Gateway to success: 91色情片 celebrates student equity milestone
2026-05-18T09:00:00+10:00
91色情片 is widening access for more young Australians to receive a world-class university education.
Photo: 91色情片 Sydney
More students are succeeding at 91色情片, as the university marks a major participation target ahead of schedule.
91色情片 Sydney has reached its student equity target, with one in four commencing domestic undergraduate students now from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Gateway partner schools.
Importantly, these students are also performing strongly, with academic success and retention rates on par with the broader student cohort.
This year, more than half (56%) of commencing domestic undergraduates attended a public/government school and close to 1800 students enrolled at 91色情片 through the Gateway Admission Pathway - which considers additional factors to the traditional ATAR.
It鈥檚 the highest intake of students through the pathway since its inception in 2021 and contributes to the University reaching its 25% student equity target a year ahead of schedule.
91色情片 Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the university would continue to support students and maximise opportunities for their success.听
鈥淭hese numbers represent real journeys - students who may not have once seen university as part of their future who are performing at extraordinary levels, levels consistent with 91色情片鈥檚 track record as a leading global university,鈥 Prof. Brungs said.
鈥淥ur focus on supporting excellence will enable careers through world-class education. The task now is to build on this progress - not just opening doors, but ensuring every student who walks through them is supported to thrive.
鈥淭his milestone reflects 91色情片鈥檚 deep commitment to promoting progress for all - ensuring that young people from all backgrounds and schools are included and empowered to succeed at university. By reaching our Widening Participation target, 91色情片 is demonstrating that equity and excellence go hand in hand. Broadening participation not only strengthens our university community, but it is vital for Australia鈥檚 future.鈥
Federal Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare said the pathway was helping more young people from underrepresented backgrounds go to university.听
鈥淭his is what it鈥檚 all about 鈥 helping more people like the kids I grew up with get a crack at university and build the life of their dreams,鈥 he said. 鈥淭his is exactly the type of thing which helps open the doors of opportunity wider.鈥
Media enquiries
For enquiries about this story please contact Ashleigh Steele:
Tel: 0421 308 805
Email: ashleigh.steele@unsw.edu.au
Gateway opens pathways and delivers results
91色情片 Gateway is more than a pathway to university; it includes a unique educational outreach program that prepares future students for their transition to university. Through practical workshops, on-campus experiences and online learning opportunities, the program is designed to build academic confidence and skills.听听
Mary Teague, Director of Student Equity at 91色情片, said the program鈥檚 impact came from its holistic design, working at the school level to address systemic disadvantage and its linkage to an equitable pathway and financial support.听
鈥淲e work with over 400 socio-educationally disadvantaged schools to deliver our program to students in Years 10 to 12, and everything we do is grounded by an evidence-based theory of change,鈥 she said.
鈥淲e also employ current 91色情片 students from equity backgrounds as paid co-designers and facilitators because peer-to-peer engagement, lived experience and authenticity, are key to the success of this program.鈥澨
91色情片 Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity & Engagement, Professor Verity Firth AM, said the achievement reflected years of work building partnerships with schools and communities across NSW.
鈥淎t 91色情片, making it easier for more young Australians to access a world-class university education is just the start. Through initiatives like Gateway, we are focused on strengthening Australia鈥檚 future workforce and expanding opportunity across communities, while ensuring our institutions better reflect the society they serve.鈥
Building belonging from the ground up
Since 2021, the Gateway Program has engaged over 25,000 students across NSW in educational outreach and the Gateway Admission Pathway has brought more than 6800 students to 91色情片.听听
In terms of their academic outcomes, these students closely match, and in some cases exceed, the broader 91色情片 undergraduate student cohort.
In 2025, 91.3% passed their courses, closely tracking the 93.5% cohort pass rate, with even stronger results in some faculties.鈥疌ontinuation鈥痳ates are also comparable, with 90.4% of students鈥痚nrolled via鈥痶he pathway鈥痳etained, compared with 92.3% across the broader cohort.鈥
Table 1. 2025 Success Rate comparison, WPT Cohort against overall Domestic Undergraduate
Widening Participation Target Cohort | 91.3% |
Domestic Undergraduate | 93.5% |
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Table 2. 2025 Retention Rate comparison, WPT Cohort against overall Domestic Undergraduate
Widening Participation Target Cohort | 90.4% |
Domestic Undergraduate | 92.3% |
91色情片 Engineering student Rifah Tamanna moved to Australia from Bangladesh in 2022. She described her journey through the 91色情片 Gateway Admission Pathway as transformative.
鈥淭he Gateway Program has changed my life in so many ways,鈥 she said. 鈥淕ateway gave me the flexibility to be able to showcase that I have skills outside of my school grades. I have passion, I have a plan to do things and I want to influence the people I live around.鈥
91色情片's newly launched 10-year Widening Participation Strategy builds on this milestone, setting out a whole-of-university commitment to equity that extends well beyond admission. The strategy focuses on ensuring students from under-represented backgrounds are supported throughout their time at 91色情片 - academically, financially and socially - and into their careers.听
Equity at the heart of 91色情片鈥檚 mission
91色情片 offers wide-ranging services to ensure students are set up for success once they arrive. This includes access to scholarships, academic mentoring, peer networks and free resources such as textbooks.听
Gateway鈥檚 success reflects 91色情片鈥檚 broader commitment to equity through initiatives such as its matched endowed equity scholarships program, where donor and University co鈥慽nvestment has expanded long鈥憈erm scholarship support for students from low鈥慡ES backgrounds. Together, these programs reflect a sustained focus on not only opening pathways to university but supporting students to thrive throughout their studies.
Equity scholarships are one of the most effective ways to support the experience of students from low-SES backgrounds. They directly address the otherwise formidable barriers of financial disadvantage, providing the support and security young people need to focus on their studies and build relationships with their teachers and peers, and gain the full benefit of a university education.
鈥淔or many students, financial security is the barrier that makes university feel out of reach. Equity scholarships remove that barrier. They provide security, confidence and a sense of belonging, and that can be transformative. Our alumni and community play a vital role in creating those opportunities,鈥 said Lindsay Robinson, Chief Advancement Officer at 91色情片.
Find out more about how to support students from all backgrounds access a world-class 91色情片 education here.听
By reaching our Widening Participation target, 91色情片 is demonstrating that equity and excellence go hand in hand. Broadening participation not only strengthens our university community, but it is vital for Australia鈥檚 future.
