Australian Universities Accepting Backlogs

Australian Universities Accepting Backlogs

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Deputy Manager (Content)
Updated on Jul 10, 2026 19:08 IST
Is Australian strict or lenient about backlogs? Which universities is Australia accept backlogs and how many? Studying abroad is a dream for many but achieving this dream is no less than a Herculean task. All this while what matters the most is your scores, not just your exam scores score but your undergraduate/postgraduate marks as well.

Backlogs in Australia are taken very seriously, hence those applying for admission at Australian universities with a backlog have to take care of certain pointers. Australian universities accept backlogs only if the reasons are valid. Applicants who apply to Australian universities with backlogs must take care of certain implications and beware of the rules that are adhered to for such situations.

Australian Universities Accepting Backlogs

For thousands of Indian students aspiring to study abroad, backlogs can feel like a red flag on an otherwise strong academic profile. The good news? Having a backlog doesn't automatically shut the door on your dream of studying in Australia. While some universities are strict and expect a clean academic record, many others take a more practical view, evaluating applications on the reasons behind the backlogs and how well the rest of the profile stacks up.

Australian institutions generally fall into different tiers when it comes to backlog tolerance from the more selective Group of Eight universities, which prefer minimal backlogs, to other well-recognized universities that are open to accepting students with a much higher number of backlogs, provided they've been cleared before applying. Understanding where each university stands can save you time, effort, and unnecessary rejections during the application process.

In this article, we will talk about exactly which Australian universities accept backlogs, how many they're typically willing to overlook, and what documentation you'll need to support your application so you can approach your Australia study plans with clarity and confidence.

Table of contents
  • Do Backlogs Affect Admissions at Australian Universities?
  • Do Australian Universities accept backlogs?
  • Which universities in Australia accept backlogs?

Do Backlogs Affect Admissions at Australian Universities?

Having backlogs might seem a hindrance in achieving this dream. While there are, some universities accept students with a history of backlogs as long as they have cleared them before applying for admission. Some universities are quite strict about these and do not entertain more than 3-4 backlogs, while others accept 10-15 backlogs easily. So, before selecting a country, consider your number of backlogs and whether the universities will accept that number. This article will discuss Australian universities that accept backlogs.

Important Point to Remember: The Australian Education System does not only count the number of subjects but also the number of attempts you took to clear those backlogs.

Studying abroad is a dream for many but achieving this dream is no less than a Herculean task. By now you must be familiar with the application process that starts with the very step of taking the IELTS / TOEFL / PTE exam or GRE / GMAT exam, then moving on to shortlisting universities and applying with all related documents like SOP, CV, Essays, and LORs till the very end process of applying for a study Visa in Australia. All this while what matters the most is your scores, not just your exam scores but your undergraduate/postgraduate marks as well.

Also understand when should you apply: Australia July Intake Timeline or Australia Feb Intake

Do Australian Universities accept backlogs?

It is important to note that private universities in Australia accept students with not more than 7-8 backlogs. However, most of the prominent private universities accept student profile with either no backlogs or less than 4 backlogs. The Group of Eight (Go8) universities accept a maximum of 0-5 backlogs. 

Which universities in Australia accept backlogs?

Check out the Australian universities and the number of backlogs they accept on the highest possible side:

Number of Backlogs

Universities accepting backlogs

0-5 backlogs

University of Sydney

Monash University

Queensland University

University of Melbourne

Australian National University

Monash University

University of Western Australia (UWA) 

University of Adelaide

5-10 backlogs

Curtin University

Deakin University

Flinders University

10–15 backlogs

La Trobe University

Edith Cowan University

University of Technology Sydney

15+ backlogs

James Cook University

Charles Sturt University

University of Wollongong

University of Newcastle

Federation University

University of South Australia

Murdoch University

University of Southern Queensland

Central Queensland

Griffith University

While all top ranking universities in Australia accept backlogs for admission, there is still a chance for applicants to get admitted at top colleges in Australia with backlogs. Thus, Australian universities accepting backlogs are quite a few. Applicants who have had backlogs previously can consider applying to universities in Australia. 

Once applicants clear their backlogs, they need to get a separate certificate for it, known as a ‘Backlog Certificate’ that would include all details about backlogs like:

  • Number of backlogs
  • Number of attempts
  • Name of subjects
  • Exam held on dates
  • Exam cleared on dates
  • Semester information

Note: It should be on the college’s letterhead and duly signed by the college Principal or Dean along with the college seal/stamp. Incomplete or wrong information in the backlog certificate can affect your visa clearance. You may also want to read Do Backlogs Affect the chances of a Visa Approval?

