What ATAR Do You Need for Podiatry?
The complete guide to the ATAR for Podiatry in Australia — including why this overlooked health degree offers some of the best job security in the country without the extreme ATAR requirements of other clinical professions.
The ATAR for Podiatry in Australia ranges from 60.00 to 90.00, making it one of the most accessible accredited health degrees available. The University of Newcastle has the highest cutoff at around 85.00–90.00, while universities like Charles Sturt, Southern Cross, and CQUniversity offer fully accredited podiatry degrees with ATARs between 60.00 and 70.00. Unlike degrees that are artificially inflated by pre-medicine competition, podiatry’s ATAR accurately reflects its genuine entry requirements. Crucially, Australia is facing a severe national shortage of podiatrists, meaning graduate employment is effectively 100%.
ATAR Requirements by University — NSW & ACT
NSW offers two primary pathways into podiatry. The University of Newcastle is highly regarded but has the highest ATAR requirement in the country for this degree, while Charles Sturt University provides an excellent, highly accessible regional alternative.
| University | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| U Newcastle | BPodiatry | ~85.00–90.00 | Highest ATAR for podiatry in Australia. Very strong program, metro access. |
| CSU (Albury) | BPodiatry | ~68.00 | Excellent regional program. High clinical placement hours. |
| CSU (Orange) | BPodiatry | ~65.00 | Same degree, different campus. Very accessible entry. |
ATAR Requirements by University — Victoria
Victoria has a strong podiatry ecosystem. La Trobe is the long-standing premier provider, while Southern Cross University’s Victorian campus offers a highly accessible alternative.
| University | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Trobe | BHealth Sci / Master of Podiatric Practice | ~80.00–85.00 | 3+2 year structure. Very highly regarded across Victoria. |
| Southern Cross (Melbourne) | BPodiatry | ~65.00–70.00 | One of the easiest metro pathways into podiatry in Australia. |
ATAR Requirements by University — Queensland
Queensland offers several excellent options, with QUT being the standout provider but SCU and CQUniversity offering incredibly accessible pathways.
| University | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUT | BPodiatry | ~78.00–82.00 | QLD’s premier program. Strong research and clinical facilities in Brisbane. |
| SCU (Gold Coast) | BPodiatry | ~65.00 | Excellent coastal campus. Very strong employment outcomes in QLD. |
| CQUni | BPodiatry | ~60.00–65.00 | One of the lowest ATAR pathways to a registered health profession in Australia. |
ATAR Requirements by University — WA, SA & TAS
These states offer very strong programs. Note that the University of South Australia has recently transitioned to a 3-year Bachelor plus 2-year Masters model, which is becoming more common in allied health.
| University | Degree | Indicative ATAR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UWA | BPodiatric Medicine (via BSc) | ~80.00 | Postgraduate model. You do a BSc first, then apply for the 2-year Masters. |
| UniSA | BPodiatric Health / Master of Podiatry | ~70.00 | 3+2 structure. ATAR is for the Bachelor’s; Masters entry is guaranteed with passing GPA. |
| UTAS | BPodiatric Health (Honours) | ~65.00 | Includes embedded honours. Essential for supplying Tasmania’s rural workforce. |
At universities like La Trobe, UWA, and UniSA, you are no longer doing a direct “Bachelor of Podiatry.” You do a broader health or science degree first, and then progress to a specialized Master of Podiatry. Don’t let this intimidate you—the entry into the Masters is usually guaranteed as long as you pass your Bachelor’s units and meet a minimum GPA (usually around 4.0–5.0 out of 7.0, which is a Credit average).
Prerequisite Subjects for 2026 Entry
One of the biggest advantages of podiatry is its flexible prerequisite structure. Unlike diagnostic imaging degrees like radiography—which strictly mandate Physics and advanced Maths Methods—podiatry is much more forgiving in Year 12 subject selection, allowing you to play to your academic strengths.
| Subject | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| English | Mandatory (All) | Standard requirement for all university degrees. |
| Biology | Highly Recommended | Not always strictly mandatory, but you will struggle in first-year anatomy without it. |
| Mathematics | Recommended to None | Some unis recommend Methods, others accept General Maths, others have no maths prerequisite at all. |
| Chemistry | Rarely Required | Not needed for podiatry. Helpful for understanding pharmacology later, but not a barrier to entry. |
| Physics | Not Required | Completely irrelevant for podiatry entry. You do not need to study physics. |
Accreditation: What You Must Check
Just like medicine, nursing, or other regulated health professions, you cannot legally call yourself a podiatrist in Australia unless you are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia (PBA). To register, your degree must be accredited by the PBA, which is typically granted through the Australasian Podiatry Council (APodC).
