in computer science and electronic engineering and, in 2024, he had the opportunity to travel to Japan.
In August Mr Rodgers (above), 21, went to a competition in Tokyo after his four-person team designed a series of robots which detect landmines.
“We wouldn’t be leaving the lab until 8 or 9 at night as we were working very long hours,” said the student of his team.
“We’re all studying full-time so we’d be juggling lectures and tutorials.”
In 2024, he started a business with two other students at the University of Adelaide called ElectraMetrics, which made hardware and software for AI data collection.
“The dream would be to work on that full-time,” said Mr Rodgers of his plans after he graduates.
Flinders University mechanical engineering fourth-year student Bethany Koch dreams of working on Formula One cars.
Through university she was able to explore her passion and develop more of an understanding of how the cars work.
Racing was in her blood, as when Ms Koch was a child, her dad raced sports sedans.
“That grew a passion for motorsport so I wanted to work in the industry,” the 22-year-old student said.
Put simply, Ms Koch (right) loves sports cars because “they go fast, they make noise and I grew up with them”.
In 2024, she had the opportunity to work as part of a team that designed a race car.
“It was applying everything I learnt (in class),” Ms Koch, originally from Mildura, said.
The student is also part of a Flinders University motorsport team that competes against other universities.
“When you get out there, the helmet goes on and it doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a girl, you’re there to have fun,” Ms Koch said.
Ms Koch is also an advocate for attracting more women to the industry.
“When I did my placement (for university) I was the only girl in the workshop,” she said. “We need more women in STEM.”
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