How to Apply to Physics at the Australian National University: a Physics Major with Advanced Physics and Astronomy and Astrophysics Specialisations Inside the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra, Australia’s capital. Physics is taught by the Research School of Physics in the College of Science and Medicine. The College’s list of bachelor degrees used for this guide has no degree called a Bachelor of Physics; on ANU’s pages physics appears as a Physics major, specialisations and a minor within degrees such as the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Science (Advanced) and the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours). This guide sets out the main points for 2027 entry from ANU’s website, for Australian domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students.

1. Which degrees include physics

• What the physics school says: its undergraduate page says the Physics Education Centre offers coursework programs with a Physics major, the specialisations Advanced Physics and Astronomy and Astrophysics, and a Physics minor. For the physics and astrophysics degrees and courses, the page points to the ANU program catalogue, which was not used for this guide.
• Bachelor of Science: three years full-time with Semester 1 and 2 intakes. ANU calls it its most flexible science degree, letting you build a program from astronomy to zoology; it is also available as part of a flexible double degree.
• Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours): four years full-time with Semester 1 and 2 intakes. The first three years are coursework and the fourth is a research-intensive honours year; honours pathway courses are built in, and up to a third of courses can come from elsewhere in the university.
• Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours): a four-year, research-intensive undergraduate degree with Semester 1 and 2 intakes; the page lists “minimum average required throughout degree”, and study areas include astrophysics. ANU’s page on programs with additional selection criteria says entry to the Philosophy (Honours) – Science degree requires the minimum selection rank plus a compulsory supplementary form, and that adjustment factors for it are capped at 5, only through the Education Access Scheme and the Diversity Scheme. The physics page also says ANU has a long history of special opportunities for students in the PhB and the Bachelor of Science (Advanced).
• Honours: the physics honours page says honours lets students pursue a cutting-edge research topic and welcomes highly motivated undergraduates from Australia and internationally; it links to available projects and honours scholarships and names the Honours Convenor. Entry requirements and deadlines for honours are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the physics honours page and the program catalogue.
• The Mathematical Physics and Theoretical Physics options are offered jointly with the Mathematical Sciences Institute, and Astronomy and Astrophysics jointly with the astronomy and physics schools.

2. Courses and prerequisites

• Years 1 to 3: the physics page lists courses for physics majors by semester. First year includes PHYS1001 Foundations of Physics, PHYS1004 Life Physics, PHYS1101 Physics I and PHYS1201 Physics 2. Second year includes Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Thermal and Statistical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Nuclear and Radiation Physics and PHYS2205 Physics for Future Leaders. Third year includes Optical Physics, Solid State Physics, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, Advanced Electromagnetism, Applied Optics, Climate Dynamics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Quantum Field Theory, General Relativity, Advanced Statistical Mechanics, the Physics Advanced Laboratory, Fundamentals of Noise and Measurement and Research Topics in Physics. The page notes that shaded courses count towards the major, but does not say which are compulsory.
• Labs and research: the page says the undergraduate laboratories are well equipped with a hands-on approach; there is a Peer Assisted Learning program for first-year students; the ANU MakerSpace is open to the whole university with 3D printers, laser cutters and electronics workstations; and undergraduates can take part in physics research projects. The page does not mention accreditation by a physics professional body; check with the School.
• Mathematics: the Mathematical Sciences Institute says MATH1013 (or the advanced MATH1115) is a prerequisite or co-requisite for many ANU courses in engineering, physics, quantitative biology and environmental modelling. Students lacking the prerequisite knowledge can take the online Maths Bridging Module from 2 to 12 February 2027 (AUD 500).
• Selection Rank and school subjects: the required rank and the specific school physics and mathematics requirements for the Bachelor of Science and related degrees are in the program catalogue and are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the catalogue. ANU’s pages do not mention an admissions physics test or interview.

• College scholarship for international students: the Dean’s International Science Excellence Scholarship is for international students from the College’s partner institutions who are enrolling for the first time in a College undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program, with a one-off AUD 5,000. ANU’s page currently says it is not being offered; check the site.

Australian domestic applicants (Year 12 graduates)

• How to apply: ANU says students completing the Australian Year 12 (or an IB finishing in November) apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), and ANU makes offers in UAC rounds. Other applicants use ANU’s direct application or UAC, as set out in the pathway finder on the ANU site. ANU also runs an Early Offer application for school leavers (based on Year 11 results). The key-dates table on the page used for this guide is labelled 2024, so check ANU and UAC for 2027 entry dates.
• Selection Rank and adjustment factors: ANU converts results into a Selection Rank. Adjustment factors can be added to the rank for a particular preference but do not change your ATAR. Your rank before adjustment must be 70 or above, you can receive up to 15 in total, and the Elite Athlete and Subject schemes share a combined cap of 5. Subject adjustments are assessed automatically after Year 12 and the Diversity Scheme automatically if you are eligible; the Education Access Scheme and similar schemes need an application and documents.
• Cut-offs and prerequisites: each degree’s required rank and prerequisites are published in ANU’s Programs and Courses catalogue. The pages used for this guide do not give each degree’s specific scores, so check the catalogue.
• Domestic tuition: Commonwealth Supported Place fees are not given on the pages used for this guide; check ANU’s domestic undergraduate fees page.

