https://vtac.edu.au/applying/courses.html

How to apply for courses

Summary: VTAC course applications are made online. Learn about the steps involved including how to complete your preference list and paying your course application processing fee.

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When to apply

Applications for mid-year intake are now open. Applications for 2025 intake open 29 July. If you applied for 2024 intake, you will be able to access your VTAC account using your existing VTAC ID and password.

Dates and deadlines are available on the VTAC Dates page.

*Note: During 2025 intake, some courses will not accept applications after the close of timely applications. Last intake's list of courses with early closing dates is available and will be updated in August 2024.

How to apply for courses through VTAC

To apply for courses through VTAC, follow the steps below.

1. Prepare to apply

The VTAC course application allows you to apply for up to eight courses in order of preference, however you can only receive one offer in each ‘offer round’.

Before you begin your application, make sure you:

meet the entrance requirements for each course you want to apply for, and
have all your details close to hand. For example, details about your educational history, student numbers, any required visa details.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you complete your application accurately, answer all relevant questions and provide the required information. If you provide incorrect information or omit information such as current and previous studies, you may jeopardise your chance of receiving offers, or any offers you receive may be withdrawn.

You can't save a draft of your course application while you are working on it, but you can change your course preferences after it is completed. See Demonstration applications for examples of the VTAC account and course application .

2. Create a VTAC account

Before you can apply for courses, you must create a VTAC account. See Creating a VTAC account.

3. Log in

To access the course application you must log in to your VTAC account using your VTAC ID and PIN.

4. Open the course application

To open the application, select 'Course application' in your VTAC account. All course applications through VTAC are submitted online.

5. Enter your educational history – secondary studies

The first section asks for details of your secondary studies. You will be asked to list the years and locations of your Year 12 studies and provide your student number/s if you have them. You must list all current and previous secondary studies undertaken in Australia and overseas including all units of Year 12 studies undertaken in previous years. The application will tell you if VTAC is able to retrieve your Year 12 results automatically, or if you will need to supply evidence. For information about when evidence of your previous study is required, see Evidence of results and other documentation.

6. Enter your educational history – post-secondary studies

The next section will ask you about your post-secondary studies, including what you studied, where and when, and whether you have completed the study, it is in progress or you did not complete. You will also be asked to enter your student number/s if possible. You must list all current and previous tertiary studies undertaken in Australia and overseas including tertiary study this year if you did not officially withdraw by the census date. For information about when evidence of your previous study is required, see Evidence of results and other documentation.

7. Enter details of any admissions tests you have taken

You will be asked if you have sat the STAT in recent years and if so, when. You will also be asked if you have sat the UMAT or ISAT and if so, to provide your examination number. For more information see Admissions tests.

8. Confirm your educational history details

You will be asked to review your educational history and confirm that the details are correct.

9. List your course preferences

You can enter up to eight course preferences using the institution and course drop down menus or by entering the course codes. You also have the option to view the course information and check that you are selecting the correct course.

When listing course preferences, you must:

ensure you meet prerequisites and complete all relevant entrance requirements for each course you list. See Entrance requirements
enter a minimum of one and maximum of eight courses on your application. If you are applying for graduate-entry teaching, a maximum of four graduate-entry teaching courses can be included as part of that eight.
list courses in order of preference. The course you want the most should be listed as your number one preference, then list your second most wanted, third most wanted and so on. If you change your mind, you can add, delete or re-order your courses any time before the course application closing date and other change of preference periods.
check your course codes carefully. Some courses have more than one course code, so when adding courses make sure you include the correct code. The wrong code could result in you applying for the wrong course, the wrong campus or the wrong fee type, and missing out on the course you want.
codes for full-time and part-time options. For many courses the same course code applies for both full-time and part-time study methods. However, some courses have separate codes for full-time and part-time options, therefore to apply for both the full-time and part-time options you must list the course twice with the two different codes.
codes for course fee type. The final digit of the VTAC course code (1, 2, 3 or 4) shows you the type of course fees you will be required to pay if you get an offer. For information about the different fee-types, see Course codes and fee types .
codes for multiple qualifications. Some course codes apply to more than one qualification. For example, a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma in the same area. For most of these courses, the same course code applies to all qualification levels, therefore you only need to list the course code once. The qualification level is established at the time of enrolment. However, some courses have separate codes for each qualification. In these instances, you must list the specific code for the qualification, or each of the qualifications, you wish to apply for.

You can also move your preferences up and down the list or remove them if you are no longer interested or made a mistake. Course preferences should be listed in the order you would most like to study, with your highest preference at the top. Don't worry if you are not sure at this stage – you can change your preferences after you have submitted your application at no additional charge and as many times as you like. For more information see Changing your course preferences.

For some tips on listing your course preferences, view our How should you list your course preferences? explainer video.

