Post School Options
When considering what subjects to study as part of the SACE, it is important to think about where you would like to head once you complete your schooling. There are many options and pathways available, depending on the sort of job, career or industries you are interested in. The great majority of pathways involve some type of study or training, ranging from certificate-level qualifications, apprenticeships or traineeships, through to post-graduate university qualifications. It always pays to check any requirements for future study or training as you are planning your SACE. If you are not sure where you are headed after school, then consider a plan to keep your options open.
Higher Education
The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) is responsible for managing university course applications and offers in South Australia.
SATAC produce a number of helpful publications and fact sheets available on their website. Important reading for anyone considering South Australian universities is the SATAC Tertiary Entrance Booklet for 2025, 2026 and 2027. This booklet has information about SACE, SATAC procedures, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), scaling and course pre-requisites and assumed knowledge. To access a copy of this booklet, go to www.satac.edu.au/satac-publications. Students and parents are strongly advised to refer to this booklet and familiarise themselves with the relevant details.
ATAR
The ATAR is the primary criteria used for entry into undergraduate university courses in Australia. It measures an overall position of a student compared with other Year 12 students. The ATAR is not a score. It is a rank that allows tertiary institutions to make equal comparisons and make offers accordingly.
To obtain an ATAR, you need a university aggregate. SATAC calculates the university aggregate by combining the scaled scores from your best 90 credits of study.
To be eligible for a university aggregate you will need to:
- qualify for your SACE.
- follow the rules for precluded combinations and counting restrictions.
- complete at least 90 credits of study in Tertiary Admissions Subjects (TAS) and recognised Studies at Stage 2.
- have 90 credits of study; at least 60 credits must be from 20 credit TAS.
Interstate Universities
It is important that students who intend to apply to interstate or international universities contact those institutions directly to check specific admission criteria or pre-requisite studies. Victorian universities have many different types of entry, course and institution requirements. You can find information about requirements in Victoria from the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) website at www.vtac.edu.au.
*Please note that Stage 2 English (SACE English or English Literary Studies) is a minimum tertiary entry requirement for all undergraduate courses at Victorian universities.
Vocational Education – TAFE SA and other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
SACE completion meets the course admission requirements for most TAFE SA courses, but there are some additional requirements for entry into particular qualification levels, so it pays to check. Applications to all TAFE SA courses are online and due dates for applications can vary. For further details visit TAFE SA website. If you are considering studying at an RTO other than TAFE, please check directly with them for admission requirements.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
If you are considering an apprentice or trainee pathway, it pays to research the sorts of subjects that will improve your chances of landing a job.
Overall, employers value good school reports (both attitude and grades) but in particular, studying and doing well in subjects that are relevant is also very important. For example, English and Maths are viewed as useful subjects for a variety of trades. Someone interested in engineering might also consider Physics; someone interested in early childhood education might benefit from Child Studies.
It is important that you do some research on specific apprenticeships and traineeships you are interested in and use this to help with your subject selection.