VTAC is the centralised admissions centre for most undergraduate university and TAFE or equivalent courses in Victoria. For more information, please visit the VTAC web site.

How many times can I change my preference?

You can change your preference list as many times as you like within the Change of Preference period.

ATAR

What is an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)?

An ATAR is the overall percentile ranking for students in their final year of secondary school in Australia that reflects the individual's performance comparative to other students in the same year.

How is the ATAR calculated?

VTAC uses VCE results issued by VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) to calculate the ATAR.

Subject to the restrictions outlined in ATAR into Tertiary Studies and VICTER 2012, the ATAR is developed from an aggregate produced by adding:

   1. ATAR subject score in English, English Language, Literature or ESL
   2. The next best three ATAR subject scores permissible; and
   3. 10% of the fifth and sixth permissible ATAR subject scores that
       are available.

What is a Clearly-In ATAR?

A Clearly-In ATAR is the ATAR most school-leaver applicants need to achieve to be offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a particular course.

What is middle-band?

Nearly all courses make some use of the ATAR. For some courses (about half) it is used to select a large percentage of students. In these courses, selection for up to about 80 per cent of places for students completing the VCE is determined by the ATAR alone.

For the remainder of places in these courses, additional information is considered. Students considered for these places are said to be in the middle-band. These students do not have ATARs high enough to guarantee automatic selection, but have ATARs above that which leads to automatic rejection. They are in the middle-band and they are evaluated in accord with the middle-band criteria.

What is a study score?

A score of 0-50 that shows how a VCE student performed in a particular subject compared to other students in the same year throughout the state. It is calculated from the student's results in assessments and examinations in that study. These scores are used in the calculation of your ATAR.

VTAC important dates and offers

Can I still apply through VTAC for 2012?

You can still apply through VTAC for a Deakin course until 9 December 2011. And, if you change you mind after you have applied, you can change your preferences before 21 December 2011.

When does the change of preference period end?

This year, the Change of Preference period closes:

• Monday 21 December at 5.00 pm for all domestic undergraduate applicants and
• Friday 6 January at 5 pm for all CY12 WA, TAS, International Baccalaureate and NZ NCEA Year 12 students.

When will first round offers be made?

First round offers for a tertiary place will be made on 16 January, 2012 at 5.00 pm. If you have been offered a place with us, you will receive an offer pack shortly after this that will contain your enrolment details.

What is an irregular offer?

If, after first round offers were released on 16 January 2012, you didn't get into the course you wanted, you may be able to receive an irregular offer.

You can apply for an irregular offer if you:

have received an offer but want to be considered for a course listed lower on your preferences than the offer you have already received
have received an offer but want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences
have not received an offer and want to apply for a course not listed on your preferences.

Then you must complete the irregular offer request via the 'irregular offer' link on MyInfo.

Please note that only certain courses cater for irregular offers in particular years so it is important that you contact Deakin as soon as possible after first round offers have been made to check availability. To find out if the course you are interested in allows irregular offers and how to apply, please call 1300 DEGREE (1300 334 733).

What are supplementary offers?

VTAC runs a supplementary offer process after round two offers have been completed. The supplementary offer process is available to applicants who:

have not received an offer in either round one or round two
have not been granted an irregular offer
have given VTAC permission to release their application to all courses with vacancies after the second round of offers has been completed.

You will need to give permission to release your application for the supplementary offers at the time of applying, as part of your VTAC application.

After Course Selection Officers at Deakin have considered your application, they will advise VTAC whether you will be offered a place in the course. Supplementary offers will be processed weekly. VTAC will advise you of any supplementary offers via MyInfo and by post. To accept an offer, you must follow the instructions in your offer message.

What is deferment?

If your application to study at Deakin is successful but it's not the right time for you to commence your studies, Deakin may allow you to postpone (defer) your studies for up to 24 months for most courses.

Entry requirements

What is a prerequisite?

A prerequisite is a subject which must be successfully completed to be considered for selection into a course.

What is a VTAC Personal Information (PI) form?

The VTAC PI form is a way for applicants to provide to selection officers any information relevant to their application that was not collected as part of the VTAC online application.

What is the Deakin University Law School Admission Test (DULSAT)?

The DULSAT is compulsory for most non-school leavers applying for entry into any of Deakin University's undergraduate law degree programs.

What is the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)?

The STAT is a test for non-school leavers is designed to assess a range of competencies commonly considered important for success in tertiary study.

What is graduate entry?

A graduate entry course requires prior completion of an undergraduate degree for entry.

Courses

What is a Bachelor degree?

An undergraduate award is usually the first university degree undertaken.

What is a combined course?

A combined course is an approved combination of courses in complementary areas, undertaken simultaneously, which leads to the conferral of two awards.

Fees and scholarships

What is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)?

A CSP is a university place for which the government makes a contribution towards the cost of a student's education.

What is HECS-HELP?

HECS-HELP stands for 'Higher Education Contribution Scheme-Higher Education Loan Program'. It is a loan scheme that helps eligible CSP students pay for tuition costs.

What types of scholarships are available?

Deakin offers a range of generous scholarships to assist in making higher education accessible for everyone. Find out more about the types of scholarships available.

What kind of student am I?

Who is a mature-age student?

Mature-age students are those who are moving into tertiary study and are 21 years or over on 1 January of the year of intake.

Who is a non-school leaver?

Non-school leavers are students who are moving into tertiary study from a background other than Year 12.

What is undergraduate?

An undergraduate student is one who is undertaking their first course at university.

More FAQs on Facebook

Deakin students answer your Frequently Asked Questions in video's on Facebook

Deakin Handy Hint

To get an indication of what ATAR you will need, use the 2011 Clearly-in ATAR for individual courses as a guide.

Just remember that it is only an indication – ATARs are driven by demand each year and could go up or down in 2012.

Don't Forget!

Find out all you need to know during Change of Preference including how to get into Deakin, where to visit us during December and what all that university jargon means?

Download the Change of Preference booklet (3 MB)

Frequently asked questions

VTAC

What is Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)?