Eas Application Guide
Eas Application Guide
Educational Access
Scheme
EAS helps UAC applicants who have encountered
significant educational challenges.
2025
February 7 Final closing date for EAS applications
and documents for semester 1, 2025
admissions
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Educational Access
Scheme
Who can apply for EAS? How EAS works
To apply for EAS, you must be able to If you’re considered under EAS and your ATAR is
demonstrate that, as a result of circumstances below the required selection rank for one or
beyond your control or choosing, your studies more of your course preferences, institutions
were negatively affected during: can increase your selection rank for those
■ Year 11 and/or Year 12 courses and make you more competitive for a
or place. But you are not guaranteed a place: you
still have to compete against other applicants.
■ the period in which you gained the
qualifications you are using to seek
We cannot specify how many points will be
admission to an undergraduate course.
added to your selection rank, but some
institutions publish details of their EAS equity
If you are a current Year 12 student,
adjustments on their websites.
circumstances that arise after September are
not eligible for EAS assessment, as they will not
have had an impact on your Year 12 studies.
Automatically-generated
applications
You must also be:
We will automatically generate an
■ a UAC undergraduate applicant EAS application for you (ie you don’t have to
■ an Australian citizen, a New Zealand submit an application) if:
citizen or a permanent resident of Australia
■ the residential address (not a PO
(including a holder of an Australian
box address) you enter in your UAC
permanent resident humanitarian visa).
undergraduate application is identified by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics as being in the
International students cannot apply for EAS. lowest 25% of socio-economic disadvantage
in Australia (no reassessment of addresses
Elite athletes and performers: The impact of will occur after your undergraduate
your sporting or performance commitments application is submitted)
(eg being absent from school to train or ■ you currently attend a school in Australia that
compete or completing some or all studies by is considered rural, regional or remote.
distance education due to training, practice or
performance commitments) cannot be
In both these cases, we’ll send you a
considered under EAS. To have these
confirmation email the day after you submit
commitments considered, contact
your undergraduate application.
the institution.
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How to apply
Before starting your application, check the
eligibility criteria and documents required for
each EAS category: refer to pages 2 to 7 in this
publication or go to uac.edu.au/eas.
Open the category of circumstances You have the option not to complete the
you wish to claim. Select the specific applicant statement if doing so will adversely
circumstances that apply to you and affect your wellbeing. However, it is important
answer the follow-up questions. When to note that not submitting the applicant
you have selected all the relevant statement may affect the assessment of your
circumstances in that category, application.
click ‘Save’. Repeat for each category
you wish to claim.
Educational impact statement
An educational impact statement must be
Acknowledge the alerts to upload
written by a responsible person (eg school
documents.
principal, counsellor, year adviser, careers
adviser) who can comment on the impact of
Agree to the declaration and authority
your circumstances on your education. The
and submit your EAS application.
responsible person cannot be related to you.
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Educational Access Scheme
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Circumstances you can claim
For the most up-to-date details
and the documents you will need to provide
on the circumstances you can
claim in EAS, go to uac.edu.au/
eas-categories
Disrupted schooling
D01A: Attended three or more different secondary schools during Years 10, 11 and 12
Eligibility criteria You attended three or more different secondary schools in Australia during
Years 10, 11 and 12 or equivalent.
Note: Eligibility does not include moving from junior high school to senior high
school, attendance at an intensive language centre/s, or schools attended as
part of an exchange program.
Applicant statement ■ Details of the secondary schools you attended during Years 10, 11 and 12 or
requirements equivalent and the period you attended each school.
■ Reason/s why you changed schools.
Supporting A record of attendance from each secondary school you attended during
documentation Years 10, 11 and 12 or equivalent. The record of attendance must be issued on
required the school letterhead, be signed by the principal or another senior person at
your school and confirm the period you attended the school. It is not a record
of absences.
D01B: Moved to Australia after the beginning of Year 11 + English is your first language
Eligibility criteria You started school in Australia during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent and
English is your first language.
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria You moved interstate during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent.
Applicant statement ■ Details of the secondary schools you attended since the beginning of
requirements Year 10 (school, state/territory and period attended)
■ Reason/s why you moved interstate.
Supporting A record of attendance from each school you attended during Years 10, 11
documentation and 12 or equivalent. The record of attendance must be issued on the school
required letterhead, be signed by the principal or another senior person at your school
and confirm the period you attended the school. It is not a record of absences.
