Apply for TAFE courses
Discover how to apply for our TAFE courses as a domestic student to gain practical skills in trades, beauty, aged care, community service, early childhood education, and many other areas.
Choose the right information for you
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Find out how to apply for a TAFE skill set, certificate, diploma or advanced diploma as you finish secondary school.
1. Choose your course
Find TAFE courses that align with your interests and career goals by selecting the 'TAFE' tab on our course listing pages.
Select the course(s) you're interested in to learn about the subjects you will study, the practical experience you will gain, potential career outcomes, and any available study pathways.
If you’re taking a TAFE course as part of your school study, see Vocational Education & Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VDSS).
Explore courses by your interests
2. Read the entry requirements
On the course page(s), navigate to the 'entry requirements' section to discover what you'll need to apply.
Requirements vary and may include English-language standards, academic background, personal attributes, or skills such as driving.
You'll also find information about tasks required to complete the course, such as immunisations and Police Checks. If the course includes eLearning, please review our software requirements.
Confirm your eligibility for the course and make a list of everything needed to apply.
If you don't meet entry requirements, check for any 'pathways', which offer an alternative way into the course.
3. Check your funding eligibility
Government funding, such as Skills First and Free TAFE, is available for many of our TAFE courses, reducing the cost of studying.
Fees, concessions and funding schemes are listed on the course page. If you are unable to cover your course fees, you may be eligible for a loan.
Find out about funding eligibility
4. Find scholarships & support
We have targeted support available for Indigenous applicants and asylum seekers.
We also offer scholarships for any TAFE student who is in need of financial and practical assistance. Some scholarships applications are made directly to VU, while others are made through an external organisation.
5. Prepare your application
Gather documents and evidence for your application. Submit copies, rather than originals, as they won't be returned.
Compulsory
- Proof of citizenship – Australian or New Zealand birth certificate or passport, Medicare card, or Australian citizenship certificate
- USI – Find or apply for your unique student identifier (USI)
- Course-specific requirements – Evidence of meeting entry requirements, as outlined on the course page
Where relevant to your application
For special funding and concessions:
- Concession card – where you have one, and you are applying for a Skills First–funded certificate I–IV course
- Referral forms – where required for schemes that help disadvantaged applicants
For credit for a TAFE certificate you completed while at school:
- Study history – copy of official academic transcript for VET studies undertaken while completing VCE
- VU forms – for credit transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning
6. Check the application method
Most VU TAFE course applications can be made directly to us.
For apprenticeships and traineeships, you need find an employer before you apply. Alternatively, you can start with a pre-apprenticeship at VU.
Applications for VDSS, studied while you’re in still at secondary school, are made through your school.
A few TAFE courses take applications through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Click 'apply' on the course page to check. Where VTAC is listed you must apply through VTAC and submit any documentation to them.
7. Apply to VU
Click 'Apply' on the course page or below to begin your application.
Register your details and follow the required steps in the application portal. You can save the application and return to it later.
During the pre-training review, you will be asked about your education, goals, academic skills, and any course requirements.
Once everything is complete, you can submit your application.
We will follow up with tasks required to finalise your application, including a literacy and numeracy test, ID verification and an interview; please see 'After you submit your application' following for more information.
After you submit your application
You need to complete the following steps to finish your application and secure your spot at Victoria University.
Get support with your application
VUHQ student service centre is your first point of contact for all student enquiries before enrolling.
How we assess applications
Your TAFE course application will be assessed on how well you meet the course entry requirements outlined on the course page. We consider your academic suitability, educational history, work and other experience, and your career or study goals.
Admission criteria are published on each course page on our website, or on the VTAC Course Search page where relevant.
