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Gateway to success: UNSW reaches student equity milestone

UNSW Sydney

Key Facts:

• 1 in 4 new domestic undergraduate students come from under-represented backgrounds 
• 56% of commencing domestic undergraduates attended a public school
• Students enrolled through Gateway Admission Pathway match peers in results & retention 

UNSW Sydney has reached its student equity target a year ahead of schedule, with a quarter of commencing domestic undergraduate students now from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Gateway partner schools.

These students are also performing strongly, with academic success and retention rates on par with the broader student cohort.

This year, more than half (56%) of commencing domestic undergraduates attended a public/government school and close to 1800 students enrolled at UNSW through the Gateway Admission Pathway - which considers additional factors to the ATAR.

It’s the highest intake of students through the pathway since its inception in 2021 and contributes to the University reaching its 25% student equity target a year ahead of schedule.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the university would continue to support students and maximise opportunities for their success. 

“These numbers represent real journeys - students who may not have once seen university as part of their future who are performing at extraordinary levels - levels consistent with UNSW’s track record as a leading global university,” Prof. Brungs said.

“Our focus on supporting excellence will enable careers through world-class education. The task now is to build on this progress - not just opening doors, but ensuring every student who walks through them is supported to thrive.   

“This milestone reflects UNSW’s deep commitment to promoting progress for all - ensuring that young people from all backgrounds and schools are included and empowered to succeed at university. By reaching our Widening Participation target, UNSW is demonstrating that equity and excellence go hand in hand. Broadening participation not only strengthens our university community, but it is vital for Australia’s future.”

Federal Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare said the pathway was helping more young people from underrepresented backgrounds go to university.

“This is what it’s all about – helping more people like the kids I grew up with get a crack at university and build the life of their dreams,” he said. “This is exactly the type of thing which helps open the doors of opportunity wider.”

UNSW Gateway is more than a pathway to university; it includes a unique educational outreach program that prepares future students for their transition to university. Through practical workshops, on-campus experiences and online learning opportunities, the program is designed to build academic confidence and skills.  

Mary Teague, Director of Student Equity at UNSW, said the program’s impact came from its holistic design, working at the school level to address systemic disadvantage and its linkage to an equitable pathway and financial support.

“We work with over 400 socio-educationally disadvantaged schools to deliver our program to students in Years 10 to 12, and everything we do is grounded by an evidence-based theory of change,” she said. “We also employ current UNSW students from equity backgrounds as paid co-designers and facilitators — because peer-to-peer engagement, lived experience and authenticity, are key to success of this program.”  

Since 2021, the Gateway Program has engaged over 25,000 students across NSW in educational outreach and the Gateway Admission Pathway has brought more than 6,800 students to UNSW.  

In terms of their academic outcomes, the students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Gateway partner schools closely match, and in some cases exceed, the broader student cohort.  

In 2025, 91.3% passed their courses, closely tracking the 93.5% overall cohort pass rate, with even stronger results observed in some faculties. Continuation rates are also comparable, with 90.4% of students enrolled were retained, compared with 92.3% across the broader cohort.  

UNSW's newly launched ten-year Widening Participation Strategy builds on this momentum, setting out a whole-of-university commitment to equity that extends well beyond admission. The strategy focuses on ensuring students from under-represented backgrounds are supported throughout their time at UNSW - academically, financially and socially - and into their careers. 

UNSW Engineering student Rifah Tamanna moved to Australia from Bangladesh in 2022 and described her journey to university as transformative.

“I arrived in Australia near the end of Year 11, stepping into a completely new education system while still learning how to belong in a new country,” she said.

“Coming from Bangladesh, where school records are not nationally digitised, I had no straightforward way to prove my academic ability. At one point, I felt devastated and close to giving up. Receiving a conditional offer from UNSW became my turning point. It was my chance to prove to myself that I belonged here.”

Contact details:

Ashleigh Steele

0421 308 805

[email protected]