How to Apply to Physics at Flinders University: A Physics Major Inside the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences, with an Honours Pathway, for Australian Applicants, International Students (Including Chinese Applicants) and Transfer Students

Flinders University is based in Adelaide, South Australia. Its website has no degree called a “Bachelor of Physics”; physics is offered as a Major in Physics inside the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on Flinders’ official information, in four parts: Australian applicants, international students, students at high schools in China and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry and engineering are mentioned only where they overlap.

1. The degrees and the physics major

• Where you can take the major: the Physics major page lists the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Science (Advanced Science), the Bachelor of Arts and Science and the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences. The Bachelor of Science has international CRICOS code 055237B, runs three years full-time with March and July starts at Bedford Park, and has SATAC code 234511 (245351 for the physics major version and 245371 for the physics Honours pathway version).
• Common first year: the Bachelor of Science first year has five core topics (Molecular Basis of Life, Chemistry, Mathematics, Communicating STEM and Coding for Science) and three option topics chosen from ten, of which Physics is one (others include Biostatistics, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Biological Diversity). Whether the physics major requires you to take Physics as a first-year option is not published; check the handbook. In years 2 and 3 you choose a major and minors (the page says 7 majors and 23 minors in one place and 6 majors in another). Flinders describes the Physics major as covering quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, energy systems and nuclear physics, paired with a mathematics minor, and building experimental, analytical and computational skills for research, defence, education, space science, medical physics and renewable energy.
• Physics inside the Mathematical Sciences degree: a common first year in mathematics, physics and data science, then a Physics major whose topics may include Electromagnetics and Electromagnetic Waves, Quantum and Nuclear Physics, Classical Physics, Thermodynamics and Energy Systems, Quantum and Statistical Physics and Solid State Physics and Quantum Devices, plus an option in Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Performance or Nuclear Reactor Design and Safety; the degree also includes a 12 to 20-week industry placement or research project.
• Honours and research: the physics major has a “three plus one year” Honours pathway version (SATAC 245371), and the Advanced Science degree is described as advanced coursework with a research project supervised by leading physicists; the international Science page also lists a one-year Bachelor of Science (Honours). There is also a Nuclear Engineering major inside the Bachelor of Science that Flinders marks “Australian citizens only”, so it is not open to international students.
• Labs, projects and accreditation: the Physics major page mentions hands-on experiments, data analysis and computational modelling but gives no laboratory hours, and it does not say whether the major is accredited by a physics body such as the Australian Institute of Physics; not published. Entrance tests or interviews: none mentioned on the course pages; not published.

2. Prerequisites

• The Bachelor of Science page lists no prerequisites and no assumed knowledge. The Physics major page lists no separate physics or maths prerequisite; not published, so ask Flinders what school background suits the first-year maths and physics.
• The Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences page lists SACE Stage 2 Mathematical Methods or equivalent; that applies if you take the physics major in that degree. How other countries’ qualifications count as “equivalent” is not published.

3. Australian applicants

• Guaranteed Entry ATAR: 65 for the Bachelor of Science with the Physics major (STAT 150, GPA 4.0); 80 for the physics Honours pathway version (STAT 165, GPA 5.0); 75 for the Bachelor of Arts and Science (STAT 150, GPA 4.5, at Tonsley). For the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences the Physics major page says 80 (STAT 170, GPA 5.0) while that degree’s own page says 75 (STAT 150, GPA 4.5), so Flinders’ pages disagree; rely on the latest SATAC listing. The Advanced Science page shows N/A for ATAR. TAFE/VET applicants need a Certificate IV or above.
• How to apply: through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC); each course page gives its SATAC code. Flinders also accepts applications on STAT results, earlier higher education or TAFE/VET study and adult entry, and the course pages invite applicants without an ATAR to talk to Flinders about other routes.
• Fee: the 2027 Commonwealth Supported Place fee for the Bachelor of Science is blank on the course page; not published on the pages used for this guide, so check the course page.
• The 2027 domestic closing date is not listed on the course pages; not published, so see SATAC and Flinders’ key dates.

4. International students

• Minimum entry: see the next section; the minimum is comparable to ATAR 60 and some courses need more. The Science course page does not give a separate entry score for international applicants; not published, so ask Flinders rather than copying the domestic ATAR 65.
• English: for most undergraduate courses (the table’s “all undergraduate courses except those specified”), Flinders asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with 6.0 in speaking and writing. Other tests: TOEFL iBT 72 (18 speaking, 18 writing; choose “Taking TOEFL for Australia” when you register), PTE Academic 50 overall with 50 in speaking and writing, Cambridge C1 Advanced B2 overall with 300 in speaking and writing, Duolingo 105 (110 speaking and writing) and LanguageCert Academic 61 (70 speaking, 64 writing). Some programs ask for more (see the courses below). If you fall short, you can study English at Flinders University Academy or an approved ELICOS provider, or use an approved secondary or tertiary qualification taught in English in a country where English is the official or main language, no more than five years old (counted up to an overall IELTS of 6.5). Flinders also says IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted.
• Start and length: March and July starts, three years full-time, and part-time study is not available to international students. The course page lists overseas exchange and practical experience as available.
• Fees: the 2027 international commencing tuition fee schedule (updated August 2026) lists AUD 45,600 for the Bachelor of Science, the Advanced Science degree, the Bachelor of Arts and Science and the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences. The schedule does not say whether the figure is per year or per semester, while other Science course pages call fees annual indicative fees (AUD 43,500 for 2026); ask Flinders.
• How to apply: you can apply online yourself or through a Flinders registered agent. Flinders publishes a list of countries whose citizens must apply through a registered agent when applying from outside Australia (grouped as Africa, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, South America and South Asia); China is not on the list. You upload certified copies of all academic documents (electronic academic documents must be certified, and some countries’ passports too) as PDF, JPEG, TIF or GIF, and Flinders emails a confirmation containing your application number. Flinders warns that some courses have limited places and may close without notice. The application fee and course-by-course closing dates are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the website and the course page.
• Scholarships (the scholarships page carries 2026 intake entries and lists the Semester 1, 2027 deadline as “to be confirmed”, so check the website): the Vice-Chancellor Excellence Scholarship takes 50% off tuition for the duration of the course, needs an equivalent ATAR of 95 or above at undergraduate level, is competitive, asks shortlisted applicants for a video and requires recipients to join the International Ambassador Program; the Global Excellence Scholarship takes 30% off (ATAR or equivalent 80.00 or above, or 80 or more in the Academy’s International Foundation Studies Program); the Global Scholarship takes 25% off (ATAR or equivalent 70.00 to 79.95 and 5 points above the course’s minimum entry score, or 70 to 79 in the foundation program and 5 points above the minimum); and the Kickstart Scholarship takes 20% off for new full-fee international students (not available if you transfer in with more than one third of the course in credit). Flinders states that the Global, Global Excellence and Kickstart scholarships exclude courses such as the Bachelor of Clinical Science/Doctor of Medicine.

