Preference VU #1

Your top 5 questions answered

1. How do VTAC preferences and offers work?

Your VTAC preferences decide which courses you’re considered for – starting from your first choice and moving down. If you don’t meet the requirements for your top preference, VTAC automatically checks your next one. 

You can change your preferences at any time before Change of Preference closes (12pm, 13 December). Offers come out in multiple rounds, so you might receive a higher preference offer later. 

Adjustment factors (like SEAS, subject bonuses, or elite sport and performer programs) can also boost your selection rank and improve your chances of an offer. 

👉 Tip: Order preferences by what you most want to study – not by what you think you’ll get into. 

Read our comprehensive guide to VTAC

2. What if I don’t meet the ATAR or study score requirements?

You still have options. VU offers pathways through TAFE, diplomas and foundation programs that can get you where you want to go.

If you miss out on a course because of ATAR or English study score requirements, you can start with a VU TAFE course, a VU diploma, or the Foundations at VU program. These build your skills and can give you credit into a degree later.  

Every year, thousands of students take a pathway route into their dream course – it’s a proven step, not a step back. 

Learn more about pathways

3. What are the entry requirements for my course?

Each course has its own entry criteria. This usually includes prerequisite subjects, minimum study scores (e.g. for English or maths) and sometimes extra requirements like interviews, folios or tests. 

To check what’s needed for a specific course, look under the Admissions or Entry requirements section on the course page. VTAC listings also show any prerequisites and key deadlines. 

If you’re unsure, chat with our student advisors – they can help you understand what’s needed and your best options. 

4. Can I transfer later if I start somewhere else?

Absolutely. Many students begin in one course and later transfer into another. 

If you’re already studying at VU, you can apply for an internal transfer once you’ve completed some study and met the course entry requirements. If you’re coming from another uni or TAFE, your previous results can count as credit, reducing the time it takes to finish your new course. 

Students might move from health science to nursing or paramedicine, or something completely different, like business or law. 

5. How do I choose between similar courses?

If two courses sound alike, start by looking at: 

• What you’ll learn – compare subjects and placements. 

• Career outcomes – check which jobs each course leads to. 

For example, Exercise and Sport Science focuses on athletic performance and fitness, while Sport Science looks more broadly at the science behind sport and movement. 

When in doubt, talk to our advisors – they’ll help you match your goals to the right course and show how one program can lead into another.