Understanding tertiary entrance requirements
GETTING into university is about more than just your ATAR. There are also course requirements, prerequisites and selection criteria. So if you want to apply for a course, here’s what you need to know.
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No matter how high your ATAR is or how much you want to get in to a particular university, if you don’t fulfil all the entrance requirements for the course, you won’t be considered.
To be offered a place in a course you must:
• Apply for the course.
• Meet the minimum tertiary entrance requirements for Victoria.
• Meet any VCE prerequisites (or equivalent) for the course.
• Be selected in competition with other eligible applicants.
MINIMUM TERTIARY ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
VET COURSES, CERTIFICATE IV, DIPLOMA AND ADVANCED DIPLOMA COURSES
For Year 12 students, the minimum tertiary entrance requirement for VET courses available at TAFE providers and independent tertiary colleges is:
Satisfactory completion of any of the qualifications listed for Higher Education courses or satisfactory equivalent senior secondary completion such as Senior VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) OR Literacy requirements as stated in VET Training Packages/curriculum (training.gov.au).
HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES
The minimum tertiary entrance requirement at universities, independent tertiary colleges and TAFE providers is satisfactory completion of both the VCE and Units 3 and 4 English (any) or equivalent. If you receive an ATAR, you have met the entrance requirements for all higher education and VET courses in Victoria.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Many courses have requirements additional to the minimum tertiary entrance requirements. These will always be listed in the selection criteria section of the course entry. These may be in the form of:
• Prerequisite studies
• Other qualifications
• Selection requirements
PREREQUISITES
VCE studies you must have successfully completed to be eligible for a particular course. Courses with prerequisites specify which VCE units are required. Prerequisites are available in the VTAC Prerequisites and Course Explorer, which will assist you to create and change VCE programs and identify which courses you will be eligible to apply for in two years.
SELECTION CRITERIA
In addition to the prerequisite requirements, many courses have selection requirements such as a folio, an interview, performance audition or completion of a questionnaire.
Details of course selection requirements are not contained in the VTAC Prerequisite and Course Explorer for two years in advance. They are listed in CourseSearch for courses being offered in the following year only. This is because selection requirements often include requirements that must be met on particular dates for the year concerned.
Other selection considerations are factors that are not required, but if completed may add to your course application. For example, some courses will give subject bonuses to Year 12 students, while other courses may look at your work experience and how it might help you successfully complete the course.
Other information provides information that you may need to be aware of before enrolling in the course. This may include obtaining a Working with Children Check or police records check, or being aware of the physical requirements necessary to complete the course.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants may satisfy minimum tertiary entrance requirements on the basis of other qualifications. These may include completion of:
• Senior VCAL
• The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
• Overseas qualifications deemed comparable by VTAC to the required Victorian qualifications.
If you meet minimum tertiary entrance requirements for all institutions in your home state (for example, you have received an ATAR in NSW), you will meet minimum requirements for all Victorian institutions.
When applying for courses you are competing against other applicants, so even if you meet all the criteria, this does not guarantee a place. For more information visit vtac.edu.au.
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