Gaokao results are out, and for Chinese high school graduates, one exam result does not have to define the entire university journey.

In recent years, using Gaokao results to apply directly to overseas universities has become an increasingly practical option for students who want to keep both Chinese and international university pathways open.

Among the major study destinations, studying in Australia（澳洲留学）remains particularly attractive because Australian universities have relatively broad recognition of the Chinese Gaokao.

For students aiming high, Australia’s Group of Eight (Go8) universities are often at the top of the list.

The good news is that seven of the eight Go8 universities currently recognise Gaokao results for direct undergraduate entry into eligible courses. The University of Melbourne remains the major exception and does not currently accept Gaokao for direct undergraduate admission. Its preferred pathway for many Chinese high school students is through foundation studies such as Trinity College Foundation Studies.

So after Gaokao, the real question is no longer simply:

“Can I get into an Australian university?”

It is:

“Should I use my Gaokao score for direct entry, or would a foundation pathway give me a better university and course outcome?”

2026 Group of Eight Entry Requirements for Chinese Gaokao Students

Before comparing universities, it is important to understand one thing:

There is no single Gaokao cut-off for an entire Australian university.

Entry requirements vary by:

• degree
• faculty
• course competitiveness
• prerequisite subjects
• English requirements
• intake
• the maximum Gaokao score in your province

For example, UNSW assesses Gaokao based on a percentage of the maximum score available in the relevant province, with its 2026 guide showing requirements ranging from around 70% to 90% depending on the course.

ANU also uses course-specific entrance ranks. For provinces where the Gaokao maximum is 750, published indicative requirements range from 525 for an entrance rank of 80 up to 690 for an entrance rank of 99.

Here is a more useful overview for 2026 planning:

UNSW, ANU, Monash and UWA all publish Gaokao-specific admission information, while Sydney recognises Gaokao as an accepted Chinese secondary qualification. Adelaide University’s 2026 international guide also lists Gaokao entry requirements by degree.

One important detail is that 750 is not the maximum Gaokao score in every province. Universities generally calculate requirements using the maximum score applicable to the student’s examination system, so students should not simply convert every percentage into a score out of 750.

What Should You Actually Compare in This Table?

Do not look only at the ranking.

There are four things that matter much more when building a realistic university shortlist.

First, check the requirement for the actual degree.

A university may accept 70% for one course but require substantially more for another.

Second, check subject prerequisites.

Engineering, science, computing and health courses may require Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or Biology results in addition to the overall Gaokao score.

UQ, for example, publishes specific Gaokao subject equivalents for Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology prerequisites.

Third, meeting the academic score does not automatically satisfy the English requirement.

Students may still need IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or another accepted English qualification.

Fourth, compare tuition and living costs together.

Sydney and Melbourne can offer excellent academic and employment opportunities, but accommodation and day-to-day costs may be higher than in cities such as Adelaide or Perth.

The best university is therefore not necessarily the highest-ranked university you can technically enter.

It is the university where your:

score + course + English + budget + career plan

make sense together.

Two Main Pathways After Gaokao: Direct Entry vs Foundation

For most Chinese high school graduates, there are two main ways to begin an Australian undergraduate degree.

Pathway A: Direct Entry Using Your Gaokao Score

Direct entry means using your completed Gaokao result to apply directly for Year 1 of an Australian bachelor degree.

Who Is Direct Entry Best For?

It can work particularly well for students who:

• already meet the Gaokao requirement for their target degree
• have relatively strong English
• are confident about their intended major
• are academically ready for university-level study
• want to reduce the overall time and cost before starting the degree

The biggest advantage is obvious.

If you qualify for direct entry, you can usually begin the bachelor degree immediately instead of completing an additional foundation year first.

For a standard three-year Australian bachelor degree, this may mean completing the university program in approximately three years rather than adding a separate preparation program beforehand.

But direct entry should not automatically be treated as the “better” option.

Direct Entry Means Starting Real University Work Immediately

Australian undergraduate study is quite different from Chinese high school.

From the first semester, students may need to handle:

• lectures
• tutorials
• academic readings
• essays and reports
• group assignments
• presentations
• independent research
• exams

A student may have a strong Gaokao score but still struggle if their academic English, writing or independent learning skills are not ready.

So the real question is not:

“Can I get direct entry?”

It is:

“Am I ready to succeed after direct entry?”

Saving one year is only valuable if the student can adapt successfully once the degree begins.

Pathway B: Foundation Studies

Foundation studies are designed to prepare international students for undergraduate study.

