Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme

You must meet academic, citizenship and study location, and leadership requirements.

Academic requirements

You must:

• be a student who has performed well in your Year 11 studies.
• be completing one of the following in 2026:
  • an Australian Year 12 qualification (NSW HSC or interstate equivalent)
  • the International Baccalaureate (IB) (November examinations).

Citizenship and study location requirements

You must be a domestic or international student completing one of the following in 2026:

• an Australian Year 12 qualification (NSW HSC or interstate equivalent) in Australia or overseas
• the International Baccalaureate (IB):
  • in Australia (domestic and international applicants)
  • overseas (domestic applicants only) and sitting final examinations in November.

If you’re completing your final IB examinations in May 2026, you’re not eligible to apply. You may still apply for standard entry into Session 2, 2026 or Session 1, 2027, using your final results released in July. See how to apply for further details.

A domestic student is a person who intends to study in Australia and is one of the following:

• an Australian citizen
• a New Zealand citizen
• a holder of an Australian permanent visa.

All other applicants intending to study in Australia are considered international students, including those on Australian bridging or temporary protection visas.

Leadership requirements

You must demonstrate each of the following qualities through at least two (and up to three) activities undertaken during Year 11 and/or Year 12:

• Leadership: mentorship, coaching or leading a team; collaboration and teamwork skills, empathy and self-awareness.
• Service and community engagement: positive benefit to others and active engagement in your school, local or wider community.
• Contribution and commitment: genuine connection with your chosen purpose, along with persistence and dedication to achieve a goal independently and/or with others.
• Initiative: independent thought and action, and anticipating needs.
• Self-efficacy: self-awareness, personal learning and development.

At least one activity should demonstrate sustained involvement and meaningful impact via an ongoing commitment or a significant contribution within a shorter timeframe.

All activities are considered equally and assessed on your demonstrated commitment and impact, the skills you’ve developed and the quality of your reflection.

Relevant activities include, but are not limited to:

• participation in leadership conferences or camps
• carer responsibilities within your family
• completion of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• coordination of an event eg a sports gala day, cultural performance or concert
• leadership in cadets, a sports team, performing arts group or at your place of worship
• leadership in your school eg school captain, prefect or member of a student-led group
• membership of the NSW Institute of Sport
• paid or voluntary work in a position of responsibility or leadership
• participation in a FIRST Australia Robotics competition
• involvement in social justice activities, such as the Model United Nations
• participation in Macquarie University initiatives: Camp Aspire, Emerging Leaders Awards, Girls to Graduates, InRoads, Secondary Schools Ideas Challenge.

All undergraduate courses except:

• Bachelor of Clinical Science leading to Doctor of Physiotherapy
• Bachelor of Clinical Science leading to Master of Clinical Audiology
• Bachelor of Clinical Science leading to Master of Public Health
• Bachelor of Clinical Science leading to Master of Speech and Language Pathology
• Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) – StepAhead Program
• Diplomas
• Intensive Program
• Standard Foundation Program
• UniReady.

Actuarial Studies Co-op Program

If you’re interested in studying the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies with Professional Practice (Honours) – built around the highly competitive co-op program – you must preference the single Bachelor of Actuarial Studies or one of its double degrees.

If you’re applying for the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies or one of its double degrees, you must be undertaking HSC Mathematics Extension 1, IB Higher Level Mathematics or ACT Specialist Mathematics/Specialist Methods (double major). HSC Mathematics Extension 2 or IB Further Mathematics (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL) are recommended.

If you receive an offer for the Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (or a related double degree) via Macquarie Leaders and Achievers, you may be invited to express interest in the Actuarial Studies Co-op Program. Entry to this program is competitive.

Note: The Bachelor of Actuarial Studies with Professional Practice (Honours) is only available to domestic students.

Choosing your courses

You can include up to five courses – including single degrees and double degrees – in your application, and you’ll be considered for an offer to your highest eligible preference. Eligibility is based on a combination of your Year 11 results and activities.

Course selection ranks are indicative of the level of Year 11 performance typically required for each course, with higher-ranked courses requiring stronger results. You can only receive one offer through this scheme, so we recommend including a mix of courses with different selection ranks. Your preferences are considered in order, so list your preferred course first.

The Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Scholarship provides additional recognition and financial support for outstanding achievement. If successful, you’ll receive $10,000 per year for up to five years.

• A separate scholarship application is not required.
• Scholarships are awarded to exceptional applicants based on merit.
• Successful applicants will be notified from 7 September 2026.

The Macquarie Business School Grant provides financial support for high-achieving students undertaking a business degree. If successful, you’ll receive a one-off payment of $5000 in your first session of study.

• A separate grant application is not required.
• Grants are assessed automatically as part of your Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry application.
• Funding is awarded to a limited number of eligible applicants based on merit.
• Successful applicants will be notified from 7 September 2026.

Eligible courses:

• Bachelor of Applied Finance
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business Analytics
• Bachelor of Economics
• Bachelor of Professional Accounting.