TAFE or uni? Take the quiz to see what’s right for you

If you're in Year 9 or 10, you might be starting to wonder – what’s the move after school? It can feel like a pretty big question!

Whether you’ve got a dream job in mind or you're still figuring things out, it’s handy to start exploring your options early-on.

Uni? TAFE? What’s the better fit for you? No clue? We’ve got you. This quick quiz will help you start thinking about the right path for you.👇

secondary student at wyndham tech school

1. What describes you best right now?

A) I am doing an unscored or VM VCE.

B) I'll be doing my VCE exams and am working towards an ATAR.

2. How do you like to learn?

A) I like to get hands-on and learn by doing.

B) I enjoy reading, writing and research.

3. What kind of career are you thinking about?

A) Something practical like plumbing, electrical, childcare or hospo.

B) A professional job like lawyer, engineer, teacher, scientist or psychologist.

4. How long do you want to study after school?

A) I’d prefer shorter courses – six months to two years.

B) I’m okay with studying for three or more years if it leads to the career I want.

5. Do you already know what job you want?

A) Yes, I’m keen to learn a specific skill and get working.

B) Not really, I’d like a course with broad career options I can explore through study.

6. What’s more important to you?

A) Getting job-ready skills as soon as possible.

B) Diving deep into a subject and gaining a professional qualification.

7. How do you feel about getting an ATAR?

A) I’m not aiming for a high ATAR or I’d prefer a path that doesn’t require one.

B) I’m okay working towards an ATAR if I need it for the course I want.

Now, tally your answers! ✅

Mostly A’s?

You might vibe with TAFE.

TAFE is great for hands-on learners who want to build hands-on skills and a faster track to the workforce. Plus, many TAFE courses don’t need an ATAR – bonus!

Mostly B’s?

Uni could be your zone.

Uni is more about academic learning and going deep into subjects. It’s ideal for careers that need a degree and usually takes a bit longer – but it opens heaps of doors.

A mix of both?

You’ve got options!

Lots of people mix and match – starting with TAFE, then going to uni, or the other way around. The best pathway is the one that works for you.

But hey – don’t fall for these myths about uni and TAFE.

: Truth: Loads of unis feature smaller classes with hands-on learning and real-time feedback. At VU, you study one subject at a time – meaning more focus and less stress!
: Truth: You can also get qualifications in healthcare, IT, hair & beauty, cooking, events, tourism and more.
: Truth: A lot of courses at VU don’t have a minimum ATAR to get in. If there is an ATAR requirement that you can’t meet, there are other pathways to get into the course.
: Truth: You can make just as much as a uni graduate on average after doing TAFE and are just as likely to get a job. Free TAFE is also available for a lot of courses because they teach skills that are in high demand.

The real deal

What is TAFE?

What about uni?

Other definitions got you stumped?

We're here to help – we know there's a bunch of confusing lingo to do with studying, uni and courses! Check out our handy quick guide to all the definitions, acronyms and more you'll need to know.

Uni lingo busted: A VCE student’s guide to understanding tertiary terminology