Tertiary updates

Key Dates for Tertiary Applications for 2024 Entry

Year 12 students are now able to apply for university and TAFE courses across Australia. For most courses, you apply via state-based Tertiary Admission Centres. 

You will need access to a computer or smart phone, your student ID (VCAA) number, your USI and a PayPal account or credit/debit card. 

You will be able to apply for special consideration, some access and equity scholarships and some early entry/guaranteed programs via the Tertiary Admission Centres.

Year 12 students are reminded of the key application dates for all states:

Australia wide search www.courseseeker.edu.au 

Australia wide comparison tool www.compared.edu.au/

VTAC

Get Help:  VTAC staff are running the following live webinars in September to assist students and families with applications: 

To register for an upcoming session, visit https://www.vtac.edu.au/events

Watch information videos via www.youtube.com/@vtacmedia6131

SEAS and Scholarships: Students who submit their SEAS and Scholarship documentation by Friday 15 September will be guaranteed a review of their documents and contacted if there are any problems with them, for example, if they are illegible or out of date. 

This will give students time to resubmit documents before the final SEAS and Scholarships deadline of 5pm on 6 October.  We will continue to review documents submitted after the advisory deadline and prior to the final deadline, but cannot guarantee that the initial document review will be completed in time for resubmission of rejected documents

ACU

ACU Thrive is a learning model which supplements all first-year units, designed to ensure students transition smoothly into their university studies. ACU Thrive supports students academically, personally and socially throughout their first year at ACU, by allowing them to manage their learning around other commitments. It achieves this through:   

• weekly online learning modules, which must be completed successfully before moving on to the next week’s content  
• scheduled on-campus check-in sessions throughout the semester  
• access to high-quality learning resources and material    
• access to support services and teaching staff.  

ACU Year 12 Revision Webinars: ACU, along with InspirED, has created free online revision webinars to help you prepare for what’s to come and do your best. These revision webinars are run by experienced Year 12 assessors and exam markers who will know exactly how to guide you through this process and even help you respond to example exam questions. They’ll help you better understand the topics presented to you and teach you some fantastic study tips and tricks too. Learn more

ACU’s early offer program ACU Guarantee is open now! The program is designed to help Year 12 students secure a place at ACU before they sit their final exams. 

Prospective Physiotherapy students are now able to apply through the ACU Guarantee to study our Ballarat Campus! Applications close Monday 18 September 2023. Offers are made in rounds, please consult the Offer FAQ’s for deadlines. Learn more and apply now

Carlton College of Sport

Updated course entry requirements: 

Standard entry for both courses requires a 20 study-score in English, accompanied by an ATAR:

• Elite Sport Business: Lowest accepted ATAR for previous year was 41.05.
• Sport Coaching & Development: Lowest accepted ATAR for previous year 45.

This year, CCoS have streamlined the alternate pathways for students who are completing VCE-Unscored, VCE-VM and for students who miss the course ATAR entry requirements. 

Firstly, these students are still advised to complete a VTAC application with their preferences included. Next, these students are advised to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). This is an online multiple-choice test that, after completion, allows La Trobe University to convert results into an ATAR equivalent to allow students to be considered for an offer into their course of choice. The dates and times to book the STAT are available in the following link: Online testing - Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) (acer.org)

CCoS would recommend students who know they are not receiving an ATAR and are wanting entry into one of the courses at the Carlton College of Sport to book in and complete the STAT at the earliest possible time. 

Students who are receiving an ATAR have the option to wait until after their results are released if they prefer, as there are STAT bookings available in both January and February, prior to the university academic year.

Curtin University (Medicine) now has a Casper requirement. See Course page for more details.

Deakin 

• Has created a series of On-demand Webinars. The comprehensive suite of webinars covers more than 50 undergraduate and postgraduate study areas, as well as other important information about how to apply and studying online. 
• Is running Campus Tours during September Holidays – See Events for more information. 

Monash 

• Monash Business – Explorer School Holiday Program (27 Sept) – See Events for more information. Register by 15 September.
• Monash Scholarships - Students applying via VTAC will NO LONGER be required to complete a separate application for Monash Scholarships. Applicants who have a Monash course on their VTAC preferences will be assessed automatically based on ATAR for merit-based scholarships (no change). Those scholarships that have an equity category requirement will now also be assessed automatically based on the SEAS data provided as part of their VTAC application. 
• Check Course Requirements carefully when applying via VTAC, Monash Fine Arts; Politics, Philosophy and Economics; Paramedicine have had changes.
• Monash Science is offering VCE Revision Lectures Our Science for the following subjects: Physics, Biology, Maths Methods and Chemistry at the Clayton campuses during the September school holidays. Interested students can purchase a $10 ticket via the website.
• Monash Science also have a dedicated webpage which contains an essential guide to everything Monash Science. Check it out here.
• And for any student wondering whether Monash Science can be used as a pathway to Medicine, the answer is ‘Yes’ with the strong suggestion you check out this dedicated webpage.

