Centre of VU Transitions

Our courses are designed for domestic and international students who are preparing to enter university for the first time or need to boost their scores to meet entry requirements.

Here at the Centre of VU Transitions, you can follow a range of pathways into university.

VU English

Higher Education diplomas

Our one-year Higher Education (HE) Diploma courses provide guaranteed entry into the second year of a bachelor degree. HE Diplomas are delivered by VU staff on VU’s campuses and designed to prepare you for success in the second and third years of undergraduate study.

The benefits of HE Diplomas include:

  • our award-winning 'Block Model', where you study one subject at once
  • more focused support with smaller class sizes
  • guaranteed entry into the second year of nominated bachelor degrees
  • study at a university, with full access to our resources and facilities
  • reduced overall tuition fees through cheaper fees (than a bachelor) in the first year of study
  • longer semesters with more time to develop your academic skills.

Our student stories

Eriwati Eriwati.
Leading the IT crowd
Diploma of Information Technology, Bachelor of Information Technology
"I chose to do the Diploma first, because it gave me a lot of confidence, and the lecturer was able to give us more individual attention."
Eriwati's story

Foundations courses

Our Foundations courses can help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen course.

Foundations may be a good choice for you if:

  • your study scores were lower than you were expecting
  • you had a challenging final year of high school
  • you are finding your first year at VU challenging and want to revisit the basics
  • you are an international student who needs to meet the equivalent of Australian Year 12 standards.

After successfully completing a Foundations course, you will be ready to begin a degree at VU.

Why do students love International Foundations at VU?
Hear from four VU International Foundations students as they discuss the course, the VU experience, and living in Melbourne.
Read more

English language courses

VU English, our English-language centre, provides nationally accredited English-language courses.

Taught at our City Campus, these courses are designed to help you achieve the required level of English for direct entry into a VU diploma or degree. Our English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) include:

  • General English
  • English for Academic Purposes.

VU ELICOS has nine intakes per year, which means VU can ensure you complete your required English study before you begin your academic studies.

Learn more about VU English and our English language courses

Our student stories

How VU English prepared Pierre for postgraduate studies
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
"The high quality of education and the hospitality of the University’s community set it apart from many universities in the world."
Pierre's story

Courses delivered internationally

We deliver some of our Higher Education Diplomas and English programs overseas. This means you could begin your VU studies before you even arrive in Australia.

Our current partner universities are:

Campuses, facilities & support

Our courses are taught at our:

  • City Campus in the heart of Melbourne's CBD
  • Footscray Nicholson campus
  • Footscray Park campus.

If you are an international student, there is plenty of support available to help you transition to life in Australia. Living and studying in another country can be challenging, and you can always reach out to international student support services if you have questions or concerns.

Visit international student support for more information

All Centre of VU Transitions students have full access to the University’s facilities. These include the learning commons and library, sports and recreation facilities, and teaching and study spaces. You will also have the opportunity to join the University’s various clubs and societies.

Our people

Our staff are committed to helping you find the right pathway to university.

To discuss any of our courses, programs or partnerships, contact one of our college staff listed below. To make a general international enquiry, get in touch with one of our international contacts.

College leadership

To discuss the academic and delivery models of Centre of VU Transitions courses offered, including those offered with our international delivery partners, contact:

Wayne Butson
Dean, Centre of VU Transitions
+61 3 9919 8756
[email protected]

VU English

To discuss opportunities including establishing a new partnership or developing a tailored study tour, contact:

Netra Dave
Administration Officer    
+61 3 9919 1175
[email protected]

Higher Education Diploma

Silvana DiSisto
Program Manager, Diploma of Business (Enterprise)
+61 3 9919 8836

Janusz Dutka
Program Manager, Diploma of Engineering and Diploma of Information Technology
+61 3 9919 8700