Tertiary updates

Early Entry Programs and Scholarships

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, SEAS, Scholarships and Accommodation is available at the Careers Office (Jericho 10).

Tertiary Info Service (TIS)

Most of our Year 11 and 12 students were fortunate to attend the TIS Tertiary Study presentation and expo at Chairo College in May. Students may find benefit in checking out the helpful resources on the TIS website which include presentation videos and past webinars on areas connected with tertiary study, supports, student experience, moving away from home, etc. Presentations - Tertiary Information Services (tis.org.au)

Regional Access Schemes

Some universities offer access schemes for regional students for specific courses. The following are two examples:

Deakin University Regional and Remote Entry Scheme: Regional students can choose to apply for the Regional and Remote Entry Scheme for the following courses areas: Exercise and Sports Science, Nutrition Science, Medical Imaging, Social Work and Vision Science. Students are to list the course in their VTAC preferences with the regional entry tag.
La Trobe University Regional Benefits Program

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 MSCW is an Under-represented School at UoM, so if you are adding any UoM courses to your preferences, please ensure you do your SEAS Application to be eligible for the positive influence of Access Melbourne.

In 2023, the university will consider criteria in addition to the ATAR for eligible students who are Access Melbourne applicants (from categories: disadvantaged financial background, resident of a regional or remote area, difficult circumstances, disability or medical condition). Access Melbourne students who attain a lower ATAR but achieve a study score of at least 35 in at least one VCE 3/4 subject that is relevant to their course preference, may submit a VTAC Personal Statement highlighting their career ambitions, outlining the future benefits for the community they hope to achieve, and their motivations for participating in higher education study at Melbourne. Students must also meet course prerequisites, and achieve an ATAR of at least:

72.00 for Arts, Design, or Science
78.00 for Commerce
86.00 for Biomedicine

Browse Study Score Consideration and VTAC Personal Statement noting which VCE subjects are eligible for consideration here. Diploma of General Studies (offered at Dookie) is another option which provides a pathway to one of the following University of Melbourne bachelor’s degrees:

Bachelor of Agriculture
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Biomedicine
Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Design
Bachelor of Science.

Find out more at Diploma in General Studies (DiGS)

News from Fed Uni

Missed Open Day…You can still learn more about what Federation University has to offer by visiting our Virtual Open Day site: federation.edu.au/virtual-open-day Federation also offers Personalised VIP Tours on demand, so you can book a tour with your family and friends at any time: bit.ly/fedviptours

Course updates

Bachelor of Arts is available for 2023 and will now include a work-integrated learning component in third year
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Gippsland Partnership Program), which provides a pathway to Monash Medicine, is accepting applications via VTAC. There is no need to complete the expression of interest form previously circulated.
NEW Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Information Engineering) now available at Gippsland and Ballarat, with a focus on renewable energy
Bachelor of Visual Arts at Gippsland is not accepting applications in 2023 due to low student numbers. All current students in the program will be taught through the remainder of their degree.
Bachelor of Cognitive Enterprise is no longer offered (all campuses), however students can include similar subjects in eCommerce and digital business within the Bachelor of Business degree
Bachelor of Psychological Science at Gippsland is no longer on campus, but offered via a 100% online study mode.

2023 Fedignite Scholarships

Year 12 students can apply for Federation University scholarships directly via our website.

At Federation University we believe everyone has the right to access tertiary education. But there are many challenges which put university out of reach for some. Our FedIgnite Scholarships award a total of $4,000 ($2,000 in year one and $2,000 in year two) to eligible students in a range of programs. We select recipients based on academic merit and need.

How to apply

Step 1 – Access the Scholarships and Grants page federation.edu.au/scholarships

Step 2 – Use the custom filters to see which programs you are eligible to apply for

Step 3 - Select the ‘view’ button to read more about the scholarship

Step 4 - Apply for the scholarship via our Scholarships and Grants portal

Step 5 - Once in the portal you can manage your application and apply for other scholarships and grants

News from Torrens

New course offerings in IT and Cybersecurity.

News from Monash

Dr What? Dr Where? Podcast interviews young doctors working regionally about their careers.

Season 1 is all around different specialities (i.e. surgery, emergency, paediatrics) and Season 2 looks at how you can get ahead as a junior doctor. This podcast might provide your young people a better understanding of the opportunities that a career in a rural or regional area can offer.

News from TAFE Gippsland

TG have a new webpage that’s been designed specifically for students who are about to leave school but are unsure about their future. View the new School Leavers webpage here

News from VU

Did you know there is a TAFE pathway to paramedicine at VU?

Students who complete the Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport at VU Polytechnic can secure a place in the Diploma of Emergency Health Care and then the Bachelor of Paramedicine, with one years’ credit – so they can become a paramedic in three years. This is an option well-worth considering as an alternative pathway to paramedicine.

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.
Victoria University: Bachelor of Nursing applicants will need to register for and sit the CASPer test. Note – applicants who are also applying for Initial Teacher Education courses will need to pay and sit for two separate CASPer tests, https://takealtus.com/casper/
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://takealtus.com/casper/ (aim to do some by 14 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.