Podiatry vs. Other Allied Health Degrees
If you are looking at a career in allied health, podiatry offers a unique combination of high pay, low stress, and excellent business ownership opportunities that are hard to match. It is important to compare the lifestyle factors. For example, if you thrive on 12-hour shifts, sirens, acute trauma, and high-adrenaline environments, paramedicine might be a better fit for your personality. However, if you want a highly specialized medical role with standard business hours, podiatry is tough to beat.
Why Choose Podiatry?
- Business ownership: A huge percentage of podiatrists go into private practice, giving you total control over your income and hours
- No shift work: Predominantly Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Low stress: Rarely life-or-death emergencies; highly manageable patient load
- Diverse caseload: From pediatrics (children’s feet) to sports medicine to diabetes management to minor surgery
Things to Consider
- Niche focus: You are specializing in the lower limb. If you want broad-body medicine, this isn’t it
- “Feet” stigma: Some people initially find the idea of working with feet unappealing (though this almost always disappears within the first month of clinical placement)
- Physical demands: You will spend a lot of time bending over treatment tables, which requires physical fitness and ergonomics awareness
What If You Miss the ATAR Cutoff?
Because the ATAR for Podiatry is already so low at many institutions (hovering around the 60–70 mark), missing the cutoff usually means your ATAR is in the 50s. If this happens, you still have excellent options.
One strategic pathway is to enroll in a more generalist degree, such as a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, achieve strong grades in your first year (particularly in human anatomy and physiology), and then apply for an internal university transfer into the Podiatry program. Universities often reserve a small number of transfer spots for high-performing students from other health science degrees.
Alternatively, you could complete a one-year TAFE Diploma of Health Science or similar, which can provide alternative entry into a Bachelor of Podiatry, often with some credit for prior learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ATAR for podiatry in Australia ranges from approximately 65.00 to 90.00, making it one of the most accessible allied health degrees that leads directly to clinical practice. The University of Newcastle has the highest cutoff at around 85.00–90.00, while universities like Charles Sturt, Southern Cross, and CQUniversity offer accredited podiatry degrees with ATARs as low as 60.00–70.00. The lower entry requirements do not reflect lower job quality—podiatry has a severe national workforce shortage.
Yes, Australia is experiencing a critical shortage of podiatrists, particularly in rural, regional, and outer-metropolitan areas. Health Workforce Australia consistently lists podiatry as a high-need profession. Because of this shortage, graduate employment rates are effectively 100%, and starting salaries are highly competitive, often ranging from $80,000 to $95,000 in the first year out, with many graduates receiving multiple job offers before they even finish their final clinical placements.
Prerequisites for podiatry are generally more flexible than other health degrees like optometry or radiography. English is mandatory across all universities. Biology is highly recommended or assumed at most institutions as it provides the foundation for human anatomy and physiology. Some universities recommend Mathematics Methods, while others accept General Mathematics or have no maths prerequisite. Chemistry and Physics are rarely required for podiatry.
Yes, absolutely. Several accredited universities in Australia offer Bachelor of Podiatry degrees with ATAR thresholds in the 60–70 range, such as CQUniversity, Southern Cross University, and Charles Sturt University. These degrees lead to the exact same registration as a degree from a university with a 90 ATAR requirement. Once you are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia, your ATAR is completely irrelevant to employers.
Yes, but it is minor surgery. Podiatrists in Australia are trained to perform nail surgery (e.g., permanent ingrown toenail correction), wound debridement (removing dead tissue from diabetes-related ulcers), and in some states with additional endorsement, they can prescribe certain medications. They do not perform major orthopedic surgeries—that is the domain of orthopedic surgeons.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the most recent available data and historical ATAR trends for Podiatry programs in Australia for 2026 entry. ATAR cutoffs fluctuate annually based on applicant demand. Always verify current prerequisites, ATAR cutoffs, and PBA accreditation status directly with the universities before making application decisions.