If you choose to study in any of these colleges, you may contact our expert counsellors, who are reliable and provide free-of-cost services.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Which university has a higher chance of acceptance: The Australian National University or the University of Western Australia?
A: 

The acceptance rate of Australian National University is around 35% and the University of Western Australia acceptance rate is around 38%. ANU is more selective out of the two. 

There are some other eligibility factors as well that determine the acceptance of the student to a university like the English Language Proficiency test scores. The accepted English Language Proficiency test scores of both the universities are mentioned below-

English Language Proficiency Test Type

Australian National University

The University of Western Australia

IELTS

6.5

6.5

PTE

64

64

 Students must follow all the International student admission requirements and submit the admission application before the deadline to increase their chances of acceptance to the university of their choice.

Q:   Is RMIT University the No. 1 university in Australia?
A: 

RMIT University is a well-known and highly-reputed university located in Australia. The university secured a rank of #198 among the Best Global Universities according to the top-ranking publishers. Furthermore, the Shiksha has given an overall university ranking of #13 in Australia (Shiksha Popularity Rankings) along with some other top-ranking publishers who have ranked RMIT University:

  • THE (Times Higher Education) 2026: #251 in the World University Rankings.
  • Quacquarelli Symonds Top Universities 2026: #125 in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. 
Q:   What are the advantages of studying in Australia?
A: 

One of top destinations for higher studies in world, Australia attract bright minds from around the globe. Some good reasons to study in Australia are mentioned below -

  • Low tuition fee
  • Low cost of living
  • State of the art universities that combine knowledge with practical training
  • Part time job opportunities
  • Many scholarships
  • Sport facilities
Q:   Is PTE Academic Online accepted for Australia?
A: 

No, the Department of Home Affairs of Australia does not accept any at-home or online test for immigration to the country. The Department only recognises at-centre tests for all visa applications.













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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Deputy Manager (Content)

Aishwarya Bhatnagar is a specialised content curator with 8+ years of experience in EdTech content, particularly in studying abroad. She is a Study Abroad Expert at Shiksha.com (InfoEdge India Ltd) si

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Comments

(14)

s

sneha reddy

2 years ago

i have completed my Bachelors iN CiViL ENGiNEERiNG iN july 2023 WiTH a CGPa of 6.34 WiTH 23 BaCKLOG aTTEMPTS aND got aN OVERaLL pte score of 67 CaN u SuGGEST me aNY uNiVERSiTY for MaSTERS iN CONSTRuCTiON /project MaNaGEmeNT

Reply to sneha reddy

A

Adithya Vignesh

2 years ago

Hi, I am also having 63 percent and 18 backlogs trying for Masters in Australia, Can we connect?

A

2 years ago

Hello Sneha! The best that I can suggest is that you sign up for free counselling and get in touch with our counsellors and they will be able to assist you in the best possible manner. Sign up here - https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/apply. Good luck!

Z

Zubair Mahmood

2 years ago

I completed my Bachelor of engineering in electrical and electronics engineering in july 2023, I have been booked under malpractice in 2nd semester, so got detained, so it took me 5 years of time to complete my engineering, and I got only 10 backlogs total in my entire engineering, will I be able to

...Read more

Reply to Zubair Mahmood

A

2 years ago

Hello! The answer to your question is no because Australia does not accept extended degrees. For example, if you completed this degree of 4 years in 5 yrs, hence it will not be acceptable.

L

Lovitchoudhary

3 years ago

I have done bba with 5.8 cgpa in 2021 July 10 cbse 2016 66% 12 cbse 2018 57% in bba I have 8 backlog all cleared degree completed in 3 years only num ber of attempts it become 13 backlog my question is does I have chance to get visa in master of business analytics course in la trobe university melbo

...Read more

Reply to Lovitchoudhary

Hello Lovit! We'd need more details on your query in order to give you a clearer picture. Please get in touch with our counsellor - akanksha.kapoor@shiksha.com she'll be able to help you out. All the best!

P

PAYAL

3 years ago

MY QUESTION IS TO YOU THAT IN MY BACHELOR DEGREE I HAVE GOT 22 BACKLOGS AND IS THERE ANY CHANCES FOR ME TO GET ADMISSION IN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY.

Reply to PAYAL

20099859
Sindhu Sivakami

4 years ago

Hey, I have 4 backlogs, with 7.56/10 CGPA. 95% in both 10 and 12, and IELTS of 8.5 Would this affect admissions to UNSW?

Reply to Sindhu Sivakami