HSC: Higher School Certificate of New South Wales (NSW)

The Higher School Certificate, or HSC, developed and managed by the Board of Studies of NSW, is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete senior high school level studies i.e. Years 11 and 12 or equivalent in New South Wales, Australia. The HSC programme is administered by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

HSC was first introduced in 1967, with the last major revision coming into effect in 2001. In 2011, 72,391 students sat the exams, the largest group of Year Twelve students in Australian history. The year 12 completion rate stands at 67% for NSW students. The Higher School Certificate is a locally, nationally and internationally recognized qualification for students who successfully complete secondary education in NSW.

Purpose of Higher School Certificate (HSC) Study Program

The purpose of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) program of study is to advance the intellectual, societal and moral development of students. It is designed to enhance the student’s skills, increase their knowledge and groom them into more respectable citizens.

HSC Important Dates/Time Table

Find HSC Key Dates and Time Table; go to official page https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/key-dates/hsc

HSC Awards

Premier’s Award: Students who achieve excellent results of over 90 in 10 units of study in the HSC are awarded the Premier's Award by the New South Wales government. The most outstanding of these students may also be awarded the Australian Student Prize by the Commonwealth government.

T G Room Award: The T G Room award of the Mathematical Association of New South Wales is given to the student with the best score in the highest-level HSC mathematics examination.