Entrance requirements

How do I know if I meet the entrance requirements for a course?

To be eligible to apply for courses, you need to meet:

minimum tertiary entrance requirements
institutional entrance requirements
course requirements including prerequisites

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee you an offer because you will be competing with other eligible applicants.

1. Minimum tertiary entrance requirements

Minimum tertiary entrance requirements are the minimum level of education you need to have completed in order to be considered for selection into tertiary studies, when applying through VTAC.

VTAC is responsible for assessing your minimum tertiary entrance requirement status.

For post-secondary vocational education and training (VET) courses

Certificate I-III generally have no minimum tertiary entrance requirements. However, Certificate IV or higher-level VET courses, applied for through VTAC, require applicants to have either successfully completed VCE, (or equivalent), Senior VCAL or to have met specific special entry requirements.

For undergraduate higher education courses

The minimum tertiary entrance requirement for higher education courses is satisfactory completion of an Australian or overseas Year 12 program (for example VCE, IB, HSC, or equivalents from interstate or overseas). This includes the satisfactory completion of the VCE and Units 3 and 4 of one of the following English studies: English, English as an Additional Language, Literature or English Language. Completion must be in sequence and in the same calendar year unless interrupted study status is granted. Only some higher education providers will consider senior secondary qualifications like Senior VCAL.

Completion of any part of a tertiary qualification at Certificate IV level or higher will also fulfil minimum tertiary entrance requirements. For example, Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree and Degree studies, or overseas equivalents.

Applicants with overseas qualifications

If your overseas qualifications are assessed by VTAC as comparable to the required Victorian qualifications, you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements in Victoria. For more information and a list of overseas secondary qualifications that meet minimum tertiary requirements in Victoria, see Overseas qualifications.

FAQs: tertiary entrance requirements

I'm studying the International Baccalaureate (IB). Am I eligible?

If you satisfy the requirements for the award of the International Baccalaureate diploma you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements Australia wide.

I'm studying Year 12 interstate. Am I eligible?

If you meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements for all universities in your home state, you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements in Victoria. Note that an English study is required for entry to many courses. For the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) calculation and university admission under the home state rule, all ATARs are treated as equivalent between states.

I studied Year 12 a few years ago. Am I eligible?

If you successfully completed any previous standard Australian Year 12 qualification (in Australia or overseas), you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements. Examples include: if you completed HSC in 1985 with four Group 1 studies (including English); if you matriculated in 1967 with four studies including English Expression.

I've partially completed a TAFE (or university) course. Am I eligible?

If you have previously completed any part of a tertiary qualification at Certificate IV level or higher, or if you will this year, you will meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements. Examples include: certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree and degree studies.

I didn't complete Year 12 and I'm mature age. Am I eligible?

Some institutions provide consideration for mature-age entry; however, the age requirement and policies for mature-age entry differ across institutions. If you would like to apply for mature age consideration, you can complete Category 1 of the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application (in addition to your VTAC course application). To find out which institutions recognise mature-age entry and their age requirements, see SEAS: Category 1

2. Institutional requirements

Some institutions have specific requirements. Examples include minimum age requirements and English language requirements. For information about institutional requirements, see the institution's information page.

If you don't meet the minimum tertiary entrance requirements or institutional requirements, you may wish to consider pathways or bridging courses. You may also be eligible as a mature-age applicant through the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).

3. Course requirements including prerequisite studies

Course requirements are ‘essential requirements and admission criteria’ you may need to meet to be considered for selection into a course. These could include prerequisite studies, the completion of additional assessment tasks (such as tests, interviews or folios), and non-compulsory requirements that may strengthen your application.

You must meet prerequisites and complete all compulsory course requirements by the dates specified to ensure your application for the course will be considered.

For advice on meeting interview, auditions and folio requirements, download the preparing for interviews, auditions and folios factsheet.

How to find essential requirements and admission criteria

Essential requirements and admission criteria are listed within each course entry on CourseSearch and may vary for different applicant groups. It is important to complete the course requirements for the applicant group that is relevant to you. These are:

a current Year 12 student (2020)
a recent secondary graduate (2018 or 2019)
an applicant with higher education study
an applicant with VET study, or
an applicant with work and life experience.

If you are unsure of which group applies to you, complete this questionnaire.

What information is included as essential requirements and admission criteria?

At a glance

The ‘At a glance’ table summarises the essential requirements and admission criteria for the applicant group you have chosen and tells you which ones are compulsory.

Essential requirements for selection and application

These requirements are compulsory for all applicants to a course and may include interviews, folios, tests and other assessment tasks.