S01D: Studying any Year 12 subjects through distance education, an Access program or School
of Now
Eligibility criteria You’re studying any of your Year 12 courses through a secondary distance
education centre, an Access program or School of Now as a result of
circumstances beyond your control or choosing; for example, the Year 12
course you have chosen is not provided by the secondary school you are
attending and you have to study it online via a distance education provider.
You are not eligible if you undertook distance education of your own volition
for whatever reason, including elite sports or any other vocational reason, or
overseas travel.
Note: You are eligible for S01D if you are undertaking HSC (or equivalent)
courses via TAFE Digital. You are not eligible for S01D if you are attending
face-to-face classes (ie not distance education) at a Community College,
Saturday school, TAFE or other equivalent provider, even if the course is not
offered by your school.
Applicant statement ■ Details of your HSC program and how you’re studying (eg at school, by
requirements distance education or through an Access program or School of Now).
■ The reason/s for your enrolment in HSC courses by distance education or
through an Access program or School of Now.
Educational impact Yes. The educational impact statement must confirm you are studying courses
statement required? through a secondary distance education centre or an Access program or
School of Now as a result of circumstances beyond your control or choosing.
If you don’t provide an educational impact statement, you will be assessed as
ineligible for this EAS code.
Optional supporting Your Confirmation of Entry from NESA for the HSC
documentation or
A letter from the distance education centre, Access program or School of Now
confirming your enrolment and the courses you are undertaking.
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Financial challenges
You should claim all financial challenges that apply to you. You cannot claim F01C if you are eligible
for F01A or F01B.
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria You experienced exceptional financial challenges during Year 11 and/or Year 12
or equivalent.
Note: F01C is for a small number of applicants who experience exceptional
financial challenges but who are not in receipt of Centrelink benefits. This
generally doesn’t include applicants whose family income is above the
threshold for eligibility for a Centrelink (or other income and asset-tested)
entitlement.
Applicant statement ■ Why you’re not currently eligible for a Centrelink income and asset-tested
requirements entitlement
■ A description of the exceptional financial challenges you’ve experienced.
■ The period of the exceptional financial challenges.
Supporting Documents to show your complete financial picture. These may include:
documentation ■ an ATO Notice of Financial Assessment for the last financial year and copies
required of pay slips for the last two months
■ a copy of a Health Care Card
■ a copy of a statement with details of any Centrelink income and asset-
tested entitlement you’re receiving (this may include Family Tax Benefit A)
■ any other documents to demonstrate your exceptional financial challenges.
If you’re living with your parent/s (or with a partner) and you’re being financially
supported, you must also provide evidence of your parent/s or partner’s
income (eg an ATO Notice of Financial Assessment for the last financial year).
If you’re being financially supported by your parent/s (whether you’re living
with them or not), they must also prepare a statement which states that
they’re supporting you. In the statement they must also provide details of any
other dependent children, including their ages and whether or not they are
tertiary students living at or away from home.
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F01D: Receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A
Eligibility criteria Your parent/s or guardian/s received Family Tax Benefit Part A during Year 11
and/or Year 12 or equivalent.
Important information
The Centrelink income statement or family assistance letter must be dated
within the period of your Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent and display the
actual payment rate. It cannot be considered if it shows $0 payment rate or
a future payment date (ie the payment date is later than the issue date of
the document).
Your parent/s or guardian/s can view and download their Centrelink income
statement by logging in to their Centrelink online account, or myGov if they
have set up an account. To obtain a Centrelink family assistance letter your
parent/s or guardian/s must call or visit a Centrelink office; you will need to
allow at least a week for Centrelink to issue the letter.
Note: If your surname or residential address is different from your parent/
guardian’s, upload a copy of your birth certificate or other document(s) that
verify your relationship.
Eligibility criteria Your home environment was severely disrupted due to the death of an
immediate family member or close friend during Year 11 and/or Year 12
or equivalent.
Note: If the deceased suffered a long-term illness/disability, you may also
claim under category H01B if eligible.
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria Your home environment was severely disrupted due to the severe or life-
threatening illness/disability of an immediate family member or close friend
during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent.
Applicant statement ■ The nature of your relationship to the person with the illness/disability.
requirements ■ The duration of the illness/disability and the school years involved.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
Optional supporting A medical certificate/report giving full details of the length of illness and its
documentation severity. Include information about treatment, medication, hospitalisation.
Eligibility criteria Your home environment was severely disrupted due to the relationship
breakdown and separation of your parents during Year 11 and/or Year 12
or equivalent
or
You (the applicant) experienced separation due to relationship breakdown.
Note: Applicants who provide evidence of the legal finalisation of a divorce
during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent will not be given consideration
where there is no evidence of disruption to the home environment.