Swinburne + Deloitte Cyber Academy 

Swinburne has a partnership with Deloitte, where students can earn as they learn while studying a Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking and Cyber Security) and a Bachelor of Cyber Security. During their Deloitte placement, they will learn the latest skills to succeed as a cyber security professional. They will graduate in three years with a diploma and a degree, ready to fight hackers and protect virtual networks. 

As this is a unique student experience, it has a special enrolment timeframe and students are required to apply directly through the Swinburne website. Applicants will be invited to do a skills assessment followed by a recorded interview. Successful applicants will be placed at Deloitte, or at an industry or government sector partner. Applications for the Deloitte Cyber Academy close on Friday 29 September 2023. 

University of Melbourne

UniMelb on Demand – Video Library Explore our suite of videos covering everything from our unique curriculum, course information and career pathways, to scholarships and accommodation.

Early Entry Programs, Scholarships, Accommodation

Students applying for tertiary courses are reminded to check early entry programs relating to your preferences and also check the scholarships pages for any institutions in your preferences. A folder containing heaps of helpful information on Early Entry, Tertiary Applications, SEAS, Scholarships and Accommodation is available at the Careers Office (Jericho 9).

Sandie McKoy’s Super Handy Resources

• How to complete your VTAC application in 6 steps
• How to complete your UAC application in 6 steps
• Open Day Calendar
• Scholarships toolkit
• Accommodation Guide

The above and heaps more available https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

Monash Entry Schemes – Monash Guarantee and SEAS. Please note students do not have to choose between the two schemes – depending on their situation and background, they could be eligible for one or both. The following diagram provides a visual summary of how these work.

University of Melbourne Entry Scheme – Access Melbourne. Students should note that we are an Under-represented School at UoM, so if you are preferencing any UoM courses, please ensure you do your SEAS Application to be eligible for the positive influence of Access Melbourne. 

Students applying for nursing/midwifery courses

Year 12 students applying for nursing or midwifery should be mindful of the following entry requirements:

• VTAC: Applicants applying for nursing or midwifery courses via the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC) will need to complete the ‘Nursing and Midwifery Declaration Form’ within their VTAC account. 
• UAC: Applicants applying for nursing or midwifery courses via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will need to complete an ‘English Proficiency Declaration’ within their UAC account. 

Considering Teaching – Don’t forget to check entry requirements

If you are planning on applying for an undergraduate education degree in the future, you will need to be aware of selection criteria for each state. 

Victorian courses

• Achieve a minimum ATAR of 70: Some universities will require a higher ATAR. You may be able to access entry into courses with a lower ATAR if you are eligible for ATAR adjustment factors. 
• Complete the CASPer test: this is an online video-based situational judgment test. The test is designed to measure ethics, empathy and communication (selected universities will require this), https://acuityinsights.app/casper/ (aim to do some by 12 November to be eligible for December round offers)
• Achieve prerequisites: meet the requirements for prerequisite subjects. 

There are also some alternative options for students considering teaching:

• Pathways Course, which in some cases doesn’t take any longer, just seeks to see if you are adequately prepared with the skills and knowledge, so provides a more supported first year course which can lead to a direct transfer into your preferred teaching program (See Dip TEP below).
• Complete an undergraduate course in an area of interest and then look to complete a graduate entry teaching program (GET).
• Government supported programs like the Innovative ITE program offered through a range of institutions.

The Diploma of Teacher Education Preparation (Dip TEP) is an accredited qualification aimed at students who do not initially meet the minimum ATAR for teaching. The course has been developed as part of the Victorian Government’s Excellence in Teacher Education Reforms to ensure that disadvantage and diverse educational experiences are not a barrier to capable and committed people who want to pursue a career in teaching.

Successful completion of the Dip TEP will ensure that students graduate with the prerequisite knowledge and skills to undertake a rigorous undergraduate teacher education course.  The Dip TEP supports students to meet the literacy and numeracy standards they will need in order to graduate with a teaching qualification and supports them to meet the demands of study at a higher education level. 

The course introduces them to contemporary issues in education and to teaching as a profession, including practical school-based placement.   

The course is offered by a number of institutions, including ACU, RMIT, Swinburne, and VU Polytechnic.