Essential requirements for enrolment or graduation

These requirements are advisory. They are not required for selection, but the course requires them for enrolment or completion of the course. Examples include a Working with Children Check or police record check

Admission criteria

Admission criteria are determined by your applicant group. For example, applicants with recent secondary education may have different admission criteria than applicants with work and life experience. Admission criteria may include interviews, folios, tests and other assessment tasks, and information on non-compulsory tasks that may enhance chances of selection. ATAR adjustments and consideration of special consideration (SEAS) are also listed under ‘Admission criteria’.

Subject adjustment points

Subject adjustment points may be awarded to eligible Year 12 applicants as part of the selection process. Subject adjustment points are applied to the aggregate, not the ATAR. Use the subject adjustment tool to estimate your course selection rank.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are studies that must be successfully completed to be considered for a course. They may be listed under 'Essential requirements for selection and application' or 'Admission criteria'. See Prerequisites for more information.

For undergraduate courses, prerequisites are mostly listed as VCE studies required for entry into degree courses, however there are a few courses that require a Certificate IV or higher qualification. See Prerequisites for more information.

Graduate courses require the completion of an appropriate undergraduate qualification such as a Bachelor degree. If you are in doubt about the suitability of your background you should contact the institution directly, not VTAC.

Find out more

You can also get detailed information about course requirements from institution websites, publications and course information sessions. VTAC recommends you research courses of interest as much as you can before you apply.

If you are in doubt about your eligibility for any course you should discuss your individual case with the course advisers at the institution. If you have difficulty fulfilling the requirements or meeting requirement closing dates, you should contact the relevant faculty or department.

Course requirements for graduate-entry teaching courses

There are additional course requirements for graduate-entry teaching courses, including prerequisites, English language proficiency requirements and eligibility for specialist teaching areas.

Prerequisites for graduate-entry teaching courses

To apply for graduate-entry teaching courses through VTAC, you must be completing or have completed an appropriate undergraduate qualification such as an Australian Bachelor degree or overseas equivalent. If you are in doubt about the suitability of your background, you should contact institutions directly, not VTAC.

English language proficiency requirement for graduate-entry teaching courses

For admission to graduate-entry teaching courses, there is a minimum English language proficiency requirement. To determine if you meet institutional English language requirements, refer to course requirements for each course or the institution's information page.

If you have results from IELTS (Academic), internet-based TOEFL, or similar, or if you subsequently sit the test, you should supply VTAC with a certified copy of your results as soon as you receive them. See Evidence of results and other documentation.

Interviews for English language proficiency requirements

You may also be required to attend an interview to confirm that you meet English language proficiency requirements. Interviews are likely to be held in November, December 2016 or early January 2017. For information about any interviews that you have been asked to attend, you should contact the institution.

Still unsure?

If you are unsure if you meet the English language proficiency requirements, contact the institutions you are applying to as soon as possible.

Only the authorities at the institutions (not VTAC) can evaluate whether you meet the requirements.

Ensure all advice you receive is in writing.

Eligibility for specialist teaching areas in graduate-entry teaching courses

VTAC uses the Victorian Institute of Teaching specialist area guidelines and the following broad guidelines to advise selection authorities of the specialist areas for which you may be eligible:

Primary teaching courses are available to degree (or, in some cases, equivalent diploma) holders from any discipline.
For secondary teaching courses, some specialist teaching areas require a sub-major while others require a major course of study. Sub-major: A total of half a year of successful full-time higher education study, usually comprising sequential discipline studies taken over two years, or equivalent. In most programs, this equates to four units with no more than two at first year level. Major: A total of three-quarters of a year of successful full-time higher education studies, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over three years, or equivalent. In most programs, this equates to six units with no more than two at first year level and no fewer than two units at third year level.

Information is provided by VTAC to institutions on an advisory basis only and is not binding. Once assessed, you can see your specialist teaching areas assessment in your VTAC account. If you are still unsure of your eligibility for specialist areas, you should contact the institution directly.

Some graduate-entry teaching courses listed are approved under the Australian accreditation standards. Courses approved under the Australian accreditation standards require at least a major study in at least one teaching area and a second teaching area comprising at least a major or minor study for secondary teaching. For further information visit the Victorian Institute of Teaching website (www.vit.vic.edu.au).

Assessment of your qualifications for graduate-entry teaching courses

The Victorian Institute of Teaching can also provide teaching area assessments. If you choose to use or have used this service, please supply any formal assessment to VTAC. For instructions on sending documents to VTAC, see How to supply your documents.