I finished yr 12 in 1995 and all I had to do was either prove that I had the work history and time management skills to handle the workload or I could apply to do their pathways entry course which was a one year part time course that had 4 units - 2 university prep ones for writing skills etc and two that I could take from the degree I wanted to do. Was the best decision to do that because it showed me how to write academically (which your HSC doesn't prepare you for really) so when I started doing my degree units, I didn't get hammered for poor writing. I think it comes down to your course too - some will need you to sit a test and others will allow for direct entry. If you are choosing to do your degree via distance then there are no limits to the amount of people who can apply at the uni I attend. Because I am doing my Bach Ed, I also had to complete my band 4 maths and english as it had been too long since I had done my HSC so my marks didn't count. But that was just for education degrees though, not any other degree.