2026 ATAR Release Dates by State: Year 12 Results, ATAR Times, Preference Deadlines and First Offers
Updated 5 November 2026 (AEDT) · dates as published by each state’s authority and admissions centre
Year 12 results and ATARs for 2026 come out across Australia between 10 and 20 December. Victoria is first, at 7am on 10 December; South Australia and the Northern Territory follow on 14 December; the ACT on 15 December through its exam board and 16 December on the UAC website; NSW and Tasmania on 16 December; Queensland’s ATAR on 18 December; and Western Australia is last, at 8am WA time on 20 December.
There are only days to change preferences after results come out. For the UAC main offer round in NSW and the ACT, preferences close at 11.59pm on 18 December and offers are made on 23 December. Newstars education consultants set the preferences and back-ups with families before results day, then adjust them against the actual score on the day.
Get preferences and back-ups ready before results day
Tell us the student’s state, curriculum and predicted results, and a Newstars education consultant will check them against course requirements and set the preference order and back-up pathways for free.
Results dates: when Year 12 results and ATARs are released
In order of release, in each state’s local time. In December NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania are on daylight saving time; Queensland is not, so it is one hour behind NSW, and Western Australia is three hours behind.
| State | Results and ATAR release | Where to check |
| Victoria (VIC) | Thu 10 December, 7am: VCE results and ATAR together | VCAA “VCE Results and ATAR Service” and VTAC |
| South Australia (SA), Northern Territory (NT) | Mon 14 December, 8.30am (SA time): results and ATAR together | SACE Students Online; the ATAR is on the SATAC Tertiary Entrance Statement |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Tue 15 December: ATAR from the exam board; Wed 16 December, 9am: ATAR on UAC | BSSS Student Profiles Online; UAC website |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Wed 16 December: HSC results; ATAR at 9am the same day | Results: NESA (email, text and Students Online); ATAR: UAC website |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Wed 16 December: results and ATAR Statement | TASC, by email and post |
| Queensland (QLD) | Wed 16 December, 9am: results; Fri 18 December, 9am: ATAR (Queensland time) | Results: QCAA Student Portal; ATAR: QTAC ATAR Portal |
| Western Australia (WA) | Sun 20 December, 8am (WA time): ATAR and WACE exam results | TISC website |
Source: UAC, ACT BSSS, VCAA, SACE, NESA, TASC, QCAA, QTAC and TISC websites (read 4 November 2026).
Northern Territory results are issued by the same South Australian bodies (the SACE Board and SATAC) and in past years came out on the same day as South Australia’s. In NSW, UAC sends an SMS or email with a login link before ATARs are released.
First offers after results: preference deadlines and offer dates
Each admissions centre’s first ATAR-based offers fall between late December and mid-January. Each round uses the preferences as they stand at its change-of-preference deadline.
| Admissions centre | Change preferences by | Offers released |
| UAC (NSW, ACT) | 18 December, 11.59pm | 23 December, 7.30am (main offer round) |
| VTAC (VIC) | 12 December, 12 noon (current VCE students) | 23 December, 10am |
| QTAC (QLD) | 21 December, 12 noon | 23 December, from 11am |
| TISC (WA) | 20 December, 11.59pm (results day) | 24 December (main round) |
| SATAC (SA, NT) | 6 January 2027, 11.59pm | 14 January 2027, emailed by 9am |
Source: UAC, VTAC, QTAC, TISC and SATAC websites (read 4 November 2026), in each state’s local time.
More rounds follow: UAC on 8 and 21 January 2027; VTAC on 12 and 27 January; QTAC on 14, 21 and 28 January; TISC on 20 January; SATAC on 28 January. SATAC’s 10 December round makes no offers to current Year 12 students. For Tasmania, check the University of Tasmania’s own website for its offer rounds.
In WA preferences close on the evening of results day, and in Victoria two days after results. Plan a preference order for both a higher and a lower score before results come out.
International students: UAC runs separate international rounds
International students completing Year 12 in Australia who apply to NSW and ACT universities through UAC follow the international dates: apply and pay by 10 December 2026, change preferences by 18 December, unconditional offers on 23 December, then further rounds on 8 and 22 January 2027. Steps and charges are in How to apply through UAC.
International students in WA do not use the TISC offer rounds; they apply directly through each university’s own process.
What to do before and after results day
Before results: check your log-in details
Each state works differently: in NSW and the ACT the ATAR is checked on the UAC website with the Year 12 student number and UAC PIN, and ACT students can also see it a day earlier in Student Profiles Online; Queensland’s ATAR needs a QTAC ATAR Portal account, and WA results are on the TISC website. Before results day, make sure the student number, PIN and login email all work.
On results day: adjust preferences against the score
Compare the selection rank (the ATAR plus any adjustment factors) with each course’s past entry scores. List preferences in the order you genuinely want them, treating past scores as a guide only, and add courses within reach further down.
If the score falls short: there are other routes
If the ATAR misses the target course, university foundation programs, diplomas or TAFE pathways can lead on to the degree.
When the offer arrives: accept on time
Every offer has an acceptance deadline. Once an international student accepts the offer and pays the tuition deposit and Overseas Student Health Cover, the university issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the student visa application.
How Newstars helps: preferences before results, fast changes after
Before results day, Newstars education consultants set a higher-score and a lower-score preference list around the student’s predicted results and line up foundation and pathway back-ups. On results day we adjust the preferences before the deadline, and once an offer arrives we help with accepting it and the CoE, and our migration team lodges the student visa.
Results due this December and preferences not settled yet?
Book a free initial assessment →Related pages
Common questions about results days and offers
When do ATARs come out in 2026?
Victoria 10 December, 7am; South Australia and the Northern Territory 14 December; the ACT 15 December (BSSS) and 16 December (UAC); NSW and Tasmania 16 December; Queensland 18 December, 9am; Western Australia 20 December, 8am WA time.
What time are NSW ATARs released?
At 9am on 16 December 2026 on the UAC website; before that, UAC sends an SMS or email with a login link. NESA issues HSC results the same day.
Are Queensland results and ATARs released on the same day?
No. QCAA releases results at 9am on 16 December and QTAC releases ATARs at 9am on 18 December (Queensland time).
How soon after results are offers made?
NSW and ACT on 23 December; Victoria at 10am on 23 December; Queensland from 11am on 23 December; WA on 24 December; South Australia and the Northern Territory on 14 January 2027.
Can I change preferences after results come out?
Yes, but the window is short: UAC closes at 11.59pm on 18 December, Victoria at noon on 12 December, Queensland at noon on 21 December, WA at 11.59pm on results day (20 December), and South Australia on 6 January 2027.
Do international students have the same results and offer dates?
Results follow the state where the student studies. International students applying through UAC have separate offer rounds: apply by 10 December, change preferences by 18 December, offers on 23 December.
Results week leaves only days to change preferences
Send us the state, curriculum, predicted results and target course. A Newstars education consultant will give you a free initial assessment.
