1. Applying for tertiary study in Victoria

2. ▪VTAC is the central point for applications to Victorian universities, TAFEs, and Independent Colleges. ▪VTAC also calculates the ATAR and issues ATAR Statement. About VTAC

3. The VTAC application process – key dates Find CoursesApply SEAS and Scholarships Change of Preference Offers Key dates for 2016-2017 applications Applications open $32 Cost. Must pay before results are issued. 9am, Monday 1 August 2016 Timely applications close Late applications $100, plus some courses closed. 5pm, Thursday 29 September 2016 SEAS applications close5pm, Tuesday 4 October 2016 Scholarship applications close5pm, Friday 14 October 2016 Round 1 offers releasedWednesday 18 January 2017 Full list of dates: http://www.vtac.edu.au/dates.htmlhttp://www.vtac.edu.au/dates.html

4. CourseSearch ▪vtac.edu.au Online search tool for all tertiary institutions in Victoria ▪OPEN DAYS ▪Course Guides ▪Careers Room Find Courses

5. The VTAC CourseSearch App ▪Available in August ▪After downloading, browse course information online or offline ▪Available for download from the Google Play store, and Apple App Store - $1.49 inc. GST Find Courses

6. VTACmag ▪Available from newsagents ($7.95 RRP inc. GST) and as an eMagazine ($4.49). ▪Content about the VTAC process and tertiary study options in general ▪Advice on choosing courses ▪List of all VTAC institutions ▪Information on whole process ▪Recommended ▪3 or 4 copies in library Find Courses

7. VTAC Videos ▪Animated videos produced in partnership with ATAR Notes, covering: ▪Creating a VTAC account ▪Choosing courses ▪SEAS and Scholarships ▪How the preference system works ▪Receiving an offer ▪Change of preference Available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9 fm2yUJHTjiNn-9g5hhXzYBmI2eFh-yfhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9 fm2yUJHTjiNn-9g5hhXzYBmI2eFh-yf

8. Course types VET courses ▪Certificate II ▪Certificate III ▪Certificate IV ▪Diploma ▪Advanced Diploma ▪Mostly TAFE Courses Higher Education courses Undergraduate Advanced Diploma Associate Degrees Bachelor Mostly Uni’s Find Courses

9. Courses ending in 1 are Commonwealth Supported Places, CSP, courses 340023431 Courses ending in 2 are Full Fee paying 340023432 Courses ending in 3 are for International students 340023433

10. Add to shortlist Course type (VET, higher education, etc.) Tags show fee type, study mode, and application method Use the arrows to expand and collapse information sections, including new sections for information sessions, pathways, career outcomes, etc.

11. Selection data is the last section of the course entry Plain English description of selection data

12. Selection data explained Applicants for an example course selecting on ATAR with 4 places and 6 applicants: ATAR Offered a place? Mel 95.00 Yes Geri 90.00 + subject bonus = 95.00 rank Yes Victoria 85.00 Yes Emma 80.00 No AJ 75.00 + SEAS + subject bonus = 86.00 rank Yes Howie 70.00 No Clearly-in is 85.00: everyone at this ATAR or above received an offer % below: One out of four offers was made to an applicant with an ATAR below 85.00, so the % below is 25% Find Courses

13. Applicant types Find Courses Year 12 (Y12)Non-Year 12 (NY12) Current year 12 studentsIgnore

14. Selection criteria are on tabs. Expand the relevant sections for details. Do not rely solely on the summary tab.

15. “Some” things to watch out for ▪Important to read the details of all selection criteria, especially where “(Some)” is used in the summary. ▪Current Year 12 students are only occasionally required to complete the VTAC Personal Statement or sit an Admissions Test. ▪For Victorian courses, the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is not required for current Year 12 students.

16. Selection criteria Find Courses Prerequisites Studies that must be successfully completed to be considered for a course For example: minimum study score of 25 in English (Any). Selection requirements Additional requirements that must be completed by applicants For example: sitting a test, presenting a folio, submission of an additional form, attending an interview or audition. Enrolment considerations Tasks that should be completed prior to enrolling or starting a course For example: Working With Children Check, police check, physical requirements Additional considerations Factors that are not compulsory, but if applicable may boost an application For example: subject bonus, work experience

17. Create a VTAC account ▪All VTAC applications are completed online using the same VTAC ID and PIN ▪Creating an account is a simple question-based process ▪If the questions are answered accurately, you will be informed of your correct Y12/NY12 classification Apply

18. Tips for your VTAC account Apply ▪Only create one VTAC account ▪Use VCE number initially ▪For current Year 12 applicants, use a personal, not school email address ▪Choose a secure PIN and security questions ▪Nominate a proxy if needed ie parent/guardian

19. VTAC account Apply

20. Applying for courses Apply ▪List up to eight courses/institutions ▪Preference order – always list courses in the order you want to get into them You will only get one offer in round one..

