Parents of students

If your child is in their final years of high school, it's a great time to start thinking about how you can support them as they consider their future career and study options.

How to support your child

One of the best ways you can help your child is to be informed about the study options available to them.

: Answer the following questions start your search for the perfect course and career path:
What are my favourite subjects and activities at school?
What activities do I enjoy outside of school?
What am I good at?
Get your child to explore our page for secondary school students to find out more:
Read our information for secondary school students
: Search our course pages for study areas that match your child's talents and interests.

Browse courses by interest.

Download our course guides and read them with your child.

Attend an Open Day with your child, and talk to our staff, graduates and current students.
: There are several differences between TAFE and university study. Both have positive aspects and lead to interesting and rewarding careers. At Victoria University, we are one of the only tertiary institutes to offer both, so your child could start at one and then move to the other – either as a direct progression or as a way of combining a practical skill with academic knowledge.

TAFE courses:

Types: certificates, diplomas and apprenticeships

Length: 6 months – 3 years

Teaching methods: classes, interactive workshops, on-the-job training, practical exercises

Learning focus: supported learning (more hours in the classroom)

University courses:

Types: bachelor degrees (with the option of continuing to graduate certificates or diplomas, or masters)

Length: 3–4 years

Teaching methods: theory-focused classes, workplace learning

Learning focus: individual learning (for each hour in the classroom, students are expected to study 2–3 hours at home)

Read about our pathways from TAFE to university courses.
: Most courses at VU don't consider ATAR.

If your had difficulty during year 12 and needs to prepare more for uni, our Foundations at VU course may provide them with an alternative pathway.

Learn about ATAR at VU.
: Our VU Early Entry program comes with a Conditional Offer to the course of your child's choosing*, a personalised course plan and access to one-on-one course advice.
*Conditions apply
Learn about VU Early Entry

Young female student at City Campus holding up fingers in peace sign

Parent of a Year 12 student?

Finishing studies is a stressful time for children and their families alike – and as a parent, you might be wondering how you can best support your child through an important time of change. Read on for some tips from a psychologist on how you can best approach the big decisions together.

Discover support tips

Easing the transition to university

Study with the VU Block Model®

We know you want the best for your children, and so do we. That's why we developed our revolutionary VU Block Model.

The VU Block Model® offers your child:

one unit delivered at a time to maximise learning potential
consistent support and guidance (with the same teacher for each unit)
regular and ongoing feedback before completing all assignments
practical, hands-on learning to graduate ready for work
flexible timetables to offer them a balanced study and personal/work life.

Achieving success early in study is important for your child’s long-term confidence. By putting their needs first and easing their transition to tertiary study, your child will become a confident, independent learner and graduate ready for an exciting career.

Find out more about how the VU Block Model works.

VU student stories - life after high school - transcript

Our VU Block Model® explained - transcript

You're more than your ATAR - transcript

VU – a great choice for you child

Whatever your child sees themselves doing in the future, further education may be the best way to get there.

Tertiary study doesn't just have to mean taking a traditional bachelor degree. They may also wish to consider studying a pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, certificate or diploma course through our TAFE division.

At VU, you can be confident that your child will have access to the latest industry-relevant curriculum, flexible study options, and accomplished teaching staff who have earned high global rankings and a reputation for world-class research.

We are one of the most industry-connected universities in Australia. This means that our courses are designed with your child's future employability in mind. Our students graduate work-ready and are valued by employers in every sector.

VU graduates have been awarded: