Australian-born University of Cambridge academic Dr Murray Millgate, in Sydney talking to NSW HSC students about studying at Cambridge, met with BOSTES President Tom Alegounarias.

They discussed the strong international standing of the NSW HSC and that from 2014 the HSC Record of Achievement will include, in addition to the HSC mark, the student’s Year 10 and Year 11 Grades.

Australian students have an offer/acceptance rate from Cambridge equal to UK students, which is twice as high as students from other countries. This year around 30 students from Australia will start their tertiary studies at Cambridge. Dr Millgate and other senior Cambridge academics will return to Australia later in the year for the interview component of the Cambridge selection process.

Cambridge academic Dr Murray Millgate meeting with BOSTES President Tom Alegounarias

Mr Alegounarias noted that wherever NSW students seek to further their studies, their 13 years of schooling leading to the HSC is based on syllabuses and assessments that ensure they are well prepared.

"While the vast majority of students go to a university in NSW, it is great to see that students can use their HSC to gain entry to universities such as Cambridge.

"As the 2014 cohort of HSC students complete their formal schooling and begin their final revision before the written exams start on 13 October, they have every reason to be proud of their achievements to date and for the credential they will receive in January.

Dr Millgate said “The students from NSW who come to Cambridge as undergraduates find the experience immensely rewarding, and their enthusiasm and preparation hold them in good stead.”

“They sit in classes with high achieving students from around the world, and study under academics who are international leaders in their fields.”