21. After submitting course application Apply ▪Application receipt sent by email and in user account ▪Submit payment by the closing date ▪Unpaid applications are not submitted to institutions ▪Complete any applicable selection requirements ▪E.g. personal statement, providing any documents requested by VTAC ▪Apply for SEAS and Scholarships ▪Change preferences and update personal information

22. Change of Preference ▪You can change your course preferences free-of-charge as many times as you like while Change of Preference is open ▪Change of Preference ▪opens at the same time as course applications; ▪closes a short time before each offer round; and ▪reopens at 10am the day after each offer round (until the last round).

23. Permissions and supplementary offers ▪It is recommended that all applicants give permission to receive supplementary offers in the event that they do not receive an offer in Round 1 or Round 2 ▪This permission can be changed from the ‘Course Application’ tab in their VTAC account

24. Responding to an offer Offers ▪To accept an offer, follow the instructions in the offer advice to enrol at the institution. ▪No separate acceptance notification to VTAC is needed. ▪To defer an offer, contact the institution. ▪Not all courses allow deferment. ▪To reject an offer, take no action. ▪The offer will automatically lapse if you have not enrolled by the deadline.

25. Didn’t get an offer, or the offer you wanted? Offers ▪You will be automatically considered for any higher preferences in future offer rounds ▪When Change of Preference reopens, consider adding other backup course options ▪Preferences can now be changed between all five rounds

26. Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) SEAS and Scholarships ▪Primarily for students who have suffered long-term disadvantage ▪Except: Category 1 (Personal Information and Location) – everyone should apply ▪SEAS allows selection officers at institutions to grant special consideration for course entry to applicants.

27. Applying for SEAS SEAS and Scholarships ▪SEAS application becomes available after a course application is submitted ▪Everyone can apply for SEAS ▪All of the categories will be on one page ▪Apply for as many categories as are applicable, but do not claim the same circumstances under multiple categories

28. What can SEAS do? SEAS and Scholarships ▪SEAS does not exempt you from meeting course requirements. ▪You must study course prerequisites, attend all interviews, sit any required tests, and submit all required folios and forms. ▪SEAS is not a guaranteed entry scheme or reserved quota, but may allow you to gain entry to a course with a lower ATAR than otherwise

29. Category 1 – Personal Information and Location ▪Consideration for circumstances based on information applicants have already provided (no documentation needed). ▪Applying for Category 1 is as simple as ticking a box giving VTAC permission for those circumstances to be considered. ▪All applicants should apply for this category. Category 1 includes: Age Gender Living or school location Recognition as an Indigenous Australian Under-represented schools Non-English speaking background First in family to attend university

30. Category 2 – Difficult Circumstances ▪Education affected by family or life events ▪Examples include: ▪Disruption to living situation ▪Illness of a friend of family member ▪Affected by death of relative/friend ▪Natural disaster ▪Refugee ▪Must submit impact statement and statement of support

31. Category 3 – Disadvantaged financial background ▪Education impacted by disadvantaged financial background, for example: ▪Individual or family poverty ▪Excessive financial obligations ▪Economic hardship ▪Not limited to applicants in receipt of Centrelink benefits. ▪Applicants who are not in receipt of Centrelink benefits must submit an impact statement and a statement of support

32. Category 4 – Disability or medical condition ▪Educational disadvantage as a result of a disability or medical condition experienced by the applicant. ▪Must provide an impact statement and a statement of support from the treating healthcare professional that details the condition, its duration and impact. ▪Important to start making appointments early to ensure statements of support are ready before the closing date.

33. SEAS Documentation Category 1 No documentation needed, just the application Category 2 and Category 4 (and Category 3 if no Centrelink benefits) ▪Impact statement – written by applicant ▪Statement of support – written by a relevant responsible person Category 3 ▪Centrelink CRN if benefits in own name, or ▪Scanned/posted documents if benefits in parents’ name, or ▪Impact statement and statement of support if no Centrelink Both are needed

34. Three ways to provide SEAS documentation UploadingHard copy Online statements of support

35. Scholarships SEAS and Scholarships ▪VTAC collects scholarship applications for many institutions ▪One application, many institutions ▪Scholarships are not just for academic performance ▪Many equity scholarships have similar documentation requirements to SEAS ▪Statements must be submitted separately for each using the correct coversheet. ▪List of scholarships available on the VTAC website ▪Including scholarships which require direct applications to institutions ▪Ie.Federation University

36. SCHOLARSHIPS Fed Uni apply direct. Independent ORGANISATIONS, IE ACCOUNTING

37. INTERSTATE ▪QTAC (QLD) ▪UAC (NSW) ▪STAC (SA) ▪TISC (WA) ▪Similar for all

38. ACCOMMODATION ▪BOOK EARLY

39. VTAC Videos ▪Animated videos produced in partnership with ATAR Notes, covering: ▪Creating a VTAC account ▪Choosing courses ▪SEAS and Scholarships ▪How the preference system works ▪Receiving an offer ▪Change of preference Available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9 fm2yUJHTjiNn-9g5hhXzYBmI2eFh-yfhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9 fm2yUJHTjiNn-9g5hhXzYBmI2eFh-yf