Tertiary updates

University course search tools

The Course Seeker website contains a national course comparison tool which allows students to search, select and compare higher education courses and filter search results by ATAR, study area and location, www.courseseeker.edu.au 

Year 12 students can search for university courses by using the course search functions on state based Tertiary Admission Centres. This will provide access to course listing and key details relating to a course, including the ATAR profile if relevant. Students should refer to the Lowest Selection Rank (ATAR inclusive of equity and academic bonus points) and while this can be used as a guide when planning for post school studies, it’s important to note that as ATAR profiles are based on the demand for a course, they may rise or fall for the 2025 intake. 

State based tertiary admissions centres:

Comparing Tertiary Institutions

Decision making regarding universities can be tricky. 

Students needing help with this might like to explore:

• Compare Ed Website – www.compared.edu.au
• AFR Best University Ranking - Best Universities Ranking | Latest News & Analysis | The Australian Financial Review | AFR

VTAC Dates for 2024

For those Year 12 students who are considering further study, please note the following key dates connected with VTAC applications

• 29 July – Applications Open
• 30 September – Timely applications close
• 11 October – SEAS and scholarships close
• 1 November – Late applications close
• 6 December – Very late applications close
• VCE Results and ATAR Release – 12 December
• December Round Offers – 23 December
• January Round 1 Offers – 10 January

The cost of a VTAC timely application will be $60.

Open Days

If you are already starting to plan your open days, My Future has a great page which summarises this information https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/open-days 

Free TAFE

This image from VU highlights how Free TAFE/VET (Vocational Education and Training) can be used as a cost-reducing and time equivalent pathway for accounting. VET is a worthy consideration for a student who prefers practical learning, smaller class sizes and/or is wanting to start with a qualification with a shorter time commitment first. You can explore the Free TAFE offerings here.

Free University Degrees for Victorians studying High School Teaching

In the latter part of 2023, the Victorian Government announced it was investing more than $93.2 million to deliver scholarships to support secondary teaching degree students with the cost of studying and living.  Students who enrol in a Victorian secondary school teaching degree could be eligible for a scholarship that pays them while they learn and can cover the cost of their studies.  Find out more, including eligibility details at Vic Scholarships for Secondary Teaching. 

• Australia National University 

ANU has a direct application process and their application timeline is live on website, with applications opening 1 March and closing 13 May, 2024.

ANU Tuckwell Scholarship: If you are planning to study at ANU in 2024, you should consider applying for the extremely generous Tuckwell Scholarship. A prestigious scholarship awarded to 25 recipients across Australia, valued at approximately $26,000 per year for the duration of their undergraduate degree. More information here. Applications close April 8th, however, applicants will have until April 11th to upload supporting documentation. Students will need to complete and submit the ANU Direct Application first. The direct application will ask if students wish to apply for the Tuckwell Scholarship – answer “yes”.

Shortly after submitting their direct application, students will be invited to the Tuckwell Scholarship Stage 1 Application Form via email. The sooner you submit your ANU Direct Application, the sooner you can access the Tuckwell Scholarship Stage 1 Application Form. https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/

ANU Open Day is 15 March 2024. Registration link: https://openday.anu.edu.au/  and there is also an On-Demand Option available here

ANU Course videos 

• Health related videos: https://health.anu.edu.au/open-day  
• Science related videos: https://science.anu.edu.au/open-day 

• Charles Sturt University

CSU Advantage Early Offer Program: Applications for the 2024 program are open. Selection is based on Year 11 results and a soft skills assessment. Apply by Friday 7 April https://bit.ly/2UmOlgT 

Charles Sturt Uni offers undergraduate medicine at the Orange, NSW campus in partnership with Western Sydney University. An online information session for prospective students will be held on Wednesday 20 March. Book via https://study.csu.edu.au/life/events 

• Deakin University

Deakin Guaranteed ATAR (NEW!) is available for most Deakin undergraduate courses in 2025. This new program will be automatically applied as part of your VTAC Course Application for MSCW students who apply for eligible Deakin Courses. More information here.

Campus Tours are available during the April school holidays. To find out more visit Deakin Campus Tours and to register to attend, www.deakin.edu.au/discover-deakin

• Federation University

Fed Universe Please encourage your students to use Fed Universe. It’s our virtual open door, their online, 24/7 portal for on-demand info sessions and interactions with Federation experts. Users can navigate to hear from current students, Fed Alum, academics and support services to research courses, campuses, and opportunities, tailoring the Fed Universe to their own specific needs.

https://federation.edu.au/future-students/fed-universe 

Dual Electrical Engineering Course at Berwick Campus

Get paid and gain workplace experience through an apprenticeship while completing a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician and a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Information Engineering) in this unique career opportunity. 

