Future Students

Non-Year 12 Applicants
(including Mature-Age)

Planning a return to study can be both exciting and challenging. You will need to consider the application process, course requirements, financial costs, and find out about the support services available to you.

The links below may help you to understand La Trobe University's application process. The links on either side of this page will provide you with further information about university study.

2008 Mid-Year Entry
If you are thinking about commencing university studies in 2008, it is not to late! Visit our Mid-Year Entry page for information on the courses available for Mid-Year Entry in 2008.

Who is a Non-Year 12 Applicant?

Unless you are currently studying Year 12 you are considered a Non-Year 12 or Non-School Leaver applicant, regardless of your age. When you apply the University will asses your educational background as well as your capacity for academic success. The minimum Normal Entry requirement to La Trobe University is completion of Year 12 (or equivalent studies). Applicants without this requirement can apply for Mature-Age Entry within the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).

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Categories of application to La Trobe University

There are two categories of application to La Trobe University with specific eligibility criteria:

Normal Entry

Normal entry applicants are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Permanent Australian Residents and:

• have previously satisfied VCE or its equivalent; or
• are current or previous Australian tertiary students (this includes TAFE study which must be judged post-Year 12); or
• are current or previous tertiary students with overseas qualifications deemed to be equivalent to minimum entrance requirements.

Any qualifications recognised by VTAC as equivalent to the VCE or awarded a statementof equivalency from the Victorian Board of Studies meet normal entry requirements.

Mature-Age Entry

Mature-Age Entry is Category 1 of our SEAS. The scheme enables you to have your current academic potential assessed, primarily through VTAC's Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Click here For further information and registration details for the STAT test. Category 1 applies to Non-Year 12 applicants only (i.e. you are not completing a Year 12 program that will meet minimum university entrance requirements by the end of the year.)

SEAS applications open Monday 4 August 2008 and close at 5.00pm on Friday 10 October 2008. To apply under the Mature-Age Entry category you must:

• be aged 21 years or more on 1 January 2009;
• not have completed a semester of tertiary level studies (including post-Year 12 TAFE qualifications) in the last two years; and
• have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent Australian residency status.

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Mature-Age Entry applicants usually fall into two groups:

1. Applicants who did not complete Year 12 and have no equivalent studies, thus they do not meet La Trobe University's minimum entrance requirements; or
2. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements but who wish to have their academic potential reassessed because their studies were completed many years ago; who are dissatisfied with their academic performance in previous studies; or whose previous studies do not include the appropriate prequisite subjects. These applicants choose to apply via Mature-Age Entry because it may increase their competitiveness during selection.

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How do I apply?

Applications for Non-School Leavers, including Mature-Age Entry applicants, are made via the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). The only exception will be applicants living in NSW who wish to apply for courses at the Albury-Wodonga campus through the NSW University Admissions Centre (UAC). The right side of this page provides a link to UAC.

All VTAC applications are completed online at the VTAC website. The website lists all application information for individual courses offered by La Trobe University in 2009. Applications for 2009 entry open on 4 August 2008. Timely applications close on 30 September 2008. Late applications are taken until 12 December, however, conditions apply and late fees will be incurred.

You can purchase a hard copy of the 2009 VTAC Guide from newsagents (available July 2008). The Guide contains information about all participating institutions, their requirements and application procedures.

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Additional Requirements for Mature-Age Entry applicants

The La Trobe University Mature-Age application process will require you to:

• Complete a VTAC online application.
• Register to sit for the multiple choice or written STAT test, depending on your course choices.
• Apply online under SEAS; you can access the SEAS Online Applications via MyInfo on the VTAC website after you have successfully submitted your VTAC application.
• Check the individual course entries in the 2009 VTAC Guide and complete any requirements for Non-Year 12 applicants.
• Check to see if your chosen courses require you to fill out an additional form, write an autobiographical essay or sit a maths test as part of the Mature-Age Entry process. Please refer our SEAS - Category 1 Mature Age Entry information, to the individual course entry in the VTAC guide, or contact the relevant Faculty for further information regarding these requirements.
• SEAS Mature-Age Entry applications close on Friday 10 October 2008.

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Selection for Non-School Leaver and Mature-Age applicants

Meeting minimum university entrance requirements or applying through Mature-Age Entry does not automatically guarantee you a place in the course of your choice.

Generally there are more applicants for courses than there are places available. It is worth looking at the ENTERs (the system of ranking Yr 12 VCE performance in Victoria) required of Year 12 students for entry into specific courses over the last few years to get an idea of competition for places.

