Get ahead with Deakin Accelerate
Want to get the same benefits as studying a fifth or sixth VCE subject, gain university credit and reduce the cost of your future degree at Deakin? Our distinctive VCE extension program, Deakin Accelerate, gives you a unique glimpse into life Deakin while boosting your ATAR by completing an extra subject in Year 12. You'll experience uni life, new learning styles, subject variety and a dynamic environment created especially for this program.
Boost your ATAR
VCE extension studies can contribute to your ATAR as a fifth or sixth subject. After successfully completing the program, you'll gain between three and five increment points to your ATAR aggregate, depending on your results.
Earn uni credit for free
You'll gain credit on successful completion of your Accelerate units, which you can put towards a related Deakin course. Plus, there are no tuition fees – we pay them for you.
Transition into uni
Become familiar with uni life, expectations and learning styles so you can make the perfect transition into uni after Year 12. Join our community and enjoy access to our study and student support services.
How Deakin Accelerate works
You’ll study two first-year university units through the program, one in Trimester 1 (March–June) and the other in Trimester 2 (July–October). If you choose to study and experience uni life on campus, you'll attend classes and seminars during the day. There are various times to choose from, meaning you can pick one that fits in best with your VCE timetable. Or if studying online is more accessible for you, complete the program online in your free time at school or after hours when it suits you.
Choose how and when you want to study
You can study alongside first-year university students at one of Deakin’s vibrant four campuses in Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waterfront, Geelong Waurn Ponds or Warrnambool. If you're a rural student or just prefer learning online, you can take advantage of our flexible premium online learning platform and fit your learning around your VCE timetable and lifestyle.
No matter how you choose to study, you'll benefit from our online learning platform, which allows you to access classes, seminars, resources and more. Whether you're using your desktop, tablet or mobile, you'll have access to course content 24/7 and get answers in real time. When, where and how you study is up to you.
Discover what you can study
Browse our wide range of study areas to find the perfect subject for you. Learn about the first-year units you can study in the program, plus campus information, co- and pre-requisites and more.
Your guide to the application process
Who should apply?
Apply to the Deakin Accelerate program if you’re:
- a high achiever with above-average Year 11 results
- looking for an extra challenge in VCE
- a self-starter who can work independently
- keen to make a head start on your university degree.
What do I need to apply?
To be eligible for the program you must:
- be completing Year 12 in 2024
- meet the prerequisite or co-requisite VCE subject requirement
- achieve an average of at least 65% across your Year 11 subjects.
Deakin Accelerate
Hear what past Deakin Accelerate students have to say about the program.
How do I apply?
Research
Which subjects are you interested in and what do they involve?
What are the units about and will you enjoy them?
Are there any co-requisite or prerequisite subjects you need to complete?
Will you complete the units on campus, online or a mix of both?
- Applications for the 2024 Deakin Accelerate program have now closed.
Apply
To apply, you'll visit the application portal and download an application pack. Then, you can collate supporting documentation, complete your responses to the supporting statement questions and submit your application.
Applications cannot be accepted via email.
Receive your offer
You'll be notified in early January 2024 about the outcome of your application.
Once you’ve received an offer, you’ll have one week to formally accept it and confirm your place in the program.
Start Deakin Accelerate
Come along to Orientation, which will be held in late February 2024. Trimester 1 begins on 4 March 2024.
Deakin Accelerate provided me with a strong foundation for my first year of university. It boosted my academic and social confidence, making the transition from high school to university life seamless.
Jess Toomey
Past Deakin Accelerate Student - Law | Current Deakin Student - Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Laws
Got a question but can't find the answer?
We've curated some of the most commonly asked questions our future student advisers get from about the Deakin Accelerate program.
Common questions
Skip to next topicWhen can I apply for Deakin Accelerate?
Applications for the 2024 Deakin Accelerate program are now open and close at 11.59pm on 1 December 2023.
For more information on future student services and courses:
How do I apply for the program?
Applications are now open. You'll apply via the application portal, where you will download an application pack. Then, you can begin collating supporting documentation and complete your responses to the supporting statement questions. Applications cannot be accepted via email.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Will late applications be considered?
Unfortunately, we can't consider your application if it's submitted after the closing date. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2023 at 11.59pm. This is to make the process fair for all students and ensure enough time for our teams to assess all the applications after the closing date.
For more information on future student services and courses:
How does Deakin assess applications and make selections?
Deakin is committed to providing opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. Successful applicants will be selected on the basis of academic performance, responses to the student questions and school recommendation.
For more information on future student services and courses:
What supporting documentation should I provide with my application?
Supporting documentation can help strengthen your application by demonstrating your academic and personal achievements. The documentation should be relevant and specific, and can include a certificate of achievement, a school certificate or a letter of reference from your teacher or employer.
For more information on future student services and courses:
When will I find out if my application was successful?
After the closing date, we'll review all applications and determine who to make offers to. Offers will be made via email (to the email address you supply in your application) by mid-January 2024. You'll then have one week to formally accept your offer and enrol in the program.
For more information on future student services and courses:
What happens if I decide to withdraw from the program?
If you decide for any reason you can’t continue with your Deakin studies, you can withdraw at any stage via the withdrawal request form on Student Connect. Once you have withdrawn, you won't be eligible for an increment addition to your ATAR. If you have successfully completed one unit, you will still receive a University credit point for this unit. You will not receive any penalty or have a record of this on your academic transcript.
For more information on future student services and courses:
How does the program contribute to my ATAR?
If you successfully complete both units, meet any co/pre-requisites, and the restricted study combinations outlined by the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority, the program can contribute to your ATAR as a fifth or sixth subject in the calculation of your ATAR. Download the Deakin Accelerate guide to learn more.
For more information on future student services and courses:
How do I know which Deakin courses I’ll be able to put my units towards once I finish the program?
You'll find a list of some of the courses you can put your credits towards on the study area pages of the 2024 Deakin Accelerate brochure. Even if your Deakin course is unrelated to your Accelerate units, in many cases you can put the credit you’ve earned towards electives – which can lighten your study load or even fast-track your degree. If you don’t find your dream course in the brochure, please get in touch with us to confirm your options.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Does completing the program provide me with guaranteed entry to Deakin?
At the completion of the program, you will still need to have achieved the required ATAR to gain entry to your preferred course at Deakin. Remember that Accelerate can help by contributing as a fifth or sixth subject in the calculation of your ATAR.
For more information on future student services and courses:
My school hasn't heard of the program and want to know how it works?
Schools that are new to the program may have questions about how students are able to study at university in Year 12. We encourage your school to reach out and talk to us directly to have all their questions and concerns answered.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Where will I go for support with an assessment?
A great place to start is the unit discussion boards, where you will be able to see questions from other students and get answers from academics, usually within one business day. Or, you can contact your Unit Chair for any information relating to units or assessments.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Will there be sessions to help me get started with my university studies?
We run a Deakin Accelerate Orientation to help you get ready to commence your studies. In the sessions, you'll get to meet academics and receive a great introduction to our online learning platform from a past Accelerate student.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Will my school need to enter the Accelerate subjects into VASS?
Deakin’s Enrolments and Faculty Specialist Support team are responsible for entering students’ subject details into VASS. The system opens later in the year for HES programs to enter these subjects and is due to be completed by April 2024. Schools will receive an email when this has been completed for their participating students.
For more information on future student services and courses:
Find out more
For more information about the Deakin Accelerate program, you can read our FAQs or get in touch using our online enquiry form.