Year 10-12 Hub

Commonly asked questions by high school students

How do I choose between similar courses?

If two courses sound alike, start by visiting the course pages and looking at:

• what you’ll learn – compare subjects and placements
• career outcomes – check which jobs each course leads to.

For example, Exercise and Sport Science focuses on athletic performance and fitness, while Sport Science looks more broadly at the science behind sport and movement.

When in doubt, talk to our advisors. They’ll help you match your goals to the right course and show how one program can lead into another.

What are the entry requirements for my course?

Each course has its own entry criteria. This usually includes prerequisite subjects, minimum study scores (e.g. for English or maths) and sometimes extra requirements like interviews, folios or tests.

To check entry requirements for a course, look under the 'Entry requirements' section on the course page. Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) listings also show any prerequisites and key deadlines.

If you’re a Victorian Year 12 student, you can access five bonus ATAR points through VU Early Entry. This can be a huge help at the end of the year when results and offers come out.

If you’re unsure, chat with our student advisors about what’s needed to get into your dream course. You can also browse VU courses by ATAR score.

What if I don’t meet the ATAR or study score requirements?

You still have options. VU offers pathways through TAFE, diplomas and foundation programs that can get you where you want to go.  

Many uni courses at VU don’t require ATAR. But if you miss out on a course because of ATAR or English study score requirements, you can start with a VU TAFE course, diploma, or the Foundations at VU program. These build your skills and can give you credit into a degree later.

Every year, thousands of students take a pathway into their dream course – it’s a proven step, not a step back.

Find your pathway

How do VTAC preferences and offers work?

Your VTAC preferences decide which courses you’re considered for – starting from your first choice and moving down. If you don’t meet the requirements for your top preference, VTAC automatically checks your next one.

You can change your preferences at any time before change of preference closes, typically around mid-December. Offers come out in multiple rounds from late December to February, so you might receive a higher preference offer later. 

Adjustment factors like equity schemes (SEAS), subject bonuses or elite sport and performer programs can boost your selection rank and improve your chances of an offer.

Always order preferences by what you most want to study, not by what you think you’ll get into.

Learn more about preferencing and applying through VTAC.

Can I transfer later if I start somewhere else?

100%. Many students start off doing one course and later transfer into another. 

For example, if you’re already studying at VU, you can apply for an internal transfer once you’ve completed some study and met the course entry requirements.

If you were attending another uni or TAFE, your previous results could count as credit, reducing the time it takes to finish your new course. VU also offers unique intakes throughout the year in February, April, July, September and November.

Students can move from health science to nursing or paramedicine. You can even move into something completely different, like business or law. Keep in mind that transfers are dependent on results and places available. Your course unit advisor can advise you on your options.