Undergraduate degree applications

There's a minimum level of English proficiency required to study our courses. If you are completing VCE, you will need to have achieved a study score of at least 25 in English EAL (English as an additional language) or 20 in English other than EAL. Some courses will require higher levels of achievement. Learn more about this by checking individual course pages.

Other applicants can demonstrate English language proficiency in other ways, including:

• Satisfactory completion of previous tertiary study in English (higher education or vocational education)
• Satisfactory completion of an accepted English language test
• Evidence of ongoing residence and employment (in a role requiring proficient English) for a period of 5 years or more within Australia.

For the most up-to-date English language requirements, please read the Schedule A – English Language Criteria for Deakin Coursework Programs PDF on the Deakin University Policy Library.

Offers of admission into Deakin courses are made on the basis of merit, likelihood of success and the number of places made available by the University. You must be able to provide evidence of either:

• completion or partial completion of a formal academic qualification, attained no more than 10 years before to application
• other evidence of learning or capability that may be associated with work or life experience within the last 10 years.

Other evidence of learning and capability may include one or more of the following:

• completion of an aptitude test, audition or interview
• submission of a portfolio of work, references, personal statement or supplementary information form.

Some courses may have specific entry requirements or require more current qualifications. Please check individual course pages for specific additional entry requirements.

Global Science and Technology Program – supplementary form
All applicants to the Global Science and Technology Program must complete an online form providing details of personal motivation to participate in the program.

Complete the Global Science and Technology Program online form.

At Deakin, we make extensive use of technology in our teaching. To study at Deakin you are required to have:

• access to a device such as a desktop computer or laptop
• connectivity to the internet
• capability to use Deakin's online learning environments.

Learn more about Deakin's computing requirements

If you have recently completed or are about to complete an Australian Year 12, your eligibility for entry will be based on:

• your Australian Tertiary Entrance Rank (ATAR)
• completion of any prerequisite studies within your Australian Year 12 qualification
• any additional criteria, such as aptitude tests, portfolios and auditions, specified for particular courses.

If you are an interstate applicant or have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, you will be assessed and selected on the same basis. If you have completed Year 12 study in Queensland, you will be ranked using an ATAR comparable to their Overall Position (OP). IB Diploma students will be ranked using a Notional ATAR provided by VTAC. Find out about Notional ATARs and prerequisite study score conversions by visiting VTAC's webpages.

Applying through VTAC

If you apply through VTAC, you will be ranked on the basis of your ATAR (and additional criteria if specified). Deakin will add bonus points to aggregate scores if you meet the criteria for any ATAR-related adjustments, such as subject bonuses or access and equity provisions under the Deakin bonus schemes.

If you are applying for admission into a bachelors course, you will be eligible to be included in the ranking process if you have achieved a minimum ATAR of 50 (before any ATAR-related adjustments).

Applying directly to the university

If you apply directly to the university, you will be eligible for admission if you have achieved an ATAR at or above the Clearly-In ATAR for the course you have applied for, satisfied the requirements or additional criteria specified (for example, submission of a portfolio), and have met the prerequisites for the course/s you have applied for. Find the Clearly-In ATAR for courses and course prerequisites by checking individual course pages.

Additional consideration will be provided if you meet the criteria for ATAR-related adjustments, such as subject bonuses or access and equity provisions allowed for under the Deakin bonus schemes.

An offer of admission will be made to eligible applicants if places are available.

If you have completed some or all of a vocational education qualification, your eligibility for entry will be determined on the basis of your academic performance. To be considered under this category, you must have successfully completed study at Certificate IV level or higher (Certificate III will be accepted for Associate Degrees only).

You may also be asked to submit additional information, including:

• evidence of additional learning or capability associated with work or life experience (you may be asked to provide a personal statement, supplementary information form, references, resume, and/or portfolio of work)
• aptitude tests.

Some courses do not accept applications within this category (for example, the Bachelor of Laws), and alternative requirements are specified.

Your prior study must have been completed within 10 years of your course application, unless you are able to demonstrate that your relevant knowledge and skills are still current, for example being used in your work or life experience.

Some courses may have specific entry requirements or require more current qualifications. Learn more about these by checking individual course pages.

Applying through VTAC

If you apply through VTAC you will be ranked primarily on results achieved in your most recent course of study. The University will consider additional information relevant to your application in the ranking process. Offers will be made on the basis of ranked order, and the number of places available for the relevant admission period.

Applying directly to the university

If you apply directly to the university an offer of admission will be made if you are eligible and places are available.

Guaranteed Entry Pathways

Studying at one of Deakin’s partners? We have arrangements with a number of pathway providers that give you the opportunity to apply directly to the University. Under these arrangements, you will be guaranteed a place in your target course with credit once you have met the specified entry requirements.