They may be particularly useful for students who:

• do not meet the direct Gaokao requirement
• did not perform as expected in the Gaokao
• want to strengthen academic English
• need additional preparation in key subjects
• want time to adapt to the Australian education system
• are specifically targeting a university that does not accept Gaokao direct entry

The University of Melbourne is the clearest example.

It states that it does not currently accept Gaokao results for direct entry, and Trinity College Foundation Studies is its preferred foundation pathway for many international students from China.

Foundation study is therefore not simply a “backup for students with low scores”.

It can also be a strategic pathway.

According to Studies in Australia’s guide to foundation courses, foundation programs are specifically designed to help international students develop the academic and English skills needed for undergraduate study.

Typical foundation subjects may include:

• academic English
• essay writing
• research skills
• mathematics
• sciences
• business subjects
• discipline-specific preparation

This can make the transition into university significantly smoother.

Direct Entry or Foundation: Which One Should You Choose?

The answer depends on much more than whether your Gaokao score technically meets the minimum.

Choose Direct Entry If:

You already meet the academic requirements, have strong English and are confident about adapting quickly to Australian university study.

It can save both time and tuition.

Consider Foundation If:

Your score is below your preferred university’s direct-entry requirement, your English still needs development, or you want a structured transition before entering undergraduate study.

Foundation may also make more sense if it gives you access to the course and university you genuinely want, rather than forcing you into a less suitable degree simply because it offers immediate direct entry.

A student choosing between:

direct entry into a course they do not really want

and

foundation followed by a stronger target degree

should compare the final outcome, not just the extra year.

How to Shortlist Australian Universities After Gaokao Results

Once the score is available, students can generally approach university selection in three broad groups.

1. Strong Gaokao Results: Build a Reach, Target and Safety Strategy

Students with strong results may be competitive for universities such as:

• UNSW
• University of Sydney
• ANU

But applying only according to QS rankings is rarely a good strategy.

For example:

UNSW has particularly strong recognition in areas such as engineering, business and computing.

University of Sydney offers a very broad range across business, architecture, engineering, humanities, science and health.

ANU has distinctive strengths in areas including politics, international relations, Asia-Pacific studies, economics, research and science.

The better approach is to create three groups:

Reach universities
Courses where your score is competitive but admission is less certain.

Target universities
Courses where your academic profile aligns well with published requirements.

Safety options
Universities or courses where you have a stronger admissions margin.

This reduces the risk of putting every application into one highly competitive university or major.

2. Mid-Range Gaokao Results: Focus on Course Fit, Not Just University Rank

Students whose scores sit below the most competitive direct-entry requirements can still have very strong options at:

• Monash University
• University of Queensland
• University of Western Australia
• Adelaide University

Monash, for example, accepts Gaokao for most eligible undergraduate degrees, with its published 2026 requirements starting at around 60% for some courses and increasing for more competitive programs.

UWA’s published Gaokao equivalencies begin at approximately 65% for an ATAR-equivalent of 70, rising to around 90% for an ATAR-equivalent of 98.

Adelaide University also lists Gaokao entry requirements from around 60% for some degrees, with requirements increasing depending on the program.

This is where careful course planning becomes especially valuable.

Two students studying “IT”, for example, could end up in very different degrees focused on:

• software development
• data science
• cybersecurity
• artificial intelligence
• information systems

Similarly, two business degrees may offer very different majors and career outcomes.

Students considering longer-term employment in Australia should therefore think about the relationship between:

degree → major → graduate skills → occupation → employment opportunities

rather than waiting until the final year of university to think about careers.

If you are unsure how your university choice may interact with longer-term study, visa and career planning, an Australian migration agent（澳洲移民中介）can help you consider these issues together rather than treating university admission as an isolated decision.

3. If the University of Melbourne Is the Goal, Plan the Foundation Pathway Properly

For some students, the goal is very specific:

The University of Melbourne.

Because the University of Melbourne does not currently accept Gaokao for direct undergraduate entry, students using the Chinese high school pathway will generally need to consider an alternative recognised qualification or a pathway such as Trinity College Foundation Studies.

But this does not mean:

complete foundation = automatically enter any Melbourne degree.

Students still need to satisfy the progression requirements for their intended undergraduate course.

This is why the target bachelor degree should be considered before beginning foundation.

For example, a student interested in:

• Commerce
• Science
• Biomedicine
• Design
• Arts

may face different subject and progression requirements.

