1. Applying for tertiary study in Victoria
A complete guide to applying for courses, SEAS, and scholarships through VTAC
VICTORIAN TERTIARY ADMISSIONS CENTRE
40 Park Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Telephone:
Facebook: | Twitter: twitter.com/vtacguide | Youtube:

2. What is VTAC?
The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is the central point for applications to Victorian universities, TAFEs, and Independent Tertiary Colleges.
VTAC also calculates the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) for Victorian Year 12 students.
Connect with VTAC today to receive updates, tips, and timely reminders:
Facebook: facebook.com/vtacguide
Students won’t be applying individually to each institution, but instead submitting one application through VTAC for up to 8 course preferences.

3. The VTAC application process – key dates
Key dates for applications
Applications open
$36 for current Year 12 students $54 for all other applicants
9am, Monday 6 August 2018
Timely applications close
5pm, Thursday 27 September 2018
SEAS applications close
5pm, Friday 12 October 2018
Scholarship applications close
Round 1 offers released
Wednesday 16 January 2019
Full list of dates:
Annual selection cycle – can’t do anything before August
Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) and Scholarships applications are optional, but strongly recommended
Late and Very Late application deadlines exist, but a higher application fee applies

4. Finding and comparing course information Making sure you’re eligible
In this session
Research
Finding and comparing course information
Making sure you’re eligible
Apply
Creating a VTAC account
Filling in your course preferences
ATAR
How the ATAR is calculated
How scaling works

5. In the next session
SEAS
Applying for special consideration, including under-represented groups
Applying for scholarships
Offers
Accessing Results
Getting your course offer
Accepting, deferring, rejecting

6. Research

7. Compare course information for all tertiary institutions in Victoria
CourseSearch
Compare course information for all tertiary institutions in Victoria
Advanced search options include filtering by institution, area of interest, and qualification level
Available at vtac.edu.au
CourseSearch lets you search across all the institutions at once – good for comparing courses
Information displayed in CourseSearch is provided by institutions
2018 CourseSearch available from late July

8. The VTAC CourseSearch app
Available free for iOS and Android
After downloading, browse course information online or offline
You can also use the Prerequisite and Course Explorer from inside the app – enter your VCE studies to find courses where you meet the prerequisites
The app will automatically update with the latest course info whenever online.

9. Prerequisite and Course Explorer
Enter your VCE study program to see which courses you meet the prerequisites for
Refine your search by area of interest, institution, qualification level, and more
Year 10 students can compare different potential VCE programs to see the impact of different subject choices
Prerequisite and Course Explorer available with course info from late July.
Can save a program and then compare it to a new search to e.g. see the impact of adding/dropping a subject.

10. Year 11 & Year 12 Guide Information about how to apply
A guide to researching and making decisions
Interviews with students and professionals in various areas
Pick up a copy from your school or download for free at the VTAC website
The Guide does not contain course information.
PDF download is located in the “Publications” section of the VTAC website.

11. Different types of tertiary courses
VET
Cert II-IV
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Higher Education
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate courses
You can list both VET and Higher Ed courses on your VTAC preferences
Current Year 12 students not eligible for Graduate courses

12. Understanding course details
A description provided by the institution offering the course
Which campus?
How long does the course take to complete?
What kind of career options are there?
Course design
Information in course entries is provided by the institution offering the course.
Look out for: information about the course itself, explain why looking at major studies can be useful
Draw attention to essential requirements and admission criteria

13. Understanding course details
Which prerequisites do I need to get in?
Do I need to do an interview or audition?
Are there any advantages to studying certain VCE subjects?
Is special consideration available?
Essential Requirements and Admission Criteria
Information in course entries is provided by the institution offering the course.
Look out for: information about the course itself, explain why looking at major studies can be useful
Draw attention to essential requirements and admission criteria

14. Understanding course details
Can I get credit for study I’ve already done?
How do I apply?
Where can I get further information?
Policy information
Information in course entries is provided by the institution offering the course.
Look out for: information about the course itself, explain why looking at major studies can be useful
Draw attention to essential requirements and admission criteria

15. What requirements might exist?
Prerequisites
Any VCE subjects you must complete to be eligible for an offer
Interview
Personal statement
Audition
Folio presentation
CASPer test Online test needed for most teaching courses
Subject adjustments Extra points for completing VCE subjects relevant to the course
SEAS Special consideration
Explain that prerequisites exist for all higher ed courses
Information about how to organise e.g. auditions and interviews is found in each course description. Contact the institution if it’s unclear how to complete a requirement.