Non-School Leaver applicants have a wide range of different experiences and backgrounds and it is often quite difficult to assess the likelihood of gaining a place in your chosen course. It is best to speak with specific course information officers about your chances of a successful application. You can find contact details for these staff on our website under Faculty course information, or in our 2008 Undergraduate Course Guide under individual course entries.

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What can I do to enhance my application or prepare for tertiary study?

Bridging Courses

La Trobe University offers bridging courses in Mathematics and Chemistry. They are designed as preparatory programs for entry into courses at La Trobe University. Current VCE students must satisfy the normal tertiary entrance requirements for courses and may not substitute bridging course programs for prerequisite studies.

The Albury-Wodonga campus offers a part-time University Bridging Program in the second semester of each year, aimed specifically at mature-age students returning to study.

STAT Preparation Programs and Workshops

Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus
STAT preparation programs offered by Vocational Entrance Programs (VEP) are run at La Trobe's Melbourne (Bundoora) campus.The programs begin in early September as preparation for the October STAT test. Enquiries to VEP on (03) 9441 0015 or email veped@vep.com.au

Albury-Wodonga Campus
Multiple Choice STAT
Date: Tuesday 9th October
Time: 7:00pm - 9:30
Registration and enquiries to (02) 6024 9820

Session 1 - Written English STAT
Date: Tuesday, 2rd October 2007 (to be confirmed)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Venue: Garden Room, Phoenix Centre, Osborne Street Campus, Bendigo.

Session 2 - Multiple Choice STAT
Date: Thursday, 4th October 2007 (to be confirmed)
Time: 7:00pm - 10.30pm
Venue: Garden Room, Phoenix Centre, Osborne Street Campus, Bendigo.

Session 3 - Written English STAT
Date: Saturday, 6th October 2007 (to be confirmed)
Time: 10:00am - 12:00noon
Venue: Garden Room, Phoenix Centre, Osborne Street Campus, Bendigo.

Session 4 - Multiple Choice STAT
Date: Saturday, 6th October 2007 (to be confirmed)
Time: 1:30pm - 5:00pm
Venue: Garden Room, Phoenix Centre, Osborne Street Campus, Bendigo.

For further information:
Bendigo Office for Prospective Students
Tel: 03 5444 7444 or 1300 138 058
Email: bendigostudy@latrobe.edu.au

Mildura Campus
STAT Workshops

Multiple Choice STAT
Date: Saturday 6th October 2007
Time: 9.00am -12.30pm
Venue: Seminar Room 3, Mildura Campus, Benetook Ave Mildura

Written English STAT
Date: Saturday 6th October 2007
Time: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue: Seminar Room 3, Mildura Campus, Benetook Ave Mildura

Registration and enquiries to (03) 5051 4000

Single Subject (or Miscellaneous) Enrolment

La Trobe University offers single subject enrolment on a full-fee basis. People undertake single subjects for various reasons, including professional development, general interest, and to test apptitude and motivation for university studies. Completion of the subject does not guarantee admission into an undergraduate program; however, if you do make a successful application it may be possible to obtain credit for subject/s completed.

If you wish to enrol in any single subject you will need to meet the relevant prequisites. Call 1300 135 045 for further information.

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Part-time Study

Many of La Trobe University's courses are available part-time. This means you study fewer subjects than in a full-time load. Often you can commence a course part-time and then move to full-time if you wish. Individual course entries in the 2008 VTAC Guide or La Trobe University's 2008 Undergraduate Course Guide provide information about part-time options for specific courses. It is important to note that part-time study is not necessarily offered in the evenings or outside normal business hours, so you should speak with course information officers about classes availability.

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What's on for Mature Age applicants?

In addition to bridging programs and STAT workshops the Melbourne (Bundoora) and Bendigo campuses run information sessions for Mature-Age and Non-Year 12 applicants wishing to return to study. These usually take place between August and September each year.

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Further information

To help you with your educational pathway and course options, we have produced Pathways through La Trobe (PDF 1.42Mb) and a Guide to Undergraduate Courses (PDF 2Mb). To receive a hard copy by post, please contact us.

Sundays in August are Open Days at La Trobe. This is your chance to visit the University, talk to staff about your options, meet current students, take a campus tour and view the facilities. Get a feel for what it would actually be like to be a student here, and most importantly, ask questions!

To find out what is happening at La Trobe University for prospective students, check out our events section.

If you'd like to talk to one of our Course Information Officers, please call 1300 135 045. Alternatively, you can Ask La Trobe.