The 2022 Gaokao has wrapped up. With results now released, we have been receiving a steady stream of enquiries from parents and students asking: “Can Gaokao scores be used toapply to Australian universities?”, “Gaokao scoresdidn’t meet expectations — can I still apply to a well-ranked Australian university?”, “Is it too late to apply to Australian universities now?” and more.
So today let’s talk about
after the Gaokaoorafter three years of high school —
how to apply for an undergraduate degree at an Australian university!
Why Choose to Study in Australia
An English-speaking country — comfortable, safe, and high quality of life
Australia is an English-speaking country,with a comfortable and safe learning environment, low crime rates, a strong economy, and a high quality of life.
Australia is a highly liveable country with a mild climate and an average annual temperature of 20°C. Australia observes daylight saving time, with only a 2–3 hour time difference from Beijing, making communication between students and parents back home easy. In recent global liveability rankings, several Australian cities have featured prominently — Melbourne in particular has ranked near the top for many consecutive years.
High-value quality education
Australia offers high-value, quality education. It is internationally recognised as one of the world’s most innovative education and training systems, currently hosting nearly 500,000 international students from over 200 countries.
The following data from the Australian Government website is provided for reference:
a. Australia is now the world’s third most popular study destination
b. 7 of the world’s top 100 universities are in Australia
c. Australia’s top 50-ranked fields of study include: humanities and medicine, engineering, social sciences, physics, and sociology
d. Australia has produced 15 Nobel Prize laureates
e. Students may work legally during their studies, which also provides excellent opportunities to develop personal skills.
Finish Sooner, Graduate with a Path to Migration
Australia’sundergraduate programmes are 3–4 years; master’s programmes are 1, 1.5, or 2 years, and doctoral programmes are 3–5 years (typically completable in 4 years) — meaning you can complete your education sooner than in China.
International education is one of Australia’s pillar industries, and well-established policies and social support systems have developed over many years.
After graduation, there is an opportunity to obtain at least 2–3 years on a graduate work visa,Australia also favours young, well-educated, and English-proficient skilled migrants,and study-abroad graduates have multiple pathways to migration.
Enjoy Preferential Settlement Policies
For example, in Shanghai, under the latest settlement policy for returning graduates, those who have graduated from a university ranked in the global top 50need only find full-time employment in Shanghai upon returning to apply for household registration (hukou). More than 6 Australian universities consistently rank in the global top 50.
Now Is the Right Time to Plan, Prepare, and Apply
Gaokao Study Abroad Timeline:
Study-Abroad Options After the Gaokao
Option 1: Enter First Year Directly with Your Gaokao Score
The majority of Australian universities accept Gaokao scores(with the exception of the University of Melbourne), releasing corresponding entry score requirements each year — including the top Group of Eight (Go8) universities such as the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, and the University of New South Wales.
If your Gaokao score is reasonably strong — at or above the first-tier threshold, or around 70–80% of the total Gaokao score in your province (total Gaokao scores vary by province/city, so if you are unsure how to calculate your percentage score, please contact our consultants for a detailed explanation~)you may have the opportunity to apply directly to a university ranked in the world’s top 100.
If your score falls in the second- or third-tier range,there are stilla large number of five-star, four-star, and three-star universitieswaiting for you.
Go8 Member: Australian National University (ANU)
Located in the capital, Canberra, and one of the Go8 universities,ANU was established by an Act of the Australian Parliament and is the only institution in Australia granted national university status — the country’s highest academic standing. ANU is renowned for its prestigious research-led teaching, and is home to the largest library collection in the Southern Hemisphere.88% of its academic staff hold doctoral qualifications — the highest proportion of any Australian university. Founded just 75 years ago, ANU has already produced 6 Nobel Prize laureates; its alumni include 54 Rhodes Scholars, 2 Australian Prime Ministers, 7 Chief Justices of Australia, 25 Federal Government Ministers, 30 ambassadors, and senior figures from numerous countries.ANU has held the top QS ranking in Australia for 18 consecutive years,and ranked 30th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.