16. Two types of essential requirements
You need to complete these to apply and receive an offer
Essential requirements for selection and application
Prerequisites
Interview
Audition
Pre-selection kit
Essential requirements for enrolment or graduation
Immunisations
Police check
Working with Children Check
You don’t need to complete these until you have successfully received an offer
These are just some examples of each type and there may be other requirements under these headings

17. How does selection work?
Applicants for an example course selecting on ATAR with 4 places and 6 applicants:
ATAR
Offered a place?
Mel
95.00 ATAR
Yes
Geri
90.00 ATAR
+ subject adjustment
= rank AJ
75.00 ATAR
+ SEAS
= rank
Victoria
85.00 ATAR
Emma
80.00 ATAR No
Howie
70.00 ATAR
Lowest ATAR offered a place is 75.00
Explain that selection is competitive for most courses. This example has six people applying for a course with four places.
Your ATAR never changes, but your RANK for a particular course might change e.g. in this course there is SEAS and subject adjustment.
CLICK to draw the lowest selection rank and lowest ATAR
Explain the lowest selection rank is the best number to look at because adjustments are only made upwards
Lowest selection rank is 85.00

18. Extra points for completing VCE subjects relevant to the course
Subject Adjustments
Extra points for completing VCE subjects relevant to the course
These are added to the overall aggregate (total score) from which your ATAR is calculated
They are added by the individual institution

19. Things to remember when looking at published ATARs for a course
The ATAR profile and lowest selection rank can provide you with an indication of how competitive it might be to get into a course
However, these are not a cut-off or guarantee, just an indication of what happened last year
It’s still worth applying for a course you want even if your ATAR is lower than last year’s lowest selection rank because:
The lowest selection rank might change for next year
You might receive subject adjustments or special consideration which boosts your rank higher than your ATAR

20. ATAR Profiles Published Booklet with all ATAR’s Monash University
Deakin University
Victoria University
Individual Course ATAR’s – either via a link from CourseSearch or look up the course directly on the Uni website
ACU
Latrobe University
RMIT
Swinburne
University of Melbourne

21. ATAR Profiles
On the DCC Careers website under Important Information/Year 12 tab
ATAR Profile Report for course entry in 2018 (this has adjusted ATAR and Selection Rank data)
ATAR Selection data for course entry in 2018 (this has the ‘old’ clearly in data)

22. ATAR PROFILES ATAR Selection Rank Highest Median Lowest Link to course
ATAR
Selection Rank
UNI
COURSE
CAMPUS
Highest
Median
Lowest
Link to course
Deakin
Commerce
Campus
90.85
67.95
54.00
96.10
77.50
66.55
Latest profile
Burwood
96.15
79.45
69.90
98.00
84.25
80.00
Warrnambool
82.10
59.30
50.00
90.10
69.50
61.85
Commerce/Business Analytics
Cloud Campus
< 5 offers
93.35
78.25
66.70
96.40
85.85
77.25
Commerce/Law
Waterfront
97.75
82.75
76.30
99.50
88.55
85.25
98.65
83.15
99.75
93.70
90.75
Commerce/Science
82.20
70.70
94.20
88.40
81.05

23. A brief look at CourseSearch

24. Any Questions So Far?

25. ATAR and Scaling

26. Scaling Why? How? For what?
Study scores received from the VCAA are a rank for that particular subject
30 is the average for every study, regardless of how competitive the cohort
How?
By looking at the students undertaking the study this year, and their performance in their other studies
For what?
Scaled scores are used only for the calculation of the ATAR
Prerequisites and subject adjustments are based on raw study scores
Scaling:
Is not about difficulty, it is about the strength of competition within the subject
Is based on the results of all Victorian students doing that study this year (not by school, not by class)
Is done fresh every year (scaling report on the VTAC website shows it is relatively stable from year to year)

