Ready to do your preferences and want to make sure you’re across all the info?

VTAC preference applications are now open for courses starting 2023.

Here’s what you need to know to complete your preferences on time and head into exams confident about your options and choices for 2023.

How do I apply for a course?

If you're in Year 12 and applying for uni, you will need to do so through VTAC.

To start your uni course in 2023, you will need to submit a VTAC preference application via vtac.edu.au. This applies if you might study in 2023, but haven't made a final decision.

If you're in Year 12 and applying for a TAFE course, you may need to apply through VTAC.

Some VU Polytechnic courses take applications through VTAC, while others are direct application only.

Check the admissions info on the VU Polytechnic course page for your course to see whether to apply via VTAC or direct application. If a TAFE course is open on VTAC, you’ll need to apply using this method unless you are only applying for one course.

Understanding the application process

What is VTAC?

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) manages applications for tertiary courses, as well as scholarships and the Special Entrance Access Scheme (SEAS).

VTAC forwards applications and supporting information to institutions, including Victoria University (VU), and sends out offer messages to successful applicants on behalf of each institution.

What is SEAS?

The Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) covers access and entry programs offered by VU and other institutions.

There are four categories:

  • personal information and location
  • disadvantaged financial background
  • disability or medical condition
  • difficult circumstances.

Check your eligibility and how to apply.

Applying for scholarships through VTAC

You can apply for an Access Scholarship via VTAC for Victoria University courses: Access Scholarships (require evidence of financial hardship). Find out how to apply for a scholarship through VTAC.

VU Guaranteed

If you’re a current Year 12 student at a Victorian school, you can also apply for VU Guaranteed.

This program guarantees you a place at VU or VU Polytechnic before you complete your Year 12 exams.

You can apply on the VU Guaranteed page until 5pm, 7 October 2022.

How to apply for a course via VTAC

VTAC preference applications are now open for courses starting 2023.

Here’s how to complete your application:

  1. Create a VTAC account on vtac.edu.au.
  2. Log in with your VTAC ID and PIN.
  3. Enter details of your secondary school studies, following the prompts.
  4. List your course preferences:
    • enter at least 1 course, and up to 8 courses – in your order of preference
    • you will only receive one offer per offer round, for your highest eligible preference, so make sure you put the course that you most want to do as your first preference, and then the other courses you want to do, in your order of preference
    • check that you meet prerequisites for the courses (see the admission info on the course page) and complete all relevant selection tasks where applicable.
  5. Enter any additional info required (like for example, if you want to specify a nominee who can be contacted on your behalf), following the prompts. Review your application and make sure it’s all correct.
  6. Pay the VTAC application fee – this is $44.00 for timely applications. You will be asked to pay at online at the end of your course application, and you can pay via PayPal, or by Visa or MasterCard. To avoid paying extra fees, make sure you create your account and your preference list by 5pm 29 September.
  7. Submit!

What if I change my mind?

You can change the order of your preferences and add or remove courses from your list after you have submitted your application – right up until 14 December for the December offer round.

So if you’re still exploring options or aren’t 100% certain on which course you want to do the most, you still have time to submit and rethink your options.

Key dates

Find the cut off dates and times for submitting VTAC preference applications and when each round offers are sent out.

Submit your VTAC preference application by 5pm.

This is the deadline for timely applications. You can submit an application after this point, but the VTAC fee increases if the application is late or very late.

Remember you can reorder your preferences if you want to, so it’s a good idea to submit a timely application if you can, and avoid the late fees.

Last chance to submit any SEAS and VTAC scholarship applications, and apply for VU Guaranteed.

You can submit a late application up until 4 November at 5pm, but you will need to pay VTAC a late fee of $126.00.

You even have an option to submit a very late application up until 2 December at 5pm, but you will need to pay a very late application fee of $164.00.

Congratulations on completing Year 12! Remember, if you didn’t receive the ATAR or results you were hoping for, there are so many pathways available to you to achieve your course and career goals.

Our course advisers can assist with your specific situation and provide details on the study options available to you for 2023.

You can book a 1:1 consultation with a future student adviser to talk about your course options and tailored advice about how to get into your dream course.

You have up until 14 December at 4pm to update your preferences – including adding, removing or reordering courses – and be eligible for a December Round offer on 21 December 2022

An offer for your highest eligible course preference will be emailed to you, and will be available in your VTAC account from 2pm.

If you don’t receive an offer there are plenty of things you can still do:

  1. Don’t panic! Not all offers are made in December round
  2. Review your preference and ensure you meet the pre-requisites, you may receive an offer January or a later round
  3. Consider applying for a TAFE course at VU Polytechnic. Many will allow you to pathway into a degree without any additional study time. Visit our Pathways to VU webpage to find out more.

You can change your preferences for the January offer round from 2pm, 21 December 2022 – 4pm, 22 December 2022.

An offer for your highest eligible course preference will be emailed to you, and will be available in your VTAC account from 2pm.

You can change your preferences for the February offer round from 4pm, 13 January 2023 – 4pm, 19 January 2023.

This is a supplementary round.

If you have nominated for a supplementary offer via VTAC and have not received an offer in a previous round, you may be eligible to receive a supplementary offer in this round. This will be available in your VTAC account from 2pm.

Other key dates include:

2 February 2023 Change your preferences for February round 2 offers by 4pm, 2 February 2023.
8 February 2023 February round 2 offers go out (supplementary offer round).
9 February 2023 Change your preferences for February round 3 offers by 4pm, 9 February 2023.
14 February 2023 February round 3 offers go out (supplementary offer round).