In cases where the separation has caused ongoing criminal/legal matters,
applicants are encouraged to also claim H01D. In cases of separation where
ongoing abuse or assault has occurred, applicants are encouraged to also
claim H04A or P01A.
Applicant statement ■ Details of the period of family upheaval, including its duration and the
requirements school years involved.
■ The date of separation.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
Educational impact Yes. It must verify the date of separation and how the separation has affected
statement required? your studies.
Optional supporting Copies of any appropriate supporting documents, such as those relating to any
documentation associated legal proceedings (eg Apprehended Violence Order, Police Record
of Interview, police reports, court orders, witness subpoenas).
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H01D: Criminal/legal matters for offences not committed by applicant
Eligibility criteria Your home environment was severely disrupted due to criminal/legal matters
during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent.
Criminal/legal matters may include coronial inquiries, medical tribunals or
police investigations.
Note: You cannot claim for offences for which you’ve been convicted, or
for investigations or legal proceedings against you which have not yet
been resolved. You cannot claim for minor issues such as traffic/parking
infringements.
Applicant statement ■ Details of the type of criminal/legal matters, the duration of the matters and
requirements who the matters involved.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
Optional supporting A copy of documents relating to the criminal/legal matters (eg police fact
documentation sheets, bail undertakings, coronial inquiries, medical tribunals, police
investigations).
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria You, or your parents, or any of your siblings have experienced severe abuse
during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent.
This could include extreme physical or verbal torment at school or in the home
environment.
Note: You cannot claim for isolated or trivial instances that may have caused
you offence.
Applicant statement Applicant statement is optional. We are able to assess based on other
requirements evidence provided. If you do provide an applicant statement, include the
following information:
■ details of the abusive situation including duration of the abuse and the
school years involved
■ details of any absences from school because of the abusive situation
■ the effect on your home environment and you personally.
Optional supporting ■ Medical certificates/reports giving details of the abuse, its duration and
documentation severity, including any treatment, medication and/or hospitalisation.
■ A letter from your school providing details of any absences from school
and/or disruption to your learning. The document must be on the school
letterhead and must be signed by the principal or another senior person at
the school.
■ A copy of any legal proceedings (eg Apprehended Violence Order, Police
Record of Interview), if appropriate.
■ A medical certificate/report giving full details of the length of illness and its
severity. Include information about treatment, medication, hospitalisation.
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H04B: Out-of-home care status
Eligibility criteria You are currently placed, or have previously been placed, with an out-of-home
care (OOHC) provider due to government agency intervention. This includes:
■ authorised and supported kinship care arrangements
■ short-term, long-term or foster care provided by a government and/or
non‑government organisation
■ cases where adoption has taken place after an initial period of OOHC.
Eligibility criteria Your education has been negatively impacted during Year 11 and/or 12 or
equivalent due to the impact of a natural disaster. Natural disasters in Australia
can include, but are not limited to, heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, floods,
severe storms and tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides.
(healthdirect.gov.au)
COVID-19 school shutdowns, home education and absences due to illness are
not covered by this category.
Applicant statement ■ Details of the natural disaster, the duration of its impact and the school
requirements years involved.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
Supporting Evidence of any disaster relief payments or other payments from a state or
documentation federal government body related to the specific natural disaster. These can be
required payments to:
■ you, the applicant, or
■ your parent/s (or guardian/s). In this case, the address to which the
payment has been made must match the address in your application.
If none of the above payments has been received, you must prove the
educational impact of the natural disaster to the same level as applicants who
received payments. This evidence can be in the form of:
■ insurance documents
■ socio-economic status reports
■ bank documents
■ government documents.
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria You’ve had excessive responsibility for care of children and/or other family
members during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or equivalent. The care you have been
providing has been necessary (eg due to a medical condition, serious injury/
illness or circumstance in which the individual requires regular support and
assistance) and you have not been paid a wage or salary for the purpose
of caring.
Applicant statement ■ Details of who you care for and why you’re required to provide care.
requirements ■ The number of hours these responsibilities take each week.
■ The period you’ve had these responsibilities and the school years involved.
■ Details of support you’ve received from friends, family, neighbours or
an agency.
■ Details of the number and ages of residents in the household.
■ Details of the illness or infirmity of any household members.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
Eligibility criteria You’ve had excessive work requirements during Year 11 and/or Year 12 or
equivalent for at least one of the following reasons:
■ supporting yourself, while living independently
■ supporting your family
■ responsibility to work in the family business.