27. Results for all Chemistry students in Victoria:
The scaling process
Results for all Chemistry students in Victoria:
English
31.35
Music Performance
36.62
Further Mathematics
33.45
Psychology
28.51
Politics
34.11
Biology
33.72
Etc.
31.52
Average for all studies
32.75
Chemistry Raw study score average: 30
Chemistry Scaled study score average: 32.75
For example, to scale Chemistry, we start off with the raw score of 30, which is the average VCAA score for all subjects when VTAC receives them.
How hard was it to get that 30? (i.e. the average mark in this particular subject)
To find out, we look at the results of everyone doing Chemistry, and find the average of their results in all their studies, not just Chemistry.
In this example, Chemistry students performed above average in all their subjects, showing that Chemistry was more competitive – therefore Chemistry scales up this year.

28. Composition of the aggregate
Highest eligible English group subject
Next highest eligible subject
10% of next highest (or other increment)
The “Primary 4” subjects (required to receive an ATAR)
You must pass the VCE and have at least four scored subjects including English to qualify for an ATAR.
If available, we will also use up to two more subjects as increments.
If there are seven or more subjects completed, we will use the highest allowable six.
The sum of all of these contributions is called the “aggregate” (total).
Increments (only if available)

29. + Example Highest score from English group and
“Primary 4”
Highest score from English group
and
Three other highest scoring studies +
10% increment of the 5th and 6th subjects
2015
2014
In this example you can see the grades for each study.
The study score allocated by the VCAA.
VTAC has then taken those study scores and scaled them to ensure that a 35 in English Language is equivalent to a 35 in Visual Communication and Design.
Some of these have been scaled up and others have been scaled down.
Based on the principles of using: English, the next best three and 10% of a fifth and/or sixth study we have an aggregate.
This aggregate is converted into an ATAR.

30. Calculating the ATAR
The ATAR is a percentile rank based on the aggregate.
So an ATAR of means you have performed better than 50% of the Year 12 age group.

31. Apply
Create a VTAC Account
Register for Courses

32. Create a VTAC account
All VTAC applications are completed online using the same VTAC ID and PIN
Creating an account is a simple question-based process
If you’re a current Year 12 student, make sure you enter your student number so that we can access your results later in the year
If you have a student who is currently enrolled, they are current!
If they get this question wrong, we do check.
If a student gets this question wrong the following automatically happens:
They will be charged the full processing fee – not the current year 12 processing fee.
VTAC will not look for the VCE results when they are released in December and their results and ATAR won’t be matched to their course application.
What to do if they get it wrong: Tell the student to telephone (03) immediately. If the processing fee hasn’t been paid, then it can probably be fixed. If the processing fee has been paid, there is no reimbursement but we can fix the application.

33. Tips for your VTAC account
Only create one VTAC account
For current Year 12 applicants, use a personal, not school address
Choose a secure PIN and security questions
Choose an authorised nominee if needed
VTAC cannot discuss your application with anyone except you (not even your parents) unless you have specified an authorised nominee when registering.
One registration only
To correct errors, change the details online or call VTAC. Do not create another registration.
For current Year 12 applicants, use a personal, not school address
Some school addresses are deactivated by the time offer s are sent
Four digit PIN
Lost PINs can be retrieved from the log in form.
Nominate a proxy if needed
VTAC cannot discuss your application with anyone except you (not even your parents) unless you have specified an authorised nominee when registering.

