The University Admission Index (UAI) for NSW students is being dumped and so are their chances of achieving a top ranking of 100.

Cramming ahead of year 12 exams may soon not need to be so feverish as efforts gather pace to reduce the importance of result rankings in gaining a university place.

Students from poor backgrounds are less likely to attend the nation's prestige universities, but those who do are likelier to finish their degrees, according to a report by the Group of Eight.

The research-intensive universities have taken their first step toward developing a coordinated equity strategy.

Any new measure of SES needs to have the confidence of the sector and is fit for purpose.