HSC and beyond
Approximately 30% of students go straight to university after completing the HSC, 30% go to TAFE and 30% go into the workforce.
University admission
The HSC results are used by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) to calculate a rank order of students known as the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
The ATAR is not a mark, nor is it a summary of the HSC. It is a ranking system used to allocate university placements. Read more about UAC or how the ATAR is calculated in Understanding HSC results.
TAFE
TAFE stands for NSW Technical and Further Education Commission. Many HSC courses give students credit towards TAFE credentials. Credit can be gained from general courses, such as Geography and Visual Arts, as well as from courses that include vocational units of competency.
Students may also undertake TAFE study prior to enrolling in university. The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has developed, with participating universities, national credit transfer arrangements for holders of TAFE qualifications in 15 broad fields of study. For more information about TAFE visit the website tafensw.edu.au.
Careers Advisory Service
A free phone and email service offered by the NSW Department of Education and Communities is available after results are released in December. The service provides students and their families or caregivers with up-to-date, relevant and impartial information about the range of available career and study options.
Availability: 9 am – 5 pm, Thursday, 20 December 2012 to Monday, 24 December 2012
Telephone: 1300 300 687
Website: cas.det.nsw.edu.au (email service will be accessible via the website)
HSC Pathways
The HSC can be accumulated over a period of five years from the completion of the first HSC course. This allows for flexible study arrangements and is often referred to by the term "Pathways". Pathways provisions also include: being able to repeat one or more HSC courses; acceleration, which allows more able students to progress through their study requirements at a faster rate; recognition of prior learning, whereby you may be granted credit transfer towards your HSC, or advanced standing in a course; and even part-time traineeships.
The HSC and interstate qualifications
Information on Year 12 credentials in each state is available on the Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities (ACACA) - Leaving School sub-site.