University-level extension opportunities for 2027 senior students

If your child is currently enrolled in Year 11 and doing a unit 3 and 4 subject, this pathway may be for them. The Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) offers a selection of early university entry subjects as a further extension for students at Northcote High School. Your child can go beyond Year 12 by studying a first-year university subject as part of their final year of VCE.

What is involved

Students can enrol in a Higher Education Studies program and do 2 semester-long subjects (over one year) of a first-year university subject instead of one of their Year 12 VCE subjects.

The program is a flexible learning model with options for online and in-person lessons, where students can balance their studies at their school as part of their overall VCE program.

The university subjects are fully subsidised – no cost to students.

Refer to Centre for Higher Education Studies – Higher Education Studies for the course handbooks with full details about the 39 subjects available through CHES, and recordings of previous information sessions.

How to apply

The first step for an application is for interested students and their parents or guardians to speak Dean Ashton in the Senior School office, as applications require school approval. If you feel your child is a suitable candidate or if you need further information, please speak with us.

CHES enrolment applications close on Friday 21 August 2026. To confirm eligibility for the university subjects, refer to Centre for Higher Education Studies – Higher Education Studies.

For enquiries directly to the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES):

Phone: 03 9063 1170

ches@education.vic.gov.au

https://ches.vic.edu.au

For NHS contact dean.ashton@nhs.vic.edu.au

The list of 2027 subjects currently on offer is below:

Accounting (La Trobe University)

Agriculture (La Trobe University)*

Anatomy and Physiology (Federation University)*

Artificial Intelligence in Organisations (Swinburne University)*

Astronomy (Monash University)

Biological Science (Federation University)

Business (Federation University)

Climate Change (Monash University)

Criminology (La Trobe University)

Criminology (Monash University)

Criminology (Deakin University)*

Criminology & Criminal Justice (Federation University)

Design History, Design & Society (Swinburne University)*

Disability, Diversity and Inclusion (Deakin University)

Economics and Finance (Deakin University)*

Education (Federation University)*

Exercise and Sports Science (Federation University)*

Future Technologies (Deakin University)*

Health Science (La Trobe University)

History (Monash University)

Human Biosciences (La Trobe University)

Information Technology (Federation University)

Law (La Trobe University)

Law (Swinburne University)

Linguistics and English Language (Monash University)*

Management and Law (Deakin University)*

Mathematics (University of Melbourne)

Maths and Analysis (Federation University)

Nursing (Federation University)*

Physics (University of Melbourne)

Politics, Philosophy and Economics (La Trobe University)

Psychology (Federation University)

Psychology (University of Melbourne)

Psychological Science (Deakin University)

Public Relations (Deakin University)

Robotics and Data Science (Deakin University)*

Science (Deakin University)*

Social and Community Services (Federation University)*

Space Industry (Swinburne University)

Performing Arts

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