Before accepting a foundation offer, confirm:

1. the intended undergraduate degree
2. required foundation subjects
3. progression score
4. English requirement
5. prerequisite subjects
6. alternative options if the required progression score is not achieved

That is much safer than completing the foundation year first and only then deciding what degree to pursue.

How Much Does It Cost to Study in Australia After Gaokao?

Tuition varies significantly by university and degree.

As a broad guide, many Group of Eight undergraduate degrees for international students now sit around A$45,000 to A$60,000+ per year, while certain clinical, medical and specialist programs can cost substantially more.

For example, the University of Sydney lists 2026 undergraduate fees of around A$52,500 for architecture, design and planning, while arts and social sciences generally range from approximately A$49,200 to A$56,300.

Tuition should not be considered in isolation.

Families should also budget for:

• accommodation
• food
• transport
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• textbooks and equipment
• flights
• visa costs
• daily living expenses

A university with slightly lower tuition in a more affordable city may result in a significantly different total three-year cost.

That is why a realistic study plan should compare the whole degree budget, not only the first-year tuition fee.

What About Perth and Adelaide for Students Thinking Long Term?

Perth and Adelaide can be attractive because they combine major universities with a different cost and lifestyle profile from Sydney and Melbourne.

They are also classified as designated regional areas for Australian migration purposes under current regional migration settings.

However, students should be careful with the idea that studying in a regional area automatically guarantees migration advantages or a longer graduate visa.

Eligibility for any regional benefit or post-study arrangement depends on the visa rules applying at the relevant time and the student’s individual circumstances.

A city should therefore be selected first because it makes sense for:

• the degree
• employment opportunities
• lifestyle
• budget
• professional development

Any migration benefit should be treated as an additional consideration rather than the sole reason for choosing a university.

A Practical Timeline After Gaokao Results

For students targeting the following February intake, the months after Gaokao results are important.

June to July: Shortlist Universities and Submit Applications

Prepare:

• official Gaokao results
• three-year high school transcript
• graduation certificate
• passport
• supporting documents required by the university

At this stage, students should ideally build several options rather than applying to only one university.

Depending on the university and outstanding requirements, students may initially receive a conditional offer.

August to October: Complete English Requirements

Students who still need to meet the English requirement can prepare for an accepted test such as:

• IELTS
• PTE Academic
• TOEFL

If the required result is achieved, the university can generally progress the admission process once all other conditions are satisfied.

Where appropriate, some students may also consider an approved English-language pathway before beginning the degree.

October to December: Finalise Enrolment and Student Visa Preparation

Once admission conditions are satisfied, students can accept the offer and complete the steps required to receive their Confirmation of Enrolment.

They can then prepare an Australian Student Visa subclass 500（澳洲学生签证）application.

Visa preparation may involve more than simply uploading an offer letter, so students should allow time for the required documents and Genuine Student assessment.

January to February: Prepare for Australia

Once the visa and enrolment arrangements are complete, attention shifts to:

• accommodation
• flights
• enrolment
• orientation
• banking
• transport
• Overseas Student Health Cover
• university systems
• settling into life in Australia

For many students, this is the point where the Gaokao journey finally turns into a university journey.

What If You Miss the February Intake?

Missing February does not necessarily mean waiting an entire year.

Many Australian universities offer a mid-year intake for at least some undergraduate programs.

However, course availability varies.

Some degrees:

• only commence once a year
• have prerequisite sequencing
• have limited mid-year places
• may require a different study plan if starting in Semester 2

If your English results, documents or visa timing make February unrealistic, it can be better to consider the next suitable intake rather than rushing into an application with insufficient preparation.

Your Gaokao Score Is a Starting Point, Not the Final Decision

After Gaokao results are released, students often focus on one question:

“What is the highest-ranked university my score can get me into?”

A better question is:

“Which course and university combination gives me the strongest overall outcome?”

A high QS ranking can be valuable, but it does not tell you:

• whether the degree fits your career goal
• whether you will enjoy the city
• whether your family can comfortably manage the cost
• whether you are academically ready for direct entry
• whether another pathway could lead to a better degree
• what employment opportunities may look like after graduation

For some students, direct entry is clearly the most efficient choice.

For others, foundation provides the academic transition needed to reach a stronger long-term destination.

Neither pathway is automatically better.

The right choice depends on the student.

If you are considering studying in Australia（澳洲留学）after the 2026 Gaokao, Australia Visa can review your province, Gaokao score, English level, preferred course, budget and future plans to help you compare direct undergraduate entry and foundation pathways.

A Gaokao score may already be fixed, but how you use that score can still open very different doors.