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Home | International Applicants

International Applicants

International applicants are those who do not hold:

  • Australian citizenship
  • New Zealand citizenship
  • Australian permanent residency

Whether you can apply through SATAC depends on the institutions and courses you are applying for.

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International applicants

Where to apply English Language Requirements

Applying for TAFE SA courses

  • If you are an international applicant on a student visa (subclass 500), you do not apply through SATAC. Contact TAFE SA International:
    • Phone: +61 8 8417 0430
    • Free call (Australia only): 1800 049 492
    • Website: TAFE SA
  • If you hold another visa type, you can apply through SATAC. TAFE SA will inform you about your to study and tuition when you enrol.

To confirm your eligibility before applying, email admissions@tafesa.edu.au and include your visa number and subclass (if relevant).

 

Applying for undergraduate courses

SATAC accepts applications from International Year 12 students for the following universities: 

It is recommended that you contact the relevant university directly for more information about courses and services available to international applicants. Contact details can be found via the links provided above.

Who is considered an International Year 12 applicant?

International students studying one of the following qualifications in Australia may apply for courses (at the universities listed above) through SATAC:

  • South Australian Certificate of Education ()
  • Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training ()
  • ACT Senior Secondary Certificate (ACT SSC)
  • NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC)
  • Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
  • Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)
  • Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
  • Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)
  • () Diploma (in Australia only)

All other international students whose qualifications are not listed above must apply directly to the relevant , rather than through SATAC.

Awaiting permanent residency status

International Year 12 students awaiting permanent residency should still apply as an international Year 12 applicant, as you can only apply as a domestic applicant once your permanent residency is confirmed.

If your permanent residency is granted after you apply, you will need to reapply as a domestic applicant. You will then be subject to the same conditions as other domestic applicants.

If you have questions about how your pending permanent residency affects your application, contact the admissions office of the university you are applying to.

All other international applicants awaiting permanent residency must wait until their residency is granted before applying as a through SATAC.


Applying for postgraduate courses

SATAC does not accept international applications for courses.

For information about applying, contact the offering the course directly.
 

Important differences in the application process

Availability of courses

Most university courses are available to international year 12 applicants through SATAC, but there are some exceptions.

  • Use Course Search to check course availability. You can apply filters to show only courses available to International Year 12 applicants.
  • Courses offered by Tabor College, or Torrens University Australia are not available to international applicants through SATAC.

Offers for International Year 12 Applicants

International Year 12 applicants can receive an for every course on their preference list, provided they meet eligibility and requirements.

Please refer to the ‘Changing Your ’ section below for more information, including guidance on how to order your preferences.

Offer rounds

The offer rounds takes place in December, shortly after Year 12 results are released (this varies between mid and late December depending on the state).

After 10 January, SATAC will no longer issue offers for that admissions cycle.

Application Process and Key Dates

  • Key dates for International Year 12 students
    DateEvent
    Monday 4 August 2026Applications open for Semester 1 2027.
    Monday 1 December 2027New applications and/or changes of preference after this date will be considered in offer rounds only if there are places available.
    Mid-December to early January 2027Several offer rounds – offers sent by email from SATAC as results become available from the SACE Board and interstate.
    Friday 2 January 2027SATAC's website closed for new applications and changes of preference. Any new applications can be made direct to the institutions.
    Wednesday 7 January 2027Final SATAC offer round - offers sent by email from SATAC. No further offers are made by SATAC after this date.
  • Quota courses

    While most courses have places available for international Year 12 applicants (provided they are and competitive for an offer), some courses have limits on the number of international applicants that can receive an offer (e.g. Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at Adelaide University). This is called a .

    For quota courses, applicants may need to achieve a higher rank than the minimum selection rank.

    Selection ranks are based on the or an equivalent qualification. Information about the selection ranks used is available from the universities. 

    In some cases, universities may make offers on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. This means that applicants who receive an offer must respond to the university immediately to secure their place. 

  • Steps in the application process

    International Year 12 applicants must apply online through mySATAC. If you need help with your application, your school or registered Education Agent can assist you.

    Education Agents
    If you, your family, or educational sponsor are organising your studies through a registered Education Agent, make sure that they apply through SATAC on your behalf, and not directly to
    the universities.

    Your registered Education Agent can speak to SATAC about your application throughout the admissions period. Check that they are registered with the university you are applying to. If your Education Agent is not registered, they cannot act on your behalf.

    You will also need to include your Education Agent’s details when prompted within your mySATAC application. 

    Applicants under 18 years old

    For Adelaide University, Charles Darwin University and Flinders University you will still receive an offer for any preference for which you are eligible. 

    You must meet extra requirements (such as accommodation and welfare arrangements) before you can accept an offer.

    Contact the university to find out more about extra requirements. 

    Acknowledgement of your application

    You will receive an acknowledgement letter listing your preferences once you submit your mySATAC application. SATAC will send copies to the email address supplied on your application.

    The acknowledgement letter is not an official Offer Letter and outcomes will be confirmed after SATAC has assessed your Year 12 results. Please refer to the SATAC Offer process, below for further information.

    The universities you have applied to may contact you

    After you apply, the universities may contact you with further information. They might also invite you to visit their campuses or attend information sessions.

    Changing your preferences

    You can change your preferences online in mySATAC.

    If you want to change your preferences, you must submit changes by 11.59 p.m. the night before each offer round.

    You will not be able to add or change your preferences on offer round days.

    Please note you cannot remove preferences to courses you have already received an offer for. Contact the institution to if you wish to discuss changing the preference for an offered course.

    Changing your contact details

    You can change your contact details online in mySATAC.

    SATAC offer process

    In mid to late December, the SACE Board or your local Board of Studies will forward your Year 12 results to SATAC. SATAC will then send offers by email to eligible International Year 12 applicants. Your offer email will include details of the courses you are offered. 

    For South Australian and Northern Territory students, offers are usually emailed in the third week of December. SATAC receives interstate results later, so some offers may not be sent until early January.

    Please note, international Year 12 students who do not pay their SACE or interstate fees by the due date or do not nominate to have their results released to SATAC will not have their records provided to SATAC by the SACE Board. Without these records, you won’t be able to submit a SATAC application and, as a result, won’t be eligible to receive an offer.

    For more information, contact the SACE Board directly

    Accepting an offer

    You will need to accept the offer of your choice from the courses you are offered. The universities that have made you an offer will contact you to confirm your acceptance of the offer to study, and will provide you with an offer letter in addition to your SATAC offer email. 

    It's important to follow any instructions in the university Offer Letter (including accepting) and to ask any questions you have about enrolling, the course or studying at the university.

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