What ATAR Do I Need?
The honest answer is it depends entirely on your course – there is no single ATAR you “need”. Universities select on two things: the prerequisites (specific VCE subjects) and a competitive ATAR or selection rank, both published for each course. (Not sure what counts as competitive? See what’s a good ATAR.) Some courses have no ATAR requirement at all; the most competitive (Medicine, Law, high-demand commerce and science) commonly sit at 90+ or 95+. The only reliable number is your specific course’s selection rank, which you can look up on VTAC CourseSearch and the university’s course page. (Source: VTAC.)
Key takeaways
- Courses publish a required ATAR or selection rank – work backwards from that number.
- A guaranteed ATAR and the lowest ATAR actually admitted can differ – check both.
- Adjustment factors can lift your selection rank above your raw ATAR.
- Always confirm the current requirement on VTAC and the university’s course page.
First, the prerequisites
Every course lists prerequisite studies you must satisfy – usually particular Unit 3 & 4 subjects at a minimum study score (for example, a study score of at least 25 in English, or a maths/science for STEM courses). You must meet these regardless of your ATAR, so check them early when choosing your VCE subjects.
Selection rank, guaranteed ATAR and the ATAR profile
Universities describe their entry bar in a few ways: the lowest selection rank is the minimum (adjusted) ATAR that got an offer last year – it is produced after selection, not set in advance. A guaranteed ATAR means if your ATAR is at or above it (and you meet prerequisites), you are guaranteed an offer. The ATAR profile shows the lowest, median and highest selection ranks of students offered a place – the median is often the most realistic target. (Source: VTAC; university ATAR profiles.)
Adjustment factors can lift your rank
Your selection rank can be higher than your raw ATAR. Universities add adjustment factors – equity schemes (SEAS), subject adjustments for certain studies, and sometimes interviews or tests – to your aggregate, producing a new selection rank. So even if your ATAR is a little below a course’s lowest selection rank, it can still be worth listing as a preference.
How to find the ATAR for your course
- Search the course on VTAC CourseSearch for prerequisites and selection information.
- Check the university’s course page for its guaranteed ATAR and ATAR profile.
- Use these as a target, not a guarantee – selection ranks shift year to year with demand.
Want to see where you are tracking? Estimate your ATAR with our free VCE ATAR Calculator, and read how the VCE ATAR works or how study scores feed it.
Written by Haobo Zhang (98 ATAR, University of Melbourne Biomedicine), founder of HZ Tutoring. Updated June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What ATAR do I need for university?
It depends on the course. Some have no ATAR requirement; competitive ones like Medicine and Law often need 95+. Check the course’s selection rank on VTAC CourseSearch.
What is a selection rank?
Your ATAR plus any adjustment factors (such as SEAS or subject adjustments). It can be higher than your raw ATAR.
What is a guaranteed ATAR?
An ATAR at or above which a university guarantees you an offer, provided you also meet the course prerequisites.
Can I get in with a lower ATAR than the cutoff?
Sometimes – adjustment factors and access schemes can lift your selection rank, so it is still worth listing the course as a preference.