Adjustment Factors: Your ATAR Stays the Same
You may hear these described as “ATAR bonus points”. Here is what subject, location and equity adjustments actually change—and what they do not.
William
James Ruse Graduate (Ranked No. 1 in Australia at the Time of Graduation)
· Official-source explainer
The adjustment applies to selection rank
The same student may qualify for an adjustment in one course but not another. Illustratively, an ATAR of 85.00 with five permitted points could yield a selection rank of 90.00 for that course. The numbers are just an example. The student’s published ATAR would still be 85.00.
| Category | What to check |
|---|---|
| Subject achievement | Specified subjects, results and degrees |
| Location | Residence/school location and designated areas |
| Educational disadvantage | Scheme eligibility, evidence and deadlines |
| Other recognised achievement | Institution-specific applications and exclusions |
Scroll horizontally to view the table.
EAS is not a national points table
UAC’s Educational Access Scheme considers circumstances affecting education. Having your circumstances recognised does not mean every course adds the same adjustment, or that an offer is guaranteed. Other admissions services have their own arrangements, such as Victoria’s SEAS.
Caps, combinations and prerequisites
Qualifying for several schemes does not necessarily mean you can add all their points together. Check exclusions such as medicine, caps, minimum ATARs and English/mathematics prerequisites. Distinguish university adjustments from bonuses within a jurisdiction’s ATAR calculation, such as WA TEA course bonuses.
Sources & verification
Reviewed 27 October 2026. Historical-cycle documents are explicitly labelled.