34. VTAC account
Highlight location of message inbox – a copy also sent to

35. Applying for courses List up to eight courses/institutions
Preference order – always list courses in the order you want to get into them
To add course preferences: Select institution and/or course or type in the course code.
To move a course on the preference list use the up/down buttons.
To delete a course use the x button.
Explain why preference order matters – you won’t find out about lower preference courses
Be careful with X button – if a course has an early closing date and it is removed after that closing date, it can’t be re-added

36. After submitting course application
Application receipt sent by and in user account
Submit payment by the closing date
Unpaid applications are not submitted to institutions
Complete any applicable selection requirements
E.g. personal statement, providing any documents requested by VTAC
Apply for SEAS and Scholarships
Change preferences and update personal information

37. Personal statement
A statement for course selection officers to consider, completed online through the VTAC user account
Writing prompts include your motivation for study, academic performance, and previous relevant work experience
If not specified as a requirement by the course, selection officers are not obliged to consider the information provided
Usually not required for current Year 12 applicants; check course entries
Advise students not to waste their time by completing this form unless it’s required or relevant. Many courses include this as an admission criterion but ask applicants to complete it only if they have ‘relevant’ work experience.
The same statement is provided to all courses on your preferences list (except the course-specific statement)
Four general questions plus one course-specific statement for each preference.
The VTAC Personal statement may be used as either an essential requirement or admission criterion.

38. Change of Preference
After applying, you can change your course preferences free-of-charge as many times as you like while Change of Preference is open
Check the deadlines carefully prior to the start of each round
The main deadline for Round 1 is 12pm, Wednesday 19 December 2018
Get your preferences in the order you want by this date to maximise your chance of getting the offer you want
No limits or extra fees for change of preference.
COP is closed for two weeks in November during selection for early offers (which are not available to current Year 12 students).

39. Applying Interstate
A similar process applies if you are planning on studying interstate. You will need to create an account and apply for courses if you are considering studying in another state. If that is you, see me for further details.

40. More information Need help? Call VTAC on (03) 9926 1020
us through your VTAC account
Send VTAC a Facebook message
More information
Step-by-step info on the VTAC website
Articles in the VTAC Year 11 & Year 12 Guide (printed copies at school or free PDF online)
Fact sheets on the VTAC website
Short videos on our YouTube channel

41. Your turn – VTAC Guide and create a VTAC Account
Create an Account Demo
Go to Vtac.edu.au
Click on ‘Create an Account’
Use a personal not the school
Once you have created an Account you can register for courses.
Course Application Demo
Go to your VTAC account
Click on Apply for courses
DON’T FORGET TO PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF TIMELY APPLICATIONS

42. Accessing Results and Offers

43. How do I get my ATAR and VCE Results?
Free online access at resultsandatar.vic.edu.au
Online
Free download of joint VCAA/VTAC results app
ATAR also available in the VTAC app
Results app
Paid VTAC applicants will receive a printed ATAR statement
Mail
Registration required
VCAA student number
Password
Registration for the results service is separate from the VTAC account and will be available later in the year.

44. Offer round timeline |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 August – applications open
Nov – change of preference closed for non-Y12 offers
Dec 19 – preference deadline for Rd 1
4 Jan – change of preference window
16 Jan – Round 1 offers released
17 Jan – change of preference opens
25 Jan – change of preference closes
Feb 4 – Round 2 offers released
Feb 5 – change of preference opens
Feb 5 – change of preference closes
11 Feb – Round 3 offers released
12 Feb – change of preference opens
13 Feb – change of preference closes
18 Feb – Round 4 offers released
19 Feb – change of preference opens
20 Feb – change of preference closes
25 Feb – Round 5 offers released
SUPPLEMENTARY OFFERS
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

45. Even though there are five offer rounds, your best chance of getting an offer is in Round 1
This graph is based on the real offer numbers from last year. The vast majority of offers are made in the first round.
This is why the 19 December COP deadline is so important.

46. 2pm Next day Offer advice From: VTAC
Enrolment instructions From: Institution
2pm
Accept
Defer
Reject
Applicants will receive TWO s: one from VTAC advising of the course being offered, and a follow up directly from the institution with instructions on how to accept and enrol.
Advise students to check enrolment deadlines carefully. These are set by institutions so are not all the same.
To accept (and defer) an offer, contact the institution making the offer, not VTAC.
To reject an offer, just do nothing and it will lapse after the enrolment deadline.
Next day

47. Unless you’re sure you don’t want it even as a back-up option…
Reject
We strongly advise students to always accept an offer, unless they don’t want it even as a back-up option.
The offer process will continue regardless of whether you have accepted or rejected your offer.

