Preferences, made simple

VTAC preferences are the tertiary course options chosen by Year 12 students hoping to go to university. Students can select up to eight courses ranked in order of preference, from most preferred course at #1 and so on.

Students should research their courses carefully and ensure that they meet the course requirements for each of their preferences.

It is suggested that students use their higher preferences for the actual courses they’d like to study, and that the lower preferences are pathway options to get to their more preferred course. Find out more about different ways to getting to your dream course with our Pathways Tool.

The deadline for timely applications is 5pm on Monday 28 September 2026. Key VTAC dates, including deadlines for late applications, can be found here.

Course eligibility requirements are available on the course page for each degree.

Students should research courses carefully and ensure that they meet the course requirements for each of their preferences. These include VCE subject prerequisites, often with minimum raw study scores, and minimum ATAR requirements. Some courses will also require the completion of additional tasks, such as tests, interviews or folios.

If you haven’t completed the subject prerequisites for a certain course or achieved the required ATAR, don’t panic. There may be alternative pathways to fulfil these requirements, such as undergraduate pathways or single subject enrolments.

A pathway is just an alternate route to the qualification you want.

They are a great option for students who aren’t certain about what they want to study. They are also a perfect option for students that haven’t met the subject prerequisites, ATAR requirements or other eligibility criteria for their desired courses.

These pathways are usually in the form of Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas, usually with lower or no ATAR requirements and less prerequisites. They are like a stepping stone from secondary school to university, often providing students with the qualification or opportunity to transfer into their dream course after completing the pathway course.You can find out more about pathways using our Pathways Tool.

VTAC offers equity schemes and scholarships to students to make their university experience easier.

Scholarships provide financial assistance to students. Equity schemes make students’ applications more competitive to support students with an educational disadvantage, but do not change students’ results and do not guarantee them an offer. Students still need to meet the course’s prerequisites and eligibility requirements.

To determine whether you are eligible for an equity scheme or scholarship, you must first complete your preferences and course applications through VTAC. If you are eligible, you will be provided the option to apply to an equity scheme or scholarship through your VTAC account.

VTAC’s simple application process allows eligible students to apply using one form covering four categories of equity schemes and scholarships, including personal information and location, financial hardship, living with a disability or medical condition, and difficult family or life circumstances.