How do course preferences work?

Want to go to uni next year? Confused about how to apply for a course? Don’t know when and how to make your uni preference list?

All your worries end here! Below is a quick three-step explanation of the key dates and phases of this year's VTAC preference period for Victorian Year 12 students.

1. Put your future down on paper

VTAC preference applications for courses starting in 2027 open on 3 August 2026.

So, you’ve decided on the unis and courses you’re interested in – what next? It’s time to lock in those choices on VTAC. Timely preference period ends on 28 September 2026 at 5pm. The very late applications cut off for VTAC is 4 December 2026, but bear in mind you'll pay a much higher fee after the timely period is over.

Then, VCE results will be released in the morning of Thursday 10 December, and you'll have two days (usually – dates TBC) after that to change your preferences.

But, first thing's first – let's start with the basics:

Make a VTAC preference list

Create a VTAC account and create your online preference list. On your preference list, you will be asked to:

• enter a minimum of one and a maximum of eight desired courses
• list courses in order of preference, starting with the course you want to do the most.

Special consideration

If you have encountered anything during your studies that negatively affected your performance in Year 12, you can apply for special consideration in a SEAS application.

TAFE applications

Some TAFE courses are not applied for via VTAC, so you must apply directly to the institution. Courses using this application method have the instruction 'Apply: Direct to institution' in their VTAC course listings.

Application closing dates

VTAC very late applications close at 5pm on 4 December 2026.

Discover everything you need to know to complete your preferences on time and head into your holiday period confident about your options.

2. Want to change your preferences?

What if you were sure you wanted to be a nurse back in August, but now you can only see yourself working in a law court? Or, once your VCE results are released, you need to rearrange your future plans?

Don’t stress! You can still change your course preferences – right up until a few days after your VCE results are released in December.

So, you'll receive your Year 12 results on 10 December 2026 at 7am. Then you have around two days to rethink, rejig, or get extra advice – and we're here to help you with it all, with 1:1 consult bookings during that time. We can support you to find a pathway built around your ambitions – no matter your results. 

3. Party time

Late December 2026: first-round offers are released

All going to plan, you'll receive an offer for your first preference in round one late December 2026 (date TBC).

If so, congratulations!

If not, don’t worry.

Subsequent offer rounds are made for courses that have not met their quotas in the first round – so you may still receive a place.

You can also change your preferences between subsequent offer rounds to maximise your chances of finding the right course, even if you have already received and accepted an offer in round one.