International applicants

• How to apply: international students completing the Australian Year 12 (in or outside Australia), the IB Diploma or the New Zealand NCEA apply through UAC International; other international applicants apply directly to ANU, optionally through an ANU-approved education agent.
• Assessment: ANU converts your qualification into an ANU Selection Rank out of 99.95 and compares it with your chosen degree. ANU stresses that entry is competitive and meeting the minimum does not guarantee an offer.
• Preferences and fee: direct applicants list up to three preferences and receive one offer for the highest eligible preference; ANU suggests not listing three programs with the same requirements. The direct application fee is AUD 150 per application. ANU says most applications are assessed within ten business days.
• Predicted results: if you are still completing A-levels, the IB or the HKDSE, you can apply directly with predicted results, but only for Semester 2 (July) entry and only for programs requiring 94 or below; predicted results must be on school letterhead and signed by the principal or registrar. If you have already completed the IB, ANU recommends applying through UAC, because adjustment factors are considered only there.
• Documents: proof of English, and academic records with a grading scale. ANU says documents must be scanned in colour and unaltered, and non-English documents need an English translation from an organisation ANU accepts (such as a NAATI-accredited translator).
• English: ANU lists prior secondary or tertiary study in English, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE Academic, or citizenship of a “Group A” country with education there. The English requirements page gives no specific scores; the scores required depend on your degree, so check ANU’s English language policy and the program catalogue. ANU may issue a conditional offer if your English is not yet at the required level.
• Genuine Student requirement and visa: ANU says every applicant must be assessed as a Genuine Student before a Confirmation of Enrolment is issued, and may ask for financial evidence or a personal statement at any time; an offer letter may require you to return an ANU GS assessment form before accepting or paying a deposit. A student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover are also steps in the process.
• Accommodation: ANU says it guarantees an on-campus accommodation offer to international undergraduates starting in Semester 1 of their first year.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: ANU publishes a dedicated Gaokao conversion table for tests taken from 2017 onwards. For “other provinces” (750 total): Selection Rank 80 needs 525, 85 needs 544, 90 needs 570 and 95 needs 630. Shanghai (from 2017) needs 462, 479, 502 and 554; Hainan needs 630, 653, 684 and 756. From 2021, Jiangsu and Yunnan tests with a total of 750 use the “other provinces” schedule. This is only the minimum reference for entry to ANU; each degree sets its own rank and prerequisites.
• AP: students completing a Chinese or US high school diploma can apply with 3 to 4 AP exams; only scores of 3, 4 or 5 count (A/A+ = 5, A-/B+/B = 4, B-/C+/C- = 3). A 4-subject aggregate of 14 equals rank 80, 15 equals 85 and 17 equals 90; a 3-subject aggregate of 10 equals 80, 11 equals 85 and 13 equals 94. Results must be sent directly from the College Board.
• A-level and IB: ANU publishes separate conversion tables for A-levels and the IB, in the paged list on its indicative entry requirements page; check the ANU site.
• Pre-bachelor programs: ANU has an International Tertiary Preparatory Programs page listing accepted Chinese Pre-Bachelor programs and a score conversion; applicants using these programs cannot apply for some degrees. ANU also lists recognised Australian Foundation programs. See the pages for the lists and conversions.
• Anything further for Chinese applicants: beyond the Gaokao, AP and pre-bachelor pages, the pages used for this guide give no separate interview or accreditation requirement for applicants from China; confirm with the ANU admissions office.

Transfer and credit

• ANU’s assessment page says you can meet the minimum requirement for an undergraduate degree with one completed year of an Australian bachelor degree or another qualification ANU accepts as comparable. After you accept an offer, you apply for credit at enrolment; the College responsible for the degree decides, and ANU does not promise that every course will be credited.
• If you have completed a bachelor degree elsewhere, ANU says you can transfer in for the final Honours year; admission is at the discretion of the College responsible for your field.

Timeline (2027 entry)

• Semester 1 (February 2027): direct applications close on 15 December 2026; the offer acceptance deadline is 15 January if you are overseas and 31 January if you are in Australia.
• Semester 2 (July 2027): direct applications close on 15 May 2027; the acceptance deadline is 30 June if you are overseas and 10 July if you are in Australia.
• Degrees with additional selection criteria may have different deadlines; for UAC applications, follow the dates UAC publishes.

Fees and scholarships

• International tuition (2027): ANU’s 2027 schedule sets tuition by broad discipline in bands. Per 48 units (a full-time year) the international rates are AUD 47,940 for Band 1, AUD 57,640 for Band 4 and AUD 64,130 for Band 6. In the schedule, “Natural & Physical Sciences” undergraduate is Band 4 (AUD 57,640). The schedule is organised by discipline field; which band a particular degree falls in is shown by the indicative fee in the program catalogue.International students also pay the Services and Amenities Fee (stated by ANU, with no amount on that page). Fees are reviewed and indexed each year and may rise during your studies.
• Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status in China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR), Japan, Mongolia or Korea, with an undergraduate Selection Rank of 85 or above, 20% off first-year tuition. No separate application is needed; you are considered automatically when you apply. It is offered once per level of study and is not available alongside external sponsorship that covers tuition.
• International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status elsewhere, undergraduate Selection Rank 85 or above, with values of 20%, 25% or 50% listed by ANU, for up to 4 years, also assessed automatically.

Sources: The Australian National University, International applications; Assessment; Undergraduate indicative entry requirements; China Gao Kao; Advanced Placement; Tertiary preparatory and foundation programs; International tertiary preparatory programs; English language requirements; Documentation requirements; Domestic undergraduate; Adjustment factors; International tuition fees; Schedule of Tuition Fees 2027; Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award; International Achievement Award; Physics undergraduate; Physics honours; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Science (Advanced); Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours); Programs with additional selection criteria; Maths Bridging Module; Bachelor degrees (College of Science and Medicine). Information is for 2027 entry. Check ANU for the latest details.