Special consideration
An application for special consideration is only available for students who are new to Curtin.
If you are a current student, you are not eligible to apply through this process. For advice and academic counselling, please liaise with the Student Wellbeing Advisors regarding your current circumstances.
We recognise that preparation for tertiary study isn’t always smooth. Therefore, we’ve developed a process by which applicants whose educational achievements have been compromised or disadvantaged by external factors can have their admission considered in light of those factors.
Special consideration may be granted if your ability to study or sit exams has been affected by circumstances beyond your control. These exceptional circumstances must be of a grave nature and must have had a significant impact on your studies in the year prior to your university application.
Special consideration is available to any eligible applicant for admission to Curtin University during any admission period. If it is approved you will be granted between 1 and 5 (with 5 being the maximum) additional points to your ATAR. This process does not alter any existing Tertiary Entrance Rank (gained through STAT or year 12 WACE), except for the purposes of entry to Curtin. It does not guarantee entry to a Curtin course.
Affected by COVID-19?
In light of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our community, applicants that have been directly impacted are encouraged to apply for Special Consideration.
The circumstances impacting the applicant include situations such as but not limited to:
- Experienced the sickness or loss of family or household member due to COVID-19
- Household or personally entered mandatory isolation
- Household has experienced financial difficulty due to COVID-19 (such as job loss, reduced working hours)
- Contracted COVID-19 and entered self-isolation at home
- Contracted COVID-19 and required hospitalisation
Applicants who have been directly impacted in a way other than those listed above, are encouraged to submit an application.
It is a requirement, both under University policy and Federal legislation, that our criteria for selecting students must be fair, transparent and accountable. Usually, this equates to academic achievement, i.e. applicants are selected on academic merit.
Nonetheless, the University is entitled – and indeed does – take into account any special circumstances that may have educationally disadvantaged a particular applicant. Again, this is in accordance with relevant University policy, as well as the Higher Education Support Act (2003).
