Australian National University Admissions 2024: Process, Requirements & Deadlines

The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, known as ANU, was founded in 1946. To provide their nation and the world with research capacity and education in vital areas, ANU connects talented people with diverse perspectives. 

Ranked #30 in the QS World University ranking 2023 and #1 in Australia, it is home to the country’s highest number of Nobel Laureates. ANU is renowned for its small classes, exceptional teaching, and research. The Australian National University’s acceptance rate is estimated to be 35%. Additionally, they accept applications from both domestic and international students.

The acceptance rate probably raises the question of how to get admission to the Australian National University and the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

ANU offers more than 50 single undergraduate degrees, 750 flexible double degree programs, and 350 postgraduate programs. ANU’s admission criteria vary according to the student’s chosen program.

The eligibility criteria for an undergraduate program are: 

• Students must meet the university’s minimum academic requirement through senior secondary studies or one year of Australian Undergraduate Degree. 
• Students must prove English language proficiency by completing a single acceptable English language test within two years from the date of application. 
• Students must meet additional entry requirements that some programs have, like prerequisites or portfolios. 

The eligibility criteria for postgraduate programs are: 

• Students must hold an Australian Bachelor Degree or an equivalent as approved by the Australian Qualification Framework.
• Students must check additional requirements that some courses demand. For instance, some courses require students to have work experience, CV, and cognate requirements. 
• Students must meet the English requirements and should have performed well in a single acceptable test.  

The eligibility criteria for postgraduate research degrees or doctorates in ANU: 

• Students must hold a Second Class Honors- Upper or First Class Honors in an Australian Bachelor Degree. 
• Students must have another degree with a research or thesis component. 
• Students must have a combination of qualifications, research publications, and professional experience in the chosen field. 
• Students must meet English language requirements. 

Documents Required 

The Australian National University’s admission requirements include several documents essential for candidates to apply. 

The mandatory documentation you’ll need to provide for the undergraduate course are:   

• Application form.
• Academic transcript stating you have completed secondary studies.
• Any other additional information requested by the University.
• Birth certificate and identification documents.
• Overseas student health cover.
• Statement of Purpose and recommendation letters.
• Other language documents should be accompanied by complete English translation accepted by NAATI, Multicultural New South Wales Language Services, or Australian Diplomatic Missions. 
• Successful completion of English and Math in senior secondary.  

The mandatory documentation you’ll need to provide for the postgraduate course are:

• Application form.
• Proof of English language proficiency.
• Recent academic transcript.
• Evidence of relevant work experience.
• Curriculum Vitae for professional courses.
• Statement from the employer confirming the experience.
• ID proof.
• Statement of Purpose and letter of recommendation.
• Overseas student health cover.
• Documents in languages other than English should be accompanied by complete English translation. The translators must be accredited by NAATI, Multicultural New South Wales Language Services, or Australian Diplomatic Missions. 

The mandatory documentation you’ll need to provide for postgraduate research or doctorate course are:

• Application Form
• Research Application Referee Report Form – three of them are required.
• Research proposal- a page draft with an outline of what you intend to research. 
•  Certificates of Australian Bachelor Degree with at least Second Class Honors or First Class Honor or its international equivalents.  
• Transcript of another degree with a research/thesis component. 
• Research supervisor details. 
• Other academic qualifications.
• Overseas student health cover.
• Proof of English language proficiency.

Tests Required and Average Scores 

For seeking admission, students must complete specific exams and have a requisite performance to meet Australian National University’s admission criteria. Students must prove English language proficiency and other competencies depending on course requirements. 

Below are the average scores students must receive for some of the standardized exams: 

• IELTS – A minimum score of 6.5, with 6.0 in each category for undergraduate programs. For postgraduate programs, an overall score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.0 in each category.
• TOEFL Paper-Based Test – A minimum of 570 with a Test of Written English score of 4.5 for the undergraduate programs. For postgraduate programs, students should score 600 with a Test of Written English score of 5.0.
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) – For undergraduate programs, students should score 64 with a minimum of 55 in each communicative skill. Students applying for postgraduate should have a score of 70 with a minimum of 60 in the communicative skill category. 
• Students should contact the university admission counselor to know about additional test requirements. 
• GMAT: A general requirement of 550+ is needed across study levels. 
• SAT: A score of 1170+ is needed for admission into a bachelor’s program. 

