The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) is an independent admissions service for Victorian tertiary applications.
VTAC acts as a central application point for students to apply to one or many tertiary institutions.
Year 12 students applying for bachelor degrees and some diplomas must submit their applications via VTAC.
The ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) is a ranking that shows your VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) results in relation to other students completing Year 12 that year.
It is calculated by VTAC to help universities compare the achievements of students who completed different VCE subjects. When you apply for a course, VTAC forwards the ATAR, along with application information, to the relevant university.
'Adjustment factors' can contribute points to your ATAR selection rank, boosting your chances of getting into a course.
There are several factors VU considers towards these adjustments, including difficult circumstances, under-represented social groups, academic pre-requisites, and elite performance in areas like sport. We also have an early entry program that offers adjustments points.
See 'adjustment points at VU' below to find out how you can get points added to your ATAR selection rank.
The initial ATAR you receive following your VCE is referred to as the 'ATAR (excluding adjustment factors)'.
This is the base ATAR, onto which we add adjustment points to create the selection rank considered during admissions.
In the 'ATAR courses' section above, you'll find tables that list the following:
- Highest ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) to receive an offer. This is the highest ATAR achieved by a successful applicant in the last selection period for the course.
- Median ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) to receive an offer. This is the mid-range ATAR of successful applicants in the last intake for the course. For example, if there are offers made to 11 applicants, the median ATAR is the ATAR associated with the sixth applicant selected.
- Lowest ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) to receive an offer. This is the lowest ATAR achieved by a successful applicant in the last selection period for the course. Note: This is not the minimum selection standard required for this course – that is the Lowest Selection Rank (see below).
The 'selection rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors)' is the sum of your ATAR + any upward adjustment factors awarded to you. It is course-specific, as some adjustment factors relate to course pre-requisite subjects or tasks such as folios or auditions (see 'adjustment points at VU' following).
In the 'ATAR courses' section above, you'll find tables that list the following:
- Highest Selection Rank. This is the highest selection rank achieved by a successful applicant in the last selection period for the course. The Highest Selection Rank includes the ATAR plus any upward adjustment factors.
- Median Selection Rank. The Median Selection Rank is the middle selection rank. For example, if there are offers made to 11 applicants, the median selection rank will be the selection rank associated with the sixth applicant selected.
- Lowest Selection Rank. This is the lowest selection rank achieved by a successful applicant in the last selection period for the course. The Lowest Selection Rank includes an applicant’s ATAR plus any adjustment factors.
ATAR at VU
At Victoria University (VU), we believe you are more than just your ATAR. That’s why most of our courses don’t have an ATAR requirement.
Discover our extensive list of undergraduate courses that do not consider your ATAR during the admissions process, as well as our guide to those that do.
Non-ATAR diplomas & degrees
Explore the world-class diplomas and bachelor degrees offered by VU that do not take your ATAR into account for admission.
Most require you to have completed Year 12 (or have equivalent experience) and to meet a specific English score. Additionally, some courses may have extra entry requirements.
ATAR courses
The following courses consider your ATAR for admission.
The required ATAR for a successful application changes annually. If a large number of applicants achieve a high ATAR score, the requirement will increase – and vice versa.
As a guide, we have provided the ATARs of successful applicants from previous intakes. These figures represent the lowest to highest ATAR and selection rank (ATAR with adjustments) that received an offer through VTAC.
Due to the annual adjustments, it is worthwhile to apply even if your ATAR is below the listed selection ranks. If you graduated more than two years ago, we will calculate an equivalent ATAR based on your subsequent experiences.
ATAR explained
If you are completing the VCE, or have done in the last 2 years, we will consider the ATAR you receive with your exam results. If not, we will calculate an equivalent ATAR based on your tertiary study and/or school results. We may also consider your work experience.
Offers are made depending on the number of places available for that course, and any adjustments you may be eligible for.
ATAR is not relevant to TAFE or postgraduate applications.
Learn about the meanings of ATAR-related terms and how we assign adjustment points to your ATAR for special circumstances or achievements.