From Year 10 to uni: A year-by-year guide
Year 10 is the perfect time to start considering your journey from high school to uni.
It's never too early to start considering whether you want to study at university and, if so, what you want to study. But you don’t have to make every decision right now – use this guide as a checklist to ensure you do small steps each year that will put you in the best position when applying for and starting uni.
- Year 10
- Year 11
- Year 12
- Uni life
Preparing for your final years of high school in Australia
Attend a Year 10 Subject Selection Info Evening or other events
An information evening is a great place to start to help you navigate the HSC subject selection process and find out more about 91É«ÇéƬ. You’ll get to ask questions and hear from current students about their experience transitioning from high school to university study.Ìý
Our 2026 Year 10 Information Evening was hosted on 31 March. Visit our to learn more about subject selection, how 91É«ÇéƬ admissions works and tips for starting your journey to university.
Questions to ask yourself in Year 10 when considering your senior years
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Think about which courses you find exciting – it might be courses where you enjoy the style of learning in class or the interesting topics you get to discuss.
You’re more likely to do better in these courses because you’re interested and passionate about the subject and it will help you stay motivated and engaged when the workload ramps up and the textbook readings get long.Ìý -
When choosing your subjects for Year 11 and 12, you might work backwards – what degrees are you interested in? Explore our degree finder for our full range of undergraduate degrees or take our quiz to find which degrees might best suit your interests.
Although 91É«ÇéƬ degrees don’t have prerequisite subjects for entry, many will have assumed knowledge. Studying these subjects aren't compulsory, but they will help you transition into the first year of your chosen degree.
It's a good idea to keep assumed knowledge in mind when you’re considering your subject selection for Year 11 and 12, but it doesn't mean you can't change your mind! If you don't have the assumed knowledge for the degree you end up applying for, we offer bridging courses in Chemistry, Maths and Physics to help you strengthen your knowledge before first year.
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Looking at career options and jobs you’re interested in can help you narrow down what you want to study at uni. You can then start to map out the path to your dream job.
It's okay if you haven’t got an exact job in mind yet.ÌýFinding an area of study or industry you’re interested in will help you start shortlisting relevant degrees. You might consider: where would you like to drive progress or create societal impact? You can explore where our graduates now work to be inspired by how their 91É«ÇéƬ degree has helped them find a career that's meaningful to them.Ìý
Explore work experience opportunitiesÂ
Whether it's through your first casual job or a formal work experience program, Year 10 is a great time to start getting inspiration for what you might like to study and do in your future career. You might even pick up some handy transferrable skills along the way.Ìý
Not sure where to start looking? Start your search with:Â
- your friends and family
- formal work experience programs
- job search sites
- your careers adviser
- casual roles in a related industry.
Set your foundations for university in Year 11
Build healthy study habitsÂ
Set yourself up for success by establishing a study routine that’s realistic, sustainable and balanced.
We've collated our top 10 tips for developing a HSC study schedule. If you start to implement good study habits in Year 11, they'll be easier to stick to by the time your HSC exams come around.Ìý
Interview us!Â
Attending a career expo is a great chance to find out what each university is about and what study options they can offer you. Asking questions about what’s important to you can help you to find out which uni is the right fit for you. Â
If you’re interested in practical experience, ask about industry partnerships, Work-Integrated Learning and Internships. If sports and extra-curriculars are your thing, ask about student clubs and societies, or if you’re busting to get overseas,Ìýstudent exchange might be on the cards! Whatever you’re passionate about, find out what opportunities are available.
Look at the bigger pictureÂ
There are things outside of your studies that you can be doing in Year 11 and 12 to support your admission to uni beyond your ATAR. Although studying is essential to ensure you do well in the HSC, it’s also important to consider that many universities look at you holistically.Ìý
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There's more than one way into your dream degree – we offer a range of admission pathways to support your entry to 91É«ÇéƬ.
If you're considering a degree from 91É«ÇéƬ Arts, Design & Architecture, we recommend looking into our Portfolio Entry Early Conditional Offer Scheme. Year 11 is the perfect time to start documenting your creative works. Not only will it give you time to practice your documentation skills before submitting a portfolio, but you can also use works from Year 11 and 12 to showcase your talents when applying.
