Free TAFE
Free TAFE courses align with skills and jobs that are in demand from Victorian employers.
If you are eligible for Victorian Government–subsidised training, you may not have to pay tuition fees for some TAFE courses at Victoria University (VU).
Eligibility for courses with no tuition fees
Check your course page or the list below to see if your course is part of the Free TAFE program. If it is, you may be eligible to pay no tuition fees for the full course duration.
You'll still need to pay the SSAF (student services and amenities fees), and any materials fees.
Course limits & pathway groups
Choose carefully, because in some course areas you can only access the initiative once, even if you don't finish your course.
Some study areas allow you to study more than one 'Free TAFE' course within that 'pathway group'. These include accounting, allied health, building and construction, civil construction, community services, early childhood, education support, nursing and personal care, and IT.
If you have already enrolled in a Free TAFE course:
- you can only complete an additional Free TAFE course within the same pathway group
- you must complete your qualification before you can access another Free TAFE place.
For more information, refer to the Victoria Government's Free TAFE Pathways information page.
Eligibility
Within course limits, you are eligible to take Free TAFE within Victoria, if you are a:
- Australian citizen
- Australian permanent resident
- New Zealand citizen.
Asylum seekers might be eligible for Free TAFE under the Asylum Seeker VET Program.
Prioritised groups
Anyone who is eligible can apply for a Free TAFE course.
Positions are available subject to availability of TAFE places and prioritised based on need. Priority groups include the following.
Career changers:
- Victorians who want to reskill, change careers and improve their employment prospects
- Victorians who meet the needs of local industries.
Victorians who need additional support:
- unemployed and clients of the Jobs Victoria Employment Network
- retrenched workers
- automotive supply-chain workers.
Free TAFE courses
Browse VU's Free TAFE courses by study area. Visit the course page to apply online.
Note: This list is subject to change and will be updated to reflect policy and institution changes.
Why VU is ahead of the rest
Our strong connections with industry, award-winning learning model, state-of-the-art facilities and specialised course content mean you’ll graduate ready to work in an in-demand occupation. Our class sizes are small, so you can receive support from trainers, who work in industry, and get to know your classmates. You’ll also get the chance to find career opportunities through placements and industry connections.
