Victoria University is offering university-level screen media subjects to secondary school students completing the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), as part of the Higher Education Studies within the VCE Program.

This is your chance to get a head start on university by studying one government-funded first-year university subject (two semester units) while you are still in school.

The program will be held at the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) – a new, multi-storey centre in South Yarra, which houses classrooms, an auditorium, technology-rich learning spaces, design spaces, recording studios and more.

Subjects are taught by the university tutors, and staff at the CHES will provide support and guidance.

Students film in city centre

About the program

Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) partners with Victorian universities to offer higher-education courses to senior secondary students at their South Yarra facilities.

If you're accepted into, and complete, a HES, you'll benefit from:

  • free participation (but you might need to buy textbooks, stationery etc)
  • access to the CHES Student Enrichment Series, which includes workshops and lectures
  • no penalty for withdrawal or failure
  • contribution towards VCE as a Unit 3-4 sequence, and subsequently your ATAR
  • credit towards a university qualification (if you apply and it is accepted by the university)
  • a record of the university-level study on your VCE Statement of Results.

Class times will be confirmed when available, with the aim of teaching after school hours. You'll also be assigned homework to complete during the course.

We will work to minimise clashes with VCE exams and other major VCE commitments.

VU screen media courses for VCE

A student works at a laptop.

Semester Unit 1: Writing for Screen

Discover the foundational elements of writing for film, television and other screen media platforms. Learn about narrative structure, character development, formatting and style conventions for fiction and non-fiction works. During your study, you will develop and write an original screenplay.

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Semester Unit 2: Online Screen Media

Learn about production and distribution techniques of video media through online platforms, including video-on-demand and streaming sites such as YouTube. Find out how these distribution platforms are used by media professionals to engage with audiences, and how these platforms have changed the way media is consumed.

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How to apply

Eligibility 

Higher Education Studies (HES) are offered to high-achieving and high-ability senior secondary students.

There's no entrance exam; just an online application with two parts: one section to be completed by you and another by your school (your principal needs to certify your suitability).

You need to:

  • have completed, or be completing, prerequisite study (school subjects that prepare you for the HES course)
  • be enrolled in VCE or the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Victoria 
  • be enrolled (and stay enrolled) in a government school.

Applications

You can apply for two HES and indicate preference, and finally enrol in one HES. 

CHES will coordinate the application process and will provide recommendations the university. The CHES principal can request an interview with applicants.

Universities make the final decision on your enrolment, based on merit, and informed by the principles of excellence and equity.

Steps to apply

In choosing which subject to apply for, we encourage you to consider your strengths, interests and future career aspirations first and foremost. Two key things to keep in mind are:

  • the VCE subjects you excel in and enjoy
  • the prerequisites and any other requirements for enrolment.

In your application, you can choose two HES. You’ll need to list them in priority order. (If you are not accepted into your first preference, you will then be considered for your second.)

Check your eligibility above and ensure that you meet those requirements before applying.

The principal of your school will need to approve your application and, depending on your age, you may also need your parent’s permission.

To submit an application, follow the steps on the CHES enrolment application page.

Choose your preferred HES (up to two HES can be selected in preference order) and provide your response to the Student Statement section.

The ‘Student Statement’ section of the application will ask you to prepare a short response to the following two questions:

  1. Drawing on your skills and attributes, outline why you feel you are well-suited to study at CHES. Please share some examples that highlight skills and strengths (Word limit: 300 words)
  1. What is it about the HES units you have selected that appeals to you? Why is commencing tertiary study as part of your VCE important to you? (Word limit: 300 words)

Your school principal will be asked to verify your information and provide some of your results to support your application. An automated request for information will be sent to your school principal once your section of the application has been submitted.

Applications for 2022 now closed.

Key dates for 2022 - 2023

31 August 2022 Applications close

Wednesday, 30 November 2022 (or earlier) Outcomes of applications emailed to student applicants and their schools; if you get an unconditional or provisional offer of acceptance, CHES will facilitate your enrolment with Victoria University.

November–December If you missed out on your first preference your application for the second preference subject will be considered as part of round 2. 

6 January 2023 (or earlier) CHES will communicate updated outcomes (accepted or declined) to all students (and their schools) for round 1 and round 2 offers. For accepted students, CHES will facilitate your enrolment with Victoria University as the final step in the process.

Late January Orientation program for all CHES students

January–February HES classes commence

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the Higher Education Studies, please contact the CHES team on [email protected]

Check the CHES website regularly to get the most up-to-date information on HES through CHES.  

Find out more

Centre for Higher Education Studies address:

669 Chapel Street
South Yarra 3141
Victoria