Special admission programs

Apply for a special admission program to boost your chances of getting into your dream course.

'Special admissions' include equity schemes that give special consideration to your circumstances, as well as conditional early-entry programs.

Equity schemes are designed to help applicants from disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic and cultural backgrounds. A successful application may mean that you are offered a course-place despite having a lower ATAR selection rank or study score than otherwise required.

Choose the right information for you

Find out how to apply for equity schemes, also known as the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS), via the Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
1. Explore Equity Schemes (SEAS)
There are four categories used for SEAS applications. You can apply for as many categories as are relevant to you.
Category one: Personal information & location
This category includes Indigenous Australians, first in family to go to uni, living in a remote or regional location (RA code 4 or 5), under-represented school, under-represented gender in your course, and non-English speaking background.
Category two: Disadvantaged financial background
This category includes any kind of economic hardship, including dependence on Centrelink benefits or difficult financial circumstances.
Category three: Disability or medical condition
This category applies to applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage due to learning, physical, sensory, or mental-health medical condition, illness or disability.
Category four: Difficult circumstances
This category includes refugee or asylum seeker status, homelessness, out-of-home care (eg foster care), assault, family violence or natural disasters.
Discover your eligibility
2. Prepare your SEAS application
For the first category, ‘personal information and location’, you won’t need to provide evidence.
For the other categories, you will need to prepare documents to upload with your application.
Evidence may include:
an impact statement written by you
a statement of support from a responsible adult, eg a health professional or teacher
letter from a government or community organisation
financial documentation such as a Centrelink statement.
Find out about the required evidence
3. Apply for SEAS
You can apply for SEAS through your VTAC account, after you submit a VTAC course application.
Login to your account using your VTAC ID and PIN, then navigate to the SEAS application.
Apply for as many categories as are relevant to your circumstances.
For categories 2, 3 and 4, you need to include a written statement and/or supporting documents in your VTAC account.
There is also the option to send a request to the 'responsible adult' providing a statement of support. They will receive an email to provide a statement online.
Indigenous applicants should also apply for the Aboriginal Admission Program.
Apply via VTAC
4. Consider our Early Entry program
Our VU Early Entry program ensures you have a conditional offer to study with us, before your exams. If you don't get the required exam results for your first choice, we'll find you an alternative course at VU. You'll also get 5 bonus ATAR adjustment points for some courses, and tailored support.
To be considered, you need to apply for the Early Entry program, and to list a VU course as your first preference in VTAC.
Discover our Early Entry program
'Post-school applicants' information is for anyone not in Year 12 applying direct to VU – from those who left school early to mature professionals.
1. Discover special consideration categories
There are four categories that will qualify you for special consideration. You can apply for as many categories as are relevant to you.
To be eligible you need to be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident.
Category A: Personal information & location
This category includes includes living in a remote or regional location (RA code 4 or 5), mature-age applicants (21 or older), first in family to go to uni, under-represented gender in your course (PDF), and non-English speaking background.
Category B: Disadvantaged financial background
This category includes any kind of economic hardship. This includes those who receive Centrelink benefits or if you or your family receives a Family Tax Benefit.
Category C: Disability or medical condition
This category applies to applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage due to learning, physical, sensory, or mental-health medical condition, illness or disability.
Category D: Difficult circumstances
This is for any situations which have adversely affected your studies not covered by the previous categories. It could include asylum seeker status, homelessness, out-of-home care (eg foster care), assault, family violence or natural disasters.
2. Prepare your application
Category A: Personal information & location
You will need to prepare the A126 form (linked below).
Category B: Disadvantaged financial background
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from Centrelink to support your claim.
Category C: Disability or medical condition
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from a health professional.
Category D: Difficult circumstance
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from a responsible person who has knowledge of your situation.
Indigenous applicants
You should apply prepare the A126 form and apply for the Aboriginal Admission Program application
Direct admission special consideration form – A126 (PDF, 194.85 KB)
3. Apply for special consideration
You can apply for special consideration during your course application.
Upload your A126 form and supporting documents in our admissions portal.
Indigenous applicants should also submit an Aboriginal Admission Program application.
Apply to VU

Find out how to apply for equity schemes, also known as the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS), via the Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

1. Explore Equity Schemes (SEAS)

There are four categories used for SEAS applications. You can apply for as many categories as are relevant to you.