Optional supporting Additional statements from a responsible person/people (eg doctor, lawyer,
documentation social worker, religious or community leader). The responsible person/people
must be aware of your need to work and be able to explain how this has
impacted on your educational performance.
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H03C: Excessive responsibility for care of self with no family support
Eligibility criteria You’ve had excessive responsibility for the care of yourself, while living
independently, with no family or partner support, during Year 11 and/or Year 12
or equivalent.
Applicant statement ■ Details of why you’re required to care for yourself, the period you’ve had this
requirements responsibility and the school years involved.
■ Details of any support you receive from friends, family, neighbours or an
agency.
■ Details of your accommodation.
■ Details of your income and any other means of support, if relevant.
■ If relevant, details of your employment status.
■ The effect on your home environment and you personally.
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Educational Access Scheme
L01A: ESL/started school in Australia in Year 11 or Year 12 (current Australian Year 12 applicants only)
Applicant statement ■ The country and the language in which you undertook your secondary
requirements education before coming to Australia.
■ Details of English as a Second Language (ESL) support that you receive
(eg at school or outside of school, hours per week, the period you’ve been
receiving this support).
Optional supporting ■ Copies of your school reports for your secondary education studies
documentation undertaken before coming to Australia. These documents must be
translated into English. For more information about document translation,
go to uac.edu.au/eas-applications.
■ International movement records from the Department of Home Affairs.
■ A notification confirming your date of first arrival in Australia on the
letterhead of the Department of Home Affairs.
Note: Providing an Immi Card or visa grant letter with no other documents is
not enough for assessment. UAC must be able to identify your date of entry
into Australia.
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L01B: ESL/started school in Australia in Years 7 to 10 (current Australian Year 12 applicants only)
Applicant statement The country and the language in which you undertook your education before
requirements coming to Australia.
Optional supporting ■ Copies of your school reports for any secondary studies undertaken before
documentation you arrived in Australia.
■ International movement records from the Department of Home Affairs.
■ A notification confirming your date of first arrival in Australia on the
letterhead of the Department of Home Affairs.
Note: Providing an Immi Card or visa grant letter with no other documents is
not enough for assessment. UAC must be able to identify your date of entry
into Australia.
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Educational Access Scheme
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Personal illness/disability
Applicant statement ■ Details of your medical condition/disability in the period you’ve had your
requirements medical condition/disability and the school years involved.
■ Details of treatment you have received for your medical condition/disability.
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Educational Access Scheme
Eligibility criteria You are, or have previously been, the holder of one of the following Australian
refugee and humanitarian visas:
■ Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)
■ Humanitarian Stay (subclass 449)
■ Protection visa (subclass 866)
■ Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)
■ Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851)
■ Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)
■ Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (subclass 786)
■ Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
Supporting At least one of the following documents confirming your refugee and
documentation humanitarian status:
required ■ your Australian Refugee or Humanitarian visa, showing the relevant visa
subclass (eg subclass 202)
■ your United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) registration,
showing the relevant visa subclass
■ your Red Cross document for travel to Australia, showing the relevant visa
subclass
Note: Providing an Immi Card or visa grant letter with no other documents is
not enough for assessment. UAC must be able to identify your date of entry
into Australia.
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Educational Access Scheme
School environment
Read page 1 for information about automatically-generated applications
Eligibility criteria You attended an Australian rural, regional or remote school during Year 11 and/
or Year 12.
A school is classified as an Australian rural, regional or remote school if
identified as inner regional, outer regional, remote or very remote according
to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Australian Statistical Geography
Standard – Remoteness Area (ASGS-RA).
Eligibility is based on this standard; not your residential address.
Current Year 12 students
If you are completing Year 12 at a regional, rural and/or remote school in
Australia, UAC will automatically generate an ‘electronic’ application for you.
You will receive an email notification of this within 24 hours of submitting your
undergraduate application. If you receive this notification, do not claim this
category in your EAS application.
Only claim this category manually in your EAS application if you attended a
regional, rural and/or remote school during Year 11 and/or Year 12 and have
since transferred to a school in a metropolitan area. You will need to provide
supporting documents.
Other applicants
Claim this category in your EAS application if you attended a regional, rural
and/or remote school in Australia during Year 11 and/or Year 12. You will need
to provide supporting documents.
Supporting A record of attendance from your school. The record of attendance must be
documentation issued on the school letterhead, be signed by the principal or another senior
required person at your school, and confirm the period you attended the school. It is
not a record of absences.
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Participating institutions: 2024 to 2025
Details of participating institutions are correct as at March 2024. Check the UAC website for updates.
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