Most Bachelor of Nursing courses in Australia admit students with ATARs from the 60s to the low 80s. Recent official figures range from a guaranteed 65.00 at the University of New England to a lowest adjusted rank of 83.1 at the University of Queensland. Because adjustment factors are common in nursing, many students are offered places with ATARs below the published selection rank.
ATAR for nursing key facts
- UQ Bachelor of Nursing: lowest adjusted rank offered in Semester 1, 2026 was 83.1 (78.4 before adjustments).
- QUT Bachelor of Nursing: minimum selection threshold 74.00 for Semester 1, 2026.
- RMIT Bachelor of Nursing: 2026 lowest selection rank 72.90, but the lowest ATAR before adjustments was 52.90.
- UTS Bachelor of Nursing: lowest selection rank 70 for recent school leavers, Autumn 2026.
- Monash Nursing: Monash Guarantee of 70 for 2027 at Clayton and Peninsula; UNE: guaranteed ATAR 65.00 for 2027.
ATAR for nursing by university
Each figure is from the university's own course page or its admissions centre listing, checked on 21 October 2026.
UniversityFigureWhat the figure is
University of Queensland83 (lowest 83.1 adjusted, 78.4 unadjusted)Entry score threshold and lowest offers, Semester 1, 2026
QUT74.00 (lowest offer 66.45 before adjustments)Minimum selection threshold, Semester 1, 2026
RMIT72.90 (lowest ATAR 52.90)Lowest selection rank offered in 2026
UTS70Lowest selection rank for a recent school leaver, Autumn 2026, full time
Monash University (Clayton)70 guarantee (lowest ATAR 66.85 in 2026)Monash Guarantee for 2027 entry, for eligible applicants
Monash University (Peninsula)70 guarantee (lowest ATAR 60.50 in 2026)Monash Guarantee for 2027 entry, for eligible applicants
University of New England65.00Guaranteed ATAR for 2027 entry
Sources: UQ Bachelor of Nursing program page; QTAC listing for QUT Bachelor of Nursing; RMIT Bachelor of Nursing admissions transparency page; UTS, Monash and UNE course pages. Figures change each year.
Why the lowest ATAR can be far below the selection rank
RMIT's 2026 nursing intake shows the effect clearly: the lowest selection rank offered was 72.90, but the lowest ATAR before adjustments was 52.90. QUT's lowest offer was 74.00 with adjustments and 66.45 without. Adjustment factors such as equity schemes, regional adjustments and subject bonuses lift selection ranks, and nursing courses use them widely. Check what you may be eligible for in {{link:atar-vs-selection-rank|ATAR vs selection rank}}.
Median offers
UniversityMedian offer before adjustmentsMedian offer with adjustments
UQ (Semester 1, 2026)88.3589.95
QUT (Semester 1, 2026)80.1082.60
RMIT (2026)61.2079.15
The median is the middle offer, so half of the students offered places had higher ranks and half lower. It is a better sense of a typical student than the lowest figure.
Other routes into nursing
- Diploma of Nursing first. Enrolled nurses can enter many bachelor programs with credit; QUT, for example, assesses its enrolled nurse entry on diploma results.
- Pathway courses. Several universities run undergraduate certificates or diplomas that lead into nursing.
- Equity and regional schemes. These can lift your selection rank. See {{link:atar-equity-schemes-explained|equity schemes}}.
- Graduate entry. Some universities offer a graduate Master of Nursing for people with another degree.
More options are in {{link:low-atar-pathways|pathways with a lower ATAR}}.
Nursing ATAR myths
- "You need a 90 for nursing." Most published figures above sit between 65 and 83.
- "The selection rank is the lowest ATAR accepted." It includes adjustments. Lowest ATARs are often well below it.
- "Nursing does not need prerequisites." Many courses assume English; QUT, for example, lists English as assumed knowledge.
FAQ
What ATAR do you need for nursing?
Most courses admit students in the 60s to low 80s. Recent official figures range from a guaranteed 65.00 at UNE to 83.1 at UQ, and adjustment factors let many students in below the published rank.
What ATAR do you need for nursing at UQ?
UQ's entry score threshold for the Bachelor of Nursing was 83 for Semester 1, 2026, with a lowest adjusted offer of 83.1 and a median of 89.95.
Can I do nursing with a 60 ATAR?
Possibly. Several courses offered places to students with ATARs in the 50s and 60s once adjustments were added, and a Diploma of Nursing or pathway course is another route.
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