Category one: Personal information & location

This category includes Indigenous Australians, first in family to go to uni, living in a remote or regional location (RA code 4 or 5), under-represented school, under-represented gender in your course, and non-English speaking background.

Category two: Disadvantaged financial background

This category includes any kind of economic hardship, including dependence on Centrelink benefits or difficult financial circumstances.

Category three: Disability or medical condition

This category applies to applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage due to learning, physical, sensory, or mental-health medical condition, illness or disability.

Category four: Difficult circumstances

This category includes refugee or asylum seeker status, homelessness, out-of-home care (eg foster care), assault, family violence or natural disasters.

Discover your eligibility

2. Prepare your SEAS application

For the first category, ‘personal information and location’, you won’t need to provide evidence.

For the other categories, you will need to prepare documents to upload with your application.

Evidence may include:

an impact statement written by you
a statement of support from a responsible adult, eg a health professional or teacher
letter from a government or community organisation
financial documentation such as a Centrelink statement.

Find out about the required evidence

3. Apply for SEAS

You can apply for SEAS through your VTAC account, after you submit a VTAC course application.

Apply for as many categories as are relevant to your circumstances.

For categories 2, 3 and 4, you need to include a written statement and/or supporting documents in your VTAC account.

There is also the option to send a request to the 'responsible adult' providing a statement of support. They will receive an email to provide a statement online.

Indigenous applicants should also apply for the Aboriginal Admission Program.

Apply via VTAC

4. Consider our Early Entry program

Our VU Early Entry program ensures you have a conditional offer to study with us, before your exams. If you don't get the required exam results for your first choice, we'll find you an alternative course at VU. You'll also get 5 bonus ATAR adjustment points for some courses, and tailored support.

To be considered, you need to apply for the Early Entry program, and to list a VU course as your first preference in VTAC.

Discover our Early Entry program

'Post-school applicants' information is for anyone not in Year 12 applying direct to VU – from those who left school early to mature professionals.

1. Discover special consideration categories

There are four categories that will qualify you for special consideration. You can apply for as many categories as are relevant to you.

To be eligible you need to be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident.

Category A: Personal information & location

This category includes includes living in a remote or regional location (RA code 4 or 5), mature-age applicants (21 or older), first in family to go to uni, under-represented gender in your course (PDF), and non-English speaking background.

Category B: Disadvantaged financial background

This category includes any kind of economic hardship. This includes those who receive Centrelink benefits or if you or your family receives a Family Tax Benefit.

Category C: Disability or medical condition

This category applies to applicants who have experienced educational disadvantage due to learning, physical, sensory, or mental-health medical condition, illness or disability.

Category D: Difficult circumstances

This is for any situations which have adversely affected your studies not covered by the previous categories. It could include asylum seeker status, homelessness, out-of-home care (eg foster care), assault, family violence or natural disasters.

2. Prepare your application

Category A: Personal information & location
You will need to prepare the A126 form (linked below).

Category B: Disadvantaged financial background
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from Centrelink to support your claim.

Category C: Disability or medical condition
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from a health professional.

Category D: Difficult circumstance
You will need to prepare the A126 form and a statement from a responsible person who has knowledge of your situation.

Indigenous applicants
You should apply prepare the A126 form and apply for the Aboriginal Admission Program application

Direct admission special consideration form – A126 (PDF, 194.85 KB)

3. Apply for special consideration

You can apply for special consideration during your course application.

Upload your A126 form and supporting documents in our admissions portal.

Indigenous applicants should also submit an Aboriginal Admission Program application.

Apply to VU

Other special admission programs & support

Aboriginal Admissions Program

The Aboriginal Admissions Program at VU supports your course application and your application for special consideration. We will arrange an informal study options appointment (when relevant), and discuss pathway options if needed.