10. Set your information release permissions

You will be asked if you give permission for VTAC to publish any first round offers you receive in metropolitan and regional newspapers. You will also be asked if you want to participate in the supplementary offer round process. For more information see Offers, enrolment and deferment.

11. Authorise a nominee (optional)

You will be asked whether or not you wish to authorise a nominee to manage the administration of your account, in your absence. For further information about the role of the nominee see Authorised nominee: definition, rights and responsibilities.

You are not in any way obligated to add a nominee to your application and are entitled to keep it private if you wish. If you have any concerns about your privacy or rights, contact privacy@vtac.edu.au

12. Respond to statistical questions

The application will ask you to provide statistical information which is collected on behalf of institutions and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD).

Some of the questions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity and your parents' or guardians' educational history will be used if you submit a Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application. To apply for special consideration due to educational disadvantage, you will need to submit a SEAS application.

Other questions associated with a disability, impairment or medical condition will assist institutions ensuring that their facilities meet your needs. Your responses will remain anonymous to selection officers and none of this information is used as part of the selection process for courses to which you have applied, unless you give permission by applying for SEAS Category 1.

13. Review your application details, submit and pay your application fee

You will be asked to review your course preferences, authorised nominee details and statistical information and confirm that the details are correct. You may then submit your application. A record of your original course application will be available to view in the 'Course application' section of your VTAC user account and also sent to your email address.

You will also have the opportunity to pay your course application processing fee. You do not have to pay the fee straight away, but if you do not pay by the deadline (see Dates and fees) your application will not be considered.

Changing your application

If you have made a mistake or left something out, and you want to change your registration or application details, see Making changes to your course application.

If you change your home address, email address and/or telephone number, you must update them in the 'Personal details' section of your VTAC user account as soon as possible to ensure you receive any important communication from VTAC, see Make changes in your account.

Notes for graduate-entry teaching (GET) applicants

Specialist teaching areas

You must ensure you are eligible for the specialist areas you apply for, otherwise selection is unlikely. For information about how eligibility is assessed see Course requirements for graduate-entry teaching courses.

To find out which specialist areas are available for each course, see the graduate-entry teaching courses in CourseSearch.

You must include either two single specialist areas or one double specialist area for each graduate-entry course you include on your application:

If you are applying for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and a domestic fee-paying place (DFP) in the same course, you must include the same specialist areas for both preferences.
Codes for specialist areas are listed in graduate-entry teaching courses in CourseSearch and are also available in the course application.
Codes for single specialist areas begin with 1 – To apply for single specialist areas, you must include a code beginning with 1 in the 'Specialist area A' box and include a different code beginning with 1 in the 'Specialist area B' box.
Codes for double specialist areas begin with 2 – To apply for a double specialist area, you must include a code beginning with 2 in the 'Specialist area A' box only.
If you are prepared to accept an offer for specialist areas other than those you have included for a course, you can choose 'Yes' for 'Any other specialist areas', and you will be considered for any combination of specialist areas for that course before being considered for a course listed as a lower preference on your application. You are advised to consider the option of accepting 'Any other specialist areas' as competition for some courses and some specialist areas is particularly strong. You will only be considered for specialist areas for which you have the appropriate academic background. If you are applying for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and a domestic fee-paying place (DFP) in the same course, you must choose 'Yes' for both preferences or 'No' for both preferences.

Course application processing fee

For your course application to be considered, you must pay the course application processing fee.

How much?

There are different fees for timely, late and very late course applications, so the amount you pay depends on when you apply. See dates and times for course applications.

Current Year 12 or the Other applicants fee?

If you apply within the 'timely' dates and you are currently enrolled in a standard Australian Year 12 (in Australia or overseas) or International Baccalaureate in Australia or New Zealand, you will pay the Current Year 12 timely course application processing fee.

Examples of standard Australian Year 12 include: VCE, VCE VM, HSC, NTCE, QLD Senior Certificate, SACE, TCE, and WACE. If your Year 12 is not listed here, contact VTAC to find out whether it is recognised as a standard Australian Year 12.

If you apply within the 'timely' dates but are not currently enrolled in any of the above, you will pay the course application processing fee for all other applicants.

How to pay

You will be asked to pay online at the end of your course application. You can choose to pay immediately or later through your VTAC user account.

You can choose to pay via your PayPal account, or by Visa or MasterCard.

When to pay

VTAC recommends that you pay early. If you don't pay by the final payment date, your course application will not be forwarded to institutions. See final payment dates.

Check your payment status

To ensure your processing fees have been received by VTAC, you can check your payment status in your VTAC user account. A copy of your receipt will be sent to the email address you provided to VTAC and will also be available via your VTAC user account.

Refunds

VTAC does not issue refunds on course application processing fees (except as required by law). You remain liable for the course application processing fee even if you withdraw your course application because all applications are processed immediately when received.

Video explainers

How should you list your course preferences?(show transcript)

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