Federation University is partnering with the Victorian Government, Ai Group Centre for Education & Training and NECA Education & Careers to create these dual electrical qualifications. 

This dual qualification has been designed to address a gap in the skills market identified by industry.  Modern control systems in sophisticated industry applications have outpaced the current trade knowledge, but the engineering staff who understand the systems are unlicenced to physically work on them. 

The outcome of this program will be a certified A Grade electrician with advanced STEM knowledge who is able to design, install, commission, and maintain these advanced systems.

The Certificate III in Electrotechnology – Electrician will be delivered by NECA Education & Careers based out of their new state of the art Dandenong Campus.  The Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Information Engineering)(Honours) will be delivered by Federation University with an option to attend either the Ballarat or Berwick campus.

Find out more at Dual Electrical Qualification.

• Latrobe University 

New Digital Innovation Hub has just opened at our Melbourne Campus. It provides businesses, students and community access to advanced facilities in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and more. The hub will provide a place for start-ups and other businesses to connect and test products. This provides a new opportunity for students to work with industry and problem solve in exciting new ways.

Aspire Entry Programs: Year 12 students should keep an eye on the Year 11 Conditional Entry program and Community Contribution Entry Program which are likely to open soon www.latrobe.edu.au/study/aspire

• Monash

Your Essential Guide to Monash Science has been updated and provides some additional resources that you might find helpful - including a new Where can a Science degree take you? page. We are also in the process of adding a comprehensive guide of extracurricular programs such as field trips, study tours and internships available to Science students - this is coming soon!

Monash Events, including MySci, Information Evenings, Campus Tours can be found on the Monash Events Page

• RMIT

Students are invited to take a virtual tour of RMIT’s campuses and facilities. Students can get a taste of what life is like as a university student at RMIT, including the best spots to eat, study and hang out.  The suite of videos covers the Melbourne campuses, with a look inside specific interest areas including media, art, engineering, and health science. Take a tour here.

• The University of Melbourne

UoM Hansen Scholarship: 2023 Year 12 Students capable of achieving a ATAR in the vicinity of 90+ and whose financial circumstances are likely to present a challenge to attending the University of Melbourne are strongly encouraged to consider applying for the very generous and supportive Hansen Scholarship Program. This application process opens 3 February and application close 30 March. Details are available via the link https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/hansen-scholarship Please let Mrs Martin know if you are wanting to apply.

UniMelb on-demand video resources for students covering everything from our unique curriculum, course information and career pathways, to scholarships and accommodation, http://bit.ly/3YA7F9n 

• UNE: Early Entry Program is open.

Group of Eight (Go8) is an association of leading Australian universities - comprehensive in general and professional education and distinguished by depth and breadth in research.  The Go8 universities continually aim to -

• enhance the contribution of its member universities to the nation’s social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being and prosperity
• extend the contribution of its member universities to the generation and preservation of the world’s stock of knowledge
• strengthen Australia’s capacity to engage in and benefit from global developments, respond to global and local challenges
• expand opportunities for Australian students, regardless of background, to participate in higher education of world class.

To find out more about the Group of Eight Universities, visit Group of Eight Universities

Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is an Australian Government initiative helping students with the cost of relocating to undertake tertiary studies. Year 12 school leavers from inner regional, outer regional, remote or very remote areas may be eligible for a payment of $3,000 to $5,000 to help ease the costs of moving away from home. TAP can help pay for things like rent and bond for accommodation, household bills, groceries, textbooks or other study supplies. Applications are now open and can be made on the Services Australia website. Please visit the website to read the eligibility criteria and program guidelines. 

Applying for Medicine, Dentistry or Oral Health?

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand for their medical, dental, and clinical science degree programs.  Universities requiring the UCAT are listed at this link - Universities requiring the UCAT but also listed below.  Students intending to apply for courses requiring the UCAT at any of these universities are reminded that they will need to book a test.  

Bookings will open on 5 March 2024 and close 17 May 2024.  The testing dates will be from 1 July 2024 to 9 August 2024.Students who are preparing for entry into any of these courses are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the format of the test at UCAT Test Format  and the practice tests and preparation material provided at UCAT Preparation. 

Institutions that will require the UCAT are:

Find out more at UCAT.

Medicine Information Sessions

• UNSW: Tuesday 12 March, 6.30pm – 7.30pm Book via UNSW Medicine Info Evening 
• Monash University: Thursday 21 March, 5.30pm – 6.30pm Book via www.monash.edu/discover/events 
• Charles Sturt University: Wednesday 20 March, 6pm – 7.30pm Book via https://study.csu.edu.au/life/events and Download a PDF to share with your students here

Stats on Studying Medicine from Study Work Grow - Studying medicine - Statistics from 2023 - Study Work Grow