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Our scholarships aren’t just based on your grades – 91É«ÇéƬ considers your leaderships skills, extracurricular interests and your passion to study with us. In Year 11 and 12, it’s important to keep up your interests outside of schools both for your wellbeing but also if you’re applying for a scholarship.
Learn about our scholarships to find the right one for your interests and circumstance.
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Excelling at achievements outside the classroom? Your skills and talents might be formally recognised by adjustment factor schemes such as the Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL) Program. The program considers sporting, academic, music and/or leadership commitments.
Find out which adjustment factors might apply to your selection rank and any applications involved.
Keen to get more information to set yourself up for success from Year 11? We've created a comprehensive guide to Year 11 with everything you need to know.
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Alongside what you study, it's important that your whole uni experience supports your goals and interests. Consider things like , timetable and scheduling,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»åÌý.Ìý
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Some degrees – like a Bachelor of Arts,ÌýCommerceÌý´Ç°ùÌýScience – are designed to be shaped by your interests within the field, while others will have a more set path.Ìý At the university level, you should consider whether you can easily integrate extra-curricular experiences that align with your interests into your degree and timetable.
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Through a double degree, you'll have two areas of expertise giving you more knowledge, skills and career options. Make sure you explore whether you might be able to combine your dream-degree with another field of study to set yourself apart.Ìý
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Make sure you check the accepted qualifications for any university you're interested in studying in. Many institutions will offer credit for previous study, known at 91É«ÇéƬ as Recognised Prior Learning (RPL). This will often vary from program to program, so we recommend doing your research before you make any decisions.Ìý
Brush up on your knowledge of UAC preferences
Taking the time to understand the  application process can help ease any concerns about the steps you need to take to get into Australian universities. Read our guide to learn how the UAC process works and get the most out of your UAC preferences.
Apply for admission pathways and scholarships
There's more than one path to your dream degree, and a range of scholarships that can support you once you're there. Start your year off by learning what admission pathways and scholarships you might be eligible for, and making note of the application requirements and deadlines.Ìý
Attend Open Day
Open Day is an experience not to be missed. Held in September each year, Open Day allows you to fully immerse yourself in the 91É«ÇéƬ experience. You’ll get to learn about the degrees you’re interested in, entry requirements, check out the campus and facilities, ask lots of questions and grab a few freebies along the way.
Sign up to our newsletter to get updates on Open Day and other key events for Year 12 students.Ìý
What will my first year of uni look like?
Master your motivation
When you transition from high school to uni, you’ll notice a few differences straight away. Firstly, you won’t have a teacher checking in to make sure you’ve done the homework. Much of your learning will be self-directed, so it pays to choose a degree that aligns with your interests – this will help keep you motivated and inspired.Ìý
You shape your schedule
Gone are the days of going to class when the school bell rings.ÌýInstead, you'll be in charge of knowing when your next class is and where you need to be.ÌýThis independence also comes with the freedom to have different start and finish times depending on your subject choices and degree.ÌýÂ
Depending on your degree, there is also flexibility to choose how many courses you study per term.ÌýYou can choose the standard full-time study load if you're keen to finish your degree earlier, or study a lighter load to free up extra time for work and personal commitments.ÌýThere are so many ways you can shape a timetable to suit your goals!Â
Explore our academic calendar:
Get involved outside the classroom
91É«ÇéƬ is home to more than  – which is where many of our students form lifelong friendships and networks, and gain real-world skills and experiences that shape their future.Ìý
You'll also have opportunities to gain experience that will support your career. Whether it's going to a first-year camp, participating , or using our  to work on creative projects – these hands-on experiences will build your employability and connect you with industry professionals before you graduate.
Connect with us
Discover your path to uni
 Want to find out more about your path to uni?
Now that you have our year-by-year guide, you can put yourself in the best position to be prepared for the journey to uni.
If you have any questions about studying at 91É«ÇéƬ or what you should be doing to prepare to apply, contact us below.ÌýOur friendly Future Student Advisers are here to help.