[2022 Gaokao Direct Entry Score Requirements]
Direct entry scores vary by faculty.Most regions where the Gaokao is marked out of 750 require a score of 500 or above (the table above shows requirements for selected programmes only; students who need full score requirements for all programmes are welcome to contact us).
English language requirements:
Accepted:IELTS or equivalent English test:Overall band 6.5 with no individual component below 6.Certain specialised programmes have higher requirements — contact us to find out the language requirements for your preferred programme!
Go8 Member: University of Sydney
Founded in 1850 and located in Sydney. Australia’s oldest university and a globally renowned comprehensive research university, one of the Go8 and one of the most beautiful universities in the world,ranked 41st globally in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.
[2022 Gaokao Direct Entry Score Requirements]
Entry scores for most programmesfall between 65–75% of the total Gaokao score. For the popularCommerceprogrammes,the requirement is 75% of the Gaokao score— so based on a total Gaokao score of 750, the corresponding entry score works out to approximately 563.
English language requirements:
For Commerce: IELTS or equivalent:overall band 7 with no individual component below 6. For most other programmes: overall band 6.5 with no individual component below 6. Higher requirements apply to certain specialised programmes.
Go8 Member: University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Founded in 1949 with its main campus in Sydney. One of the Go8, UNSW’s engineering and business faculties are highly regarded,with particular strength in engineering and computing. Programmes including civil and structural engineering, petroleum engineering, environmental science, law, accounting, and finance all rank in the world’s top 20— and UNSW consistently produces graduates with top employment rates and starting salaries, having cultivated many highly influential figures.UNSW is ranked 45th globally by QS.
[2022 Gaokao Direct Entry Score Requirements]
Entry scores for most programmes are70%-90%between [a percentage range of] the local Gaokao total score.
English language requirements:
For Commerce, Law, and related programmes: IELTS overall band 7 with no individual component below 6. For most other programmes:overall band 6.5 with no individual component below 6.Higher requirements apply to certain specialised programmes.
To find out more about direct undergraduate entry scores at Australian universities,
contact us
— we’d love to help!
Option 2: Apply for First-Year Undergraduate Entry Using Three Years of High School Results
(No Gaokao score required)
Many Australian universities also accept applications without a Gaokao transcript,using three years of high school results together with an English score as the basis for assessmentand admission.This is a great opportunity for students who performed well throughout high school but did not achieve the Gaokao result they hoped for.
Specialising in Accounting / Finance / Actuarial Studies: Macquarie University
Founded in 1964 and located in Sydney,it is also the first university in Australia to offer an actuarial studies programme. Accounting, finance, and other commerce disciplines are its flagship fields, and in particular its accounting graduates are highly sought after by employers worldwide.Ranked 195th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.
Entry requirements:
Provincial key high schoolresults of 75% or above; no Gaokao required — direct undergraduate application is available, with school-leaving examination results required
English language requirements:
Most programmes: overall IELTS band 6.5 with no individual component below 6.Higher requirements apply to certain specialised programmes.
Specialising in Arts / Design / Architecture: RMIT University
Located in Melbourne, RMIT is also the only university in Australia to have been granted a royal designation by the British Royal Family. Its Art and Design programme ranks 11th in the world and is ranked first in Australia. Architecture, Business, and Management rank in the global top 50–100; Computing, Finance, and Accounting also feature in the global top 100. Ranked 190th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. Melbourne has repeatedly ranked in the world’s top 10 most liveable cities.
