Where can I get more info on SATAC applications? How can I get in touch with South Australian universities?

Thinking of going to university? Looking at how to fill out your SATAC application is the best place to start. This is the website that you will be giving in your personal details and your university course preferences. This process may appear confusing at first with all the deadlines and key dates, but you will receive lots of help along the way from your school and the universities themselves. But first, let’s take a look at what SATAC actually is and what they do.

What is SATAC?

SATAC stands for the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre. Their main role is to send all applications to tertiary education institutions such as universities and tafes to make the admission process easier. These tertiary institutions determine who receives an offer and SATAC will send these offers out on their behalf. Basically, you should think of SATAC as your gateway to getting into university by submitting your application.

So how do I submit my SATAC application?

Before looking into submitting your application, you should familiarise yourself with all of the key SATAC dates on their website. This is the best way to save yourself from having to pay extra application fees. SATAC applications typically open in early August before the year you wish to start. You will head onto the SATAC website and create an account. Important note: use your personal email and not your school email as your school email will likely be deleted once you finish high school!!! You will then be directed to fill out your details. Press save at the bottom of each page and then move on to the next page. There will be a page where you may have to supply supporting documents for the VET courses you may have completed or are completing so have these ready for upload. You will also have to fill out a page showing your course preferences. You will then type in the courses you would like to undertake and sort them into an order of your choice. If you are not completely sure at the time, just keep in mind that you can log back in and switch these courses around at any time before the due date free of charge. Once you have finished filling out your application, you will have to submit your application fee to lock in your application. It is important that you pay this fee before the due date, or you will have to pay a much more expensive fee for your application to go through. Once submitted, SATAC will email you a confirmation email.

But what if I’m still unsure about which course I want to do or which university I should go to?

Before submitting your application it is important to make sure that you are eligible for each course you have applied for. This basically means that you have all of the prerequisites such as the required SACE subjects if applicable. Most courses do not have prerequisites and many allow you to use year 11 results as an entry pathway. However, other courses may rely on your ATAR. If you are worried about your ATAR and would like help boosting it up, you can find your best local tutor at: https://kisacademics.com/w/find-a-tutor/sace-tutors. It is important you look at all these admission details on the websites of your universities or tafes. As these institutions are well aware of how stressful this can be, many hold open days (in-person or online) for you to come in and ask all of your questions. You can explore all of the facilities within the university - whether that be science, maths, arts, health, social sciences or something else. Once you have found out all the details, I would recommend making a list of all the courses you would like to do and which universities or tafes you would like to study at. If you are stuck weighing up on which university to put higher on your SATAC preference list, I would recommend calling up each university, and asking them what they have to offer to you through this course. This way you can be sure that the university you have chosen is the best for you and will offer you the best education.

I’m still stuck! What should I do?

If you need more personalised advice on what to do next year, you can always speak to your school’s SACE coordinator. They will guide you through all of your options and provide recommendations as well as run you through your SATAC application. If you are unsure about going to university or tafe, you can always apply for a course and defer it for a year if that is an option for the course. This way you can have a gap year to think about if tertiary study is for you or not. If tertiary study is not for you, you can always undertake an apprenticeship where you will be paid for your study along the way. Apprenticeships are excellent for those who learn best practically as you learn the skills by hand rather than completing assignments and exams.

Above all, keep in mind...

While this time of year is extremely stressful preparing for your final exams and assessments while thinking about next year, just keep in mind that there is always support for you. Whether that be from teachers, friends, counsellors, universities and tafe, you should always reach out for help if you ever get stuck. Just remember no question is too silly and that it is important to take care of your mental health at this time. Our SACE tutors at KIS academics are more than happy to help you with your assignments and exam preparation to make the process run smoothly as we head into that time of year.

Written by KIS Academics Tutor for SACE English, Biology and Psychology, Charlotte Kenning. Charlotte is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University and has received stellar reviews from her past KIS Academics students. You can view Charlotte's profile here and request her as a tutor.