48. You will be automatically considered for any higher preferences
Higher preference courses. Automatically considered in future rounds.
Offered course – can’t be removed but can be moved
Lower preferences. Not considered unless moved above offered course.
If they are happy with their preferences, they can just leave them alone and they will be automatically considered for any higher preferences.
And you also have the option to change your preferences

49. Supplementary offers
If you gave permission for supplementary offers and did not yet receive an offer in Round 1 or Round 2
Institutions will contact you directly to suggest courses which still have vacancies
You can accept or reject any supplementary offers you receive
Some institutions may make supplementary offers after Round 2 if they have places available.
Applicants may receive supplementary offers if they have:
not received an offer in any of the previous offer rounds (Early, Round 1, Round 2); and
not been granted an offer for a negotiated offer; and
have given VTAC permission to release their application to all courses with vacancies.
Applicants give this permission at the time of applying, or later in their VTAC account.
Supplementary offers will be processed weekly throughout February.
If an applicant receives two or more offers at the same time, they will need to choose which offer to accept – applicants cannot accept more than one offer.

50. Casper and Other Requirements for Education Courses

51. Selection framework for initial teacher education
CASPer / Interview / Teacher Selector Statement
Minimum selection rank (70.00)

52. CASPer
Online test required for most undergraduate teaching courses in Victoria
Taken online at specific dates and times
Listed under essential requirements if used by a course
Contact if planning group sittings at your school
New resources from Altus Assessments:
FAQ for applicants
Step-by-step screenshots for registration process
August webinar for CPs (details TBA)

53. Other Resources Fact Sheets ATAR Profiles

54. Fact sheets

55. FACT SHEETS The Application Process How to Use CourseSearch
The ATAR profile explained
Am I elgibile for a scholarship?
CASPer
Preparing for interviews, auditions and folios
Change of Preference FAQ’s
Download from DCC website/Important Info/Year 12

56. ATAR Profile Report for VTAC Round 1 Offers
ATAR PROFILES
ATAR Profile Report for VTAC Round 1 Offers
Selection Rank and ATAR data for all courses
Download from DCC Website/Important Info/Year 12

57. SEAS and Scholarships

58. SEAS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

59. Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)
SEAS is the special consideration program used by most institutions
Filling out a single SEAS application will cover all of your eligible preferences
Primarily for students who have suffered long-term disadvantage
Except: Category 1 (Personal Information and Location) – everyone should apply
SEAS allows selection officers at institutions to grant special consideration for course entry to applicants.
A single application for all eligible preferences

60. What can SEAS do?
ATAR
Offered a place?
Mel
95.00 ATAR
Yes
Geri
90.00 ATAR
+ subject adjustment
= rank AJ
75.00 ATAR
+ SEAS
= rank
Victoria
85.00 ATAR
Emma
80.00 ATAR No
Howie
70.00 ATAR
SEAS does not exempt you from completing essential requirements and compulsory admission criteria.
You must study course prerequisites, attend all interviews, sit any required tests, and submit all required folios and forms.
SEAS is not a guaranteed entry scheme or reserved quota, but may allow you to gain entry to a course with a lower ATAR than otherwise
Show how in the example from earlier, special consideration through SEAS allowed AJ to get an offer ahead of Emma, even though AJ’s ATAR was lower.

61. Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)
One application form covering special consideration for 27 institutions
Does increase the selection rank of eligible applicants to compensate for disadvantage
Consideration is applied in accordance with each institution’s policy, so may be different between courses.
Institutions may refer to SEAS by other names, e.g. Access Melbourne, Access Monash
SEAS is not a separate quota or pool of places. Selection is still competitive.
SEAS does not exempt applicants from essential requirements and admission criteria, e.g. prerequisites
The outcome of a SEAS application is confidential and not disclosed to the applicant.