Popular Courses at The Australian National University

The Australian National University, Canberra, has its main campus in Acton and is surrounded by 10,000 trees on-campus. Additionally, they have exceptional courses supported by over 3,000 professional and academic staff. 

Some of the popular undergraduate courses are:

• Asia and pacific studies 
• Business and Economics 
• Health and medicine 
• Mathematical Sciences 
• Physical Sciences 
• Society and Culture 
• Visual Arts and Music
• Law
• Environmental Sciences

Some of the popular postgraduate courses are:

• Master of Business Administration 
• Health and Medicine 
• Mathematical Sciences 
• Psychology 
• Social Sciences and Humanities
• Music 

Some of the popular postgraduate research or doctorate courses are:

• Doctor of Philosophy, Culture History and Languages 
• Doctor of Philosophy, International, Political and Strategic Studies 
• Doctor of Philosophy, Psychology 
• Doctor of Philosophy, Science
• Doctor of Philosophy, Regulation, and Governance 

How Does the Australian National University, Canberra, Evaluate Applicants?

How to get admission to Australian National University, Canberra? The University uses three stages to assess students’ applications, and they update students at each stage. Moreover, they aim to provide students with an enriching experience by reflecting on the diversity of Australia. 

First Stage- Checking Eligibility 

During the first stage, the University evaluates students’ eligibility. They check the below criteria to do that: 

• They will check the documentation and let you know if anything is missing. 
• They check that students meet the minimum admission requirement. 
• Often, if the student is ineligible for a program, they will allow the student to apply for a different program.
• If the student meets all requirements, the application moves to the next stage. 

Second Stage- Ranking 

In this stage, the University ranks a student’s application against other applicants. The following criteria are used for the same: 

• For undergraduate programs, the University uses students’ academic qualifications or sequence of study to give an ANU Selection Rank out of 99.95. This determines if students meet the minimum requirements for their preferred programs. 
• ANU uses a 7-point GPA scale for postgraduate programs to determine if students meet the admission requirements. They calculate this GPA, excluding students’ final semester results.

Third Stage- Outcomes and Offers

In the final stage, students learn whether their application is successful. ANU provides detailed information on how to accept the offer or how to re-apply in the future. Students will know whether they are successful, waitlisted, or unsuccessful at this stage.

The successful students will receive the Letter of Offer, which they need to accept within a stipulated time. 

Tips for Applying to Australian National University, Canberra 

As one of the world’s top universities, Australian National University’s acceptance rate is on the higher side. However, preparing an application that stands out is crucial. 

Here are some valuable tips for how to apply to ANU: 

• Read the ANU website carefully to understand how to apply. 
• Students must understand the eligibility criteria and ensure they meet them before applying. 
• Students must have their documentation ready, preferably as PDFs smaller than 5MB. 
• Students should write a convincing Statement of Purpose which narrates their story, goals, aspirations, and keenness to learn. 
• Students should provide reliable recommendation letters with contact details so the University can verify them. 
• Students must meet the English language requirements and other additional requirements as required. 
• Applicants must learn about the Mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover and Procure it. 

Application Deadlines 

The Australian National University accepts applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate programs every year. 

Additionally, depending on whether students find a supervisor to approve their research, ANU accepts applicants for postgraduate research and doctorate programs at any time of the year. 

Following are application timelines students should take note of: 

• For students wanting to join ANU for Semester 1, 2023, the applications opened on 14th March 2022.
• For students wanting to start ANU in Semester 2, 2023, the application opened on 1st June 2022.
• Students can apply any time of the year. The University shall consider applications submitted before the 15th of a month for an offer on the first day of the following month. 
• Applicants can change their degree preferences between the 9th and 15th day of every month. 
• Students will have two months to accept their offer from Australian National University. 
• For MBA candidates, students must apply between 1st June 2022 and 30th October 2022 to be considered for the 2023 study.
• Candidates for Bachelor of Health Science must apply between 14th March and 15th November 2022 to start classes in 2023. 
• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honors) (science) application closes on 15th November 2022. 
• For Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology, applicants must apply between 25th March 2022 and 30th September 2022. 

Acceptance Rate of Top Australian Universities