Find out more about TAFE pathways and credit for prior learning

If you have completed some or all of a higher education qualification, your eligibility for entry will be determined on the basis of your academic performance. To be considered under this category, you must have successfully completed at least two units (or equivalent) with an accredited higher education provider. You may also be asked to submit additional information relevant to the course you are applying for, including:

• evidence of additional learning or capability associated with work or life experience – you may be asked to provide a personal statement, supplementary information form, references, resume, and/or portfolio of work
• aptitude tests.

Your prior study must have been completed within 10 years of your course application, unless you are able to demonstrate your relevant knowledge and skills are still current, for example through work or life experience.

Some courses may have specific entry requirements or require more current qualifications. Learn more about these by checking individual course pages.

Applying through VTAC

If you apply through VTAC you will be ranked according to the grade point average achieved in your most recent course of study. The University will consider additional information provided that is relevant to the course in the ranking process. Offers of admission will be made on the basis of ranked order, and the number of places available for the relevant admission period.

Applying directly to the university

If you apply directly to the university an offer of admission will be made if you are eligible and places are available.

If you finished your secondary education more than two years ago, or haven't completed any formal qualifications at either secondary or post-secondary level, we will consider your application based on an assessment of your likelihood of success in your chosen course.

We will make an assessment of your likelihood of success based on evidence of your knowledge or capability associated with your work or life experience - you may be asked to provide a personal statement, references, resume, or a portfolio of work. You may also be asked to submit additional information, including:

• academic performance in prior qualifications (including secondary education), enabling, bridging or foundation courses attempted or completed (if relevant)
• aptitude tests.

Applying through VTAC

If you apply through VTAC you will be ranked based on our assessment of your likelihood of success. Offers of admission will be made on the basis of ranked order, and the number of places available for the relevant admission period.

Applying directly to the university

If you apply directly to the university an offer of admission will be made if you are eligible and places are available.

If circumstances in your life have limited your potential for studying at university, we also have a scheme that increases your chance of receiving a course offer (but doesn’t guarantee it). The university will provide additional consideration to your application if you meet the criteria for Deakin's Access and Equity program.

If you have recently completed secondary education, this may result in an ATAR-related adjustment. If not, the university will consider circumstances that may have impacted on your pathway to university.

If your course application is through VTAC, you can apply for Access and Equity through the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application. If you apply to the university directly, you will need to provide us with detail in the Applicant Portal when you submit your course application.

Learn more about our Access and Equity Program

You might be eligible for one of the many scholarships Deakin has on offer. Our handy scholarship search tool can help you find all the scholarships that you could be eligible for. Remember to read each scholarship's details carefully and apply before the due date.

Find a scholarship

Credit for Prior Learning is the recognition of previous study, work or volunteer experience you might have completed. If approved, it can reduce the number of units you need to study at Deakin, allowing you to complete your course earlier.

Find out more about Credit for Prior Learning

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant, you may also consider applying directly to Deakin for a number of courses offered in conjunction with the Institute of Koorie Education.

Learn more about the Institute of Koorie Education

If you have attempted or completed an overseas qualification, your previous studies will be considered for entry if you have completed study that is comparable to the requirements of your chosen course (in the year that you apply for admission).

Deakin refers to a number of sources in order to benchmark overseas qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), including country assessment guidelines issued by the Department of Education and Training.

If you applied direct to the university you will be emailed an application receipt number. Once your application is assessed you will be notified by email of the outcome.

If applying through VTAC, please refer the VTAC website for key dates and entry requirements.

VTAC important dates

If you’ve applied direct to Deakin, you’ll usually hear from us within 10 working days. Some courses may take longer. You will receive an offer email from Deakin if you’ve been successful.

If you’ve applied through VTAC, you’ll receive an outcome for the offer round in your VTAC Online Account.

VTAC important dates

Year 12 results and ATAR’s will be released at the beginning of December, so make sure you take another look at your VTAC preferences in case you need to change them to take into consideration your ATAR before offers are made.

VTAC important dates

If you weren’t successful in being offered a place whether you’ve applied directly to Deakin or via VTAC, there may still be options open to you. An alternative course may be available, or you may consider a pathway to Deakin. If you are unsure why you’ve been unsuccessful, contact us and we’ll provide feedback.

If you’ve applied through VTAC and haven’t received an offer, you may have an opportunity to review your preference order to be considered for a different course.

If you receive an offer of a place from Deakin, you’ve got a couple of options available. You can:

• accept the offer and enrol, then start your studies the next available trimester
• defer your offer, which means putting off the start of your studies by up to two years (depending on what sort of offer you received).

Your offer email contains all of the information you’ll need to accept, enrol or defer.

Learn more about your offer and enrolment options

Your offer email will state the date by which you must accept or defer your offer.