Entry requirements:
Completion of high school qualifies for direct undergraduate entry,with an average high school score of 75% or above
English language requirements:
IELTS requirement:overall band 6.5 with no individual component below 6.0(higher requirements for some programmes)
Lower cost of living — and a strong pathway to migration: University of Tasmania
Established in 1890 and located in Tasmania, it is one of Australia’s four great historic universities and a distinguished member of the prestigious ‘sandstone’ group. Its teaching, research, and student service facilities are outstanding, and it has received consecutive national awards for student services and the highest research award among Australian universities. It is home to the world’s first undergraduate degree in Antarctic studies, as well as the Australian Maritime College — Australia’s top-ranked maritime institution.The cost of living is low, and for students considering migration, there is the added benefit of a 5-point regional bonus, with the option to pursue state government-sponsored permanent residency.
Entry requirements:
Year 12 (final high school year) completion with an average score of 70% or above
English language requirements:
IELTS overall band 6.0 with no individual component below 5.5
*Certain programmes such as engineering and pharmacy will have higher entry requirements
To find out more about direct undergraduate entry scores at Australian universities, contact the consultant at the end of this article!
Option 3:
Three Years of High School Results → Pathway Programme
+ Undergraduate Degree
Usingthree years of high school results to apply for an Australian university’s first-year accelerated programme (Diploma)as a transition. In general,entry requirements are lower than for direct first-year undergraduate entry,and the first-year accelerated programme is equivalent to the first year of an Australian undergraduate degree. Upon successful completion and meeting the university’s academic requirements,students can progress directly into the second year of their undergraduate programme. Credits earned in the first-year accelerated programme count towards the total credits for the degree.A look at some top Australian universities and their high school results Pathway + undergraduate programmes:
Go8 Member: Monash University
Located in Melbourne — Australia’s cultural and artistic hub — Monash is one of the Go8. It consistently ranks among the top universities in overall strength and has been rated a five-star Australian university.Monash International College is located within Monash University and is one of only three Go8 universities offering a diploma programme.Monash is well known for its Commerce programme, with an emphasis on applied learning — teaching knowledge that is genuinely useful in practice, not just theory. Ranked 57th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings.
Programmes:Arts, Commerce, Engineering, IT (Computing), Education, Science, and more
Duration: 8–12 months
Intake: February, June, and October each year.
Entry requirements:Completion of high school with an average score of 80% or above across three years of high school; IELTS overall band 5.5 with no individual component below 5.0(some programmes require overall band 6.0 and Writing 6.0 or above)
Go8 Member: University of New South Wales (UNSW)
UNSW Global’s Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, or Science International Year One Diploma programme is your pathway to a top-50 world university.Successfully completing the 12-month programme earns you direct progression to Year 2 of a UNSW bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, or Science.UNSW offers world-class learning facilities (including libraries, design studios, and computing, engineering, and science laboratories), a wide variety of clubs and exchange organisations, small-class teaching, and personalised tutoring — all designed to help you make substantial progress and succeed.
Programmes: Architecture, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, Media and Communications, or Science
Duration: 12 months
Intake: January, May, and August each year
Entry requirements:Average score of 80–85% across three years of high school; IELTS overall band 6.0 with no individual component below 6.0
Go8 Member: University of Queensland (UQ)
Founded in 1910, UQ is one of the Go8 and one of six sandstone universities. Its distinguished alumni include 2 Nobel Prize laureates, 117 Rhodes Scholars, Australia’s first female Governor-General Quentin Bryce, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and solar energy pioneer Martin Green. The university has also contributed to the development of the cervical cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Its business school was the first in Australia to receive AACSB accreditation, has also received EQUIS accreditation, was rated five stars by the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA), and was named by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2016 as a global top-10 and Asia-Pacific number-one business school.
Programmes: Architecture, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, Media and Communications, or Science
Duration: 8 months
Intake: March and September each year
Entry requirements:Average score of 70% across three years of high school; IELTS overall band 5.5 with no individual component below 5.0
To find out more about direct undergraduate entry scores at Australian universities, contact the consultant at the end of this article!
To all Year 12 students — we hope you achieve brilliant results and gain entry to your dream school. But even if things don’t go to plan, there is always another path forward. Wise people always know how to keep their hands on the wheel of their own lives, steering their journey towards a broader and more brilliant future!
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