Information for non-Year 12 applicants
You are considered a non-Year 12 applicant if you are:
- not currently studying an Australian Year 12 qualification
- studying an overseas secondary school qualification
- already (or previously) enrolled at a tertiary institution and wish to apply to the University of Melbourne
Further information for each of these groups is available below. Please also note the general information common to all non-Year 12 applicants including:
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the University of Melbourne you need to meet the entry standards and requirements. For undergraduate courses this means satisfactorily completing the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), or equivalent, including completing the prerequisite subjects and any tests or auditions required for the specific course you’re interested in. You will also need to meet the English language requirements.
Further information about entry standards and prerequisites.
Applicants who have not met these entry requirements may be eligible to apply for the non-school leaver entry pathway.
How to apply
Standard entry involves commencement of study in February. For all undergraduate courses, Australian students apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) via the online application form. All related documentation also needs to be submitted to VTAC to form part of your application (see the VTAC website). Timely applications close at the end of September, with late applications being accepted until early December. Some courses at the Victorian College of the Arts have earlier closing dates.
Further information about applying.
Enrolment options
The University of Melbourne offers Australian students (see What type of student am I?) the following enrolment options:
- Commonwealth supported place (CSP): an enrolment which is subsidised by the Commonwealth Government. A student enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place contributes to the tuition fee for their course by paying the relevant HECS contribution.
- Australian fee place: an enrolment which is not subsidised by the Commonwealth Government, deeming the student responsible for the full cost of the enrolment. Australian fee places are offered in addition to Commonwealth supported places and enable the University to offer more places to students for their tertiary education.
Further information about enrolment options for Australian students.
Support available
The University provides a range of services and programs that can enhance your personal and academic opportunities and help you adjust to all aspects of university life. Of particular interest may be:
- the Transition Program was developed to assist first year students adjust to life at university.
- the Language and Learning Skills Unit offers advice and instruction on academic and language skills. Their website offers resources specifically for mature age students returning to study.
- plus a range of other support services.
Applicants not studying an Australian Year 12 qualification
If you have not completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, not studied for a long time or have not performed well enough for admission you will need to consider how you can become eligible. Possible ways include:- undertaking Year 12 in an adult learning environment (such as the Centre for Adult Education or a TAFE institution); or
- using the non-school leaver pathway; or
- studying subjects at the University of Melbourne through the Community Access Program (CAP). The Community Access Program may be an appropriate pathway for entry to an undergraduate degree but should be discussed in detail with the CAP officer in the faculty of the course you’re interested in.
Other information you may be interested in:
Community Access Program
The Community Access Program (CAP) provides the opportunity to study one or more single subjects (that is, not as part of a degree) at the University. CAP students attend the same classes as degree students during semester. The Program is an excellent opportunity to explore a potential area of study before making a commitment to more intensive study.
Non-school leavers can use the Community Access Program with the aim of using the results obtained as a pathway to degree entry. When used as an entry pathway, students will be required to complete a prescribed number of subjects, including all assessments, in a given timeframe. Although this may be a less direct route than the non-school leaver pathway, the results of these studies can be used in selecting applicants for entry into an undergraduate degree.
Further information about the Community Access Program.
Access Melbourne
Access Melbourne is the University’s combined special entry and access scholarships scheme. It enhances opportunities for selection into a course as it provides you with the opportunity to explain ongoing circumstances that have affected your chance of gaining a place at the University of Melbourne. University of Melbourne selection committees will take these circumstances, together with your potential to succeed in your chosen course, into consideration.
Further information about Access Melbourne.
Applicants studying an overseas qualification
To be eligible for entry applicants must have completed a qualification deemed to be equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). A number of qualifications, both in Australia and in other countries, have been assessed as equivalent.
You will also need to meet the prerequisite subject requirements and any tests or auditions for the specific course you’re interested in. A number of common qualifications are included on Course Search which you can search for your individual requirements. If the qualification you have or are completing is not included on Course Search or the list of equivalent qualifications you should contact the faculty of the course you’re interested in for more information.
As well as meeting the prerequisites you will also need to satisfy the English language requirements. In many cases this can be done by completing the specified subject in your secondary studies. More information about the English language requirements.
If you have experienced circumstances over a number of years which have affected your chance of gaining a place at the University of Melbourne you are ncouraged to apply for Access Melbourne, the University’s combined special entry and access scholarships scheme. Access Melbourne provides you with the opportunity to explain the ongoing circumstances, enhancing opportunities for selection into a course. University of Melbourne selection committees will take these circumstances, together with your potential to succeed in your chosen course, into consideration.
Further information about Access Melbourne.
Applicants already (or previously) enrolled at a tertiary institution and wish to apply to the University of Melbourne
If you have already completed part of an undergraduate course at another institution your entire academic record will be used as the basis of selection, including your Grade Point Average (GPA).
You are still required to meet the prerequisite subjects for the course you’re interested in. If you did not complete them in Year 12 it may be possible to meet them with university subjects you have studied, you should contact the faculty of the course you’re interested in for more information.
Credit for completed tertiary studies may be granted if any of the previous studies are comparable in content, equivalent in standard and suitable to be included as part of the course. Faculties specify the maximum credit allowable and publish guidelines. Decisions regarding credit are only made after an offer of a place in the course has been made.