Keep the ATAR in Perspective and Explore Options

As 2019 draws to a close, many of this year’s HSC students and their parents may be feeling anxious about the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank). They sometimes worry that if their ATAR is lower than expected, they will lose the chance to study the course they want at their preferred university.

However, this need not be the case. A disappointing ATAR is no reason to lose sight of your university goals. In fact, only one in four Australian undergraduate students are admitted to courses based on their ATAR alone. The good news is that there are other pathways to university and many students succeed, no matter their starting point. Many students wishing to study at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) begin with a diploma from UTS Insearch, the pathway to UTS.

UTS Insearch offers diplomas in Business, Communication, Design and Architecture, Engineering, Information Technology and Science. Many of these will take successful students straight into the second year of a corresponding UTS degree. This is because the diploma courses are designed in collaboration with UTS, so the educational outcomes are the same as for first-year students studying a UTS undergraduate degree.

In other words, UTS Insearch students experience the standards of a globally ranked university from day one of their studies. They also enjoy the new facilities of UTS, such as the state-of-the-art library, 24-hour computer labs, and hundreds of friendly student clubs and associations.

Indian student, Tehsin Mansuri has now completed her nursing studies at UTS, after completing a Diploma of Science at UTS Insearch. She was recently acknowledged as a leading UTS Insearch Student Ambassador. Tehsin was awarded a cash prize in recognition of her many helpful social media posts and her willingness to assist other Indian students on their university journey. Of her experience as a Student Ambassador, Tehsin says, “I love socialising and networking to make friends and share my Indian heritage with others.”

UTS is Australia’s number-one young university. In fact, it’s been ranked among the 140 best in the world, so it should come as no surprise that UTS graduates are in high demand by employers worldwide. Students who begin their university career at UTS Insearch benefit from a unique combination of ongoing academic support, small class sizes, and practical learning. The program is designed to help them get to UTS, and to thrive there.

Tim Laurence says the difference with learning at a higher education institution like UTS Insearch, rather than diving into first-year university, is the personalised attention students can receive. Many of the teachers are from industry, some are from UTS, and of course, all are hired for their teaching and communication skills. “We offer smaller tutorials with about 20 students in each,” Mr Laurence says. Students also have access to a Study Success Adviser, so the whole program is very student-focused.

In many ways, an alternative pathway such as UTS Insearch can be the ideal way to begin a learning journey – students can learn in smaller steps how to study at a university level, which means they are well on their way to succeeding in their goals.