Minimum ATAR Requirements for Top Australian Universities (Go8)

What is an ATAR?

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile score out of 100 that shows how a student has performed compared to their peers. For example, an ATAR of 80 means the student performed better than 80 percent of their cohort. Australian universities, especially the Group of Eight (Go8), use ATAR cut-offs as a benchmark for entry into undergraduate programs.

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ATAR Minimums for Go8 Universities

The Group of Eight universities are Australia’s most prestigious research-focused institutions. For 2025–26 admissions, their minimum ATAR requirements generally range from 80.00 to 90.00 for most mainstream courses, while highly competitive programs such as Medicine and Law often demand scores above 95.00.

Typical ATAR requirements by university:

• University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ, UWA, University of Adelaide: Most undergraduate programs fall in the 80.00–90.00 range. Competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, or Commerce can require 95.00 and above.

• Arts, Business, Science, and Engineering programs usually have cut-offs between 80.00 and 90.00. Less competitive fields may be slightly lower, while top professional degrees can reach 99.95.

• Regional or less selective universities in Australia may set cut-offs as low as 50.00, and some programs may not require an ATAR at all.

Minimum ATARs by University and Course Area

University	Typical Minimum ATAR (Mainstream Courses)	Medicine/Law ATAR
University of Melbourne	85–99+	Up to 99.95
University of Sydney	85–99+	Up to 99.95
UNSW Sydney	85–99+	Up to 99.95
Monash University	80–95+	Up to 99.90
Australian National Univ.	80+	Up to 99
University of Queensland	80–90+	Up to 99
University of Western Aust.	80–90+	Up to 99
University of Adelaide	80–90+	Up to 99

For all Go8 universities, Medicine, Dentistry, and Law are among the most competitive fields and usually require ATARs of 97.00 or higher.

Additional Considerations

• Many universities offer adjustment factors, scholarships, and alternative pathways that may lower effective ATAR requirements for eligible students.

• Minimum ATARs differ by program, so students should always confirm with the specific course page.

• International students are assessed using GPA equivalents or board percentage conversions, along with English language proficiency requirements.

• Minimum ATARs can shift year by year depending on the applicant pool and available seats.

Conclusion

For most students aiming at Go8 universities, an ATAR between 80.00 and 90.00 will be the baseline for entry into popular degrees. However, if your goal is to study Medicine, Law, or Dentistry, you should expect requirements closer to 97.00 or even 99.95.

Planning to apply to the Group of Eight? To explore how ATAR works and what score you might need as a CBSE or ICSE student, check out this blog: ATAR Conversion for CBSE & ICSE Students.

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