62. All applicants (Y12 and NY12) can apply for SEAS
Applying for SEAS
SEAS application becomes available after a course application is submitted
All applicants (Y12 and NY12) can apply for SEAS
All of the categories will be on one page
Apply for as many categories as are applicable, but do not claim the same circumstances under multiple categories

63. Personal information and location 2 Disadvantaged financial background
SEAS Categories 1
Personal information and location 2
Disadvantaged financial background 3
Disability or medical condition 4
Difficult circumstances

64. Category 1 – Personal Information and Location
Category 1 includes:
Age
Gender
Living or school location
Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
Under-represented schools
Non-English speaking background
First in family to attend university
Consideration for circumstances based on information applicants have already provided (no documentation needed).
Applying for Category 1 is as simple as giving permission and answering a simple question.
All applicants should apply for this category.

65. Category 2 – Disadvantaged financial background
Education impacted by disadvantaged financial background, for example:
Individual or family poverty
Excessive financial obligations
Economic hardship
Not limited to applicants in receipt of Centrelink benefits.
Applicants who are not in receipt of Centrelink benefits must submit an impact statement and a statement of support

66. Category 3 – Disability or medical condition
Educational disadvantage as a result of a disability or medical condition experienced by the applicant.
Must provide an impact statement and a statement of support from a health practitioner that details the condition, its duration and impact.
Important to start making appointments early to ensure statements of support are ready before the closing date.
Impact statement
Statement of support

67. Category 4 – Difficult Circumstances
Education affected by family or life events
Examples include:
Disruption to living situation
Illness of a friend of family member
Affected by death of relative/friend
Natural disaster
Bullying
Issues associated with refugee circumstances
Issues associated with gender identity
Impact statement
Statement of support

68. Impact statement – written by applicant
SEAS documentation
Where needed:
Financial evidence – receipt of Centrelink benefit or Family Tax Benefit
Impact statement – written by applicant
Statement of support – written by relevant responsible person
Impact statements without an accompanying statement of support will not be considered.
For more information about SEAS documentation, visit
More information and examples online

69. What to include in supporting statements
Focus on the educational impact
Both impact and supporting statements are in two sections:
Description of circumstances (500 characters)
Educational impact (1500 characters) – how has it affected your ability to study, your concentration and attention, your ability to attend school, complete assessments and SAC’s etc
Download our one-page fact sheet which can be provided to e.g. doctors for some background information about SEAS and what to include.
You can download this statement from the DCC careers website -Important Information/Year 12

70. Uploading SEAS and scholarship Documents

71. New: combined upload option
As long as both applications have been submitted, a student can now add a document to both SEAS and Scholarships with a single upload
Single upload
SEAS supporting documents
Scholarships supporting documents

72. NEW: Advisory date for documentation verification
For SEAS applications and documentation submitted prior to 27 September 2018:
Any uploaded documents will be verified by VTAC staff and “approved” or “rejected” in advance of the SEAS closing date
Any CRNs provided to VTAC which do not return benefit information will be identified, and applicants notified
Documents can still be submitted until the 12 October closing date, but these may not be reviewed by VTAC staff until after the closing date (i.e. there is no opportunity to resubmit if a document is illegible etc.)

73. NEW: Combined deadline for SEAS and Scholarships
There is now a single closing date for SEAS and Scholarships:
5pm, Friday 12 October 2018
Deadlines apply to both the application and all necessary supporting documentation

74. VTAC Scholarships
One VTAC Scholarship application, completed online, covers many different scholarships
Students are automatically matched to eligible scholarships based on the information they have entered and the courses they have applied for
Key messages for students:
Scholarships are not just for academic high achievers
One VTAC scholarships application, many available scholarships

75. Direct Application Scholarships
Download the scholarship brochure or access the scholarship link from the institutions webpage to see what scholarships are available
Many different scholarships and bursaries – make sure you check out what is available and apply.

76. Scholarships Resource
A comprehensive list of Merit Scholarships for Universities and tertiary institutions in Victoria and across Australia is outlined in the Scholarship Resource on the DCC careers website – Important Information/Year 12 tab

77. More information Need help? Call VTAC on (03) 9926 1020
us through your VTAC account
Send VTAC a Facebook message
More information
Step-by-step info on the VTAC website
Articles in the VTAC Year 11 & Year 12 Guide (printed copies at school or free PDF online)
Fact sheets on the VTAC website
Short videos on our YouTube channel