5. Students at high schools in China

• How the Gaokao is used: Flinders recognises international secondary qualifications for direct undergraduate entry; the minimum is comparable to ATAR 60 and some courses need more. The undergraduate entry requirements page has a conversion table from the Gaokao percentage to ATAR: a Gaokao of 55% equals ATAR 60, 59% equals 65, 60% equals 70, 63% equals 75, 65% equals 80, 70% equals 85, 75% equals 90 and 80% equals 95. The same table lists A-Level, IB and SAT equivalents (at ATAR 80: A-Level 9, IB 28, SAT 1260; at ATAR 70: A-Level 7, IB 25, SAT 1100). The page does not explain how the Gaokao “percentage” is calculated (total score or a conversion, given different provincial maximums); not published, so ask Flinders.
• Chinese school documents: Flinders asks for certified transcripts and qualifications to be uploaded, but the pages used here give no separate instructions on Chinese transcripts, the Huikao or credential-verification bodies (such as CHSI), and no interview requirement is stated; ask Flinders. Flinders also runs a China website (china.flinders.edu.au), whose content is not given on the pages used for this guide, so check it for notes aimed at applicants from China.
• Agents: China is not on the list of countries that must apply through a registered agent, so you may apply directly or through an agent.
• If you do not meet direct entry: Flinders University Academy offers diplomas, foundation and English programs that Flinders describes as a direct pathway into the destination degree; the entry conditions of those programs are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• What the Science degree needs: the international course page does not say which ATAR equivalent applies, so do not assume that a Gaokao of 65% (ATAR 80) or the domestic ATAR 65 is the requirement; ask Flinders.
• Prerequisite subjects: the Science page lists none; whether Flinders recommends particular maths or physics subjects at school is not published.

6. Transfer and credit

• Credit: study at another university, TAFE or registered training provider may count towards a Flinders degree. Flinders says credit is assessed separately from admission, so you must still meet the course’s entry requirements; say in your application that you want credit assessed and provide an official transcript (original, certified copy or shared through My eQuals), subject outlines and learning outcomes from the time you studied, course structure information, a grading key and translations of any non-English documents. China is among the countries in the credit-transfer search.
• Minimum credit for TAFE/VET qualifications: Certificate IV 4.5 units (one topic), Diploma 9 units, Advanced Diploma and Associate Degree 13.5 units, with up to 36 units towards a three-year degree for Diploma holders or above; the minimum may not apply to degrees that must meet professional or registration body requirements. These figures are indicative and subject to assessment.
• Types of credit: Flinders describes specified credit (a direct match to a Flinders topic), unspecified credit (counts towards electives) and block credit; the type is explained in your outcome letter. How much you would receive depends on your earlier courses and is not published.
• Effect on scholarships: the Kickstart Scholarship is not available if you transfer in with more than one third of the course total in credit.
• Domestic transfer: the Science page lists a reference GPA of 4.0 and the physics Honours pathway 5.0; the exact GPA threshold for transferring in and any physics or calculus sequence required are not published.
• Moving into the major: because the first year is common and you choose a major afterwards, starting in the Bachelor of Science and selecting Physics is the route Flinders describes; whether places in the major are limited is not published.

Checklist

Australian applicants:

• Bachelor of Science Guaranteed Entry ATAR 65; physics Honours pathway 80; Mathematical Sciences 75 or 80 (Flinders’ pages differ); apply through SATAC

International students:

• Comparable to ATAR 60 at minimum; ask Flinders for the Science score; IELTS Academic 6.0 (6.0 speaking and writing)
• 2027 commencing fee schedule AUD 45,600; scholarships of 20% to 50% available

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao 65% is the table’s equivalent of ATAR 80 and 55% of ATAR 60; you may apply directly or through an agent

Transfer students:

• Ask for a credit assessment in your application with subject outlines; more than one third of the course in credit rules out the Kickstart Scholarship

Sources: Flinders University, Science for international students; Major in Physics; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences; Undergraduate entry requirements; English language requirements; How to apply; Countries requiring a registered agent; International academic scholarships; 2027 international commencing tuition fee schedule; Credit transfer. International tuition follows the 2027 commencing fee schedule (updated August 2026); the scholarships page is labelled 2026 intake. Check Flinders for the latest details.