How to score early entry to university, before your final exams
Feeling the pressure of your year 12 exams? That’s totally fair. It can seem like there’s a lot riding on the last few months of high school, particularly as you begin to make big decisions about your future.
Yet, imagine how confident you’d feel breezing into that exam room, knowing you already had a Conditional Offer from a university of your choice, in your back pocket.
While you’re still required to finish high school and complete your VCE, an early entry program recognises that an ATAR score is not the only measure of future success.
Here at Victoria University (VU), we’ve tailored a program unique to you. Formerly known as VU Guaranteed, VU Early Entry membership comes with a Conditional Offer for the course of your choosing*, along with many other exciting benefits (did you know you can nab an exclusive scholarship, too?)
What is an early entry program?
An early entry program essentially does what it says on the box – it grants you a Conditional Offer at your chosen university, before you receive your year 12 exam results.
Receiving a Conditional Offer doesn’t mean that you should cruise through your final months of high school.
In most cases, you’ll need to check a few things off within your final year 12 results. This is so you can secure your spot once VTAC release their first round offers.
What is a Conditional Offer?
A Conditional Offer is not an official offer. These are made during the VTAC offer rounds.
Rather, the offer is made if you’ve met certain conditions, such as completing year 12 and scoring a certain minimum ATAR. These conditions can change from uni to uni.
Do I have to put my early entry option first on my VTAC preference list?
You should list your preferences in the order you want to get into them, with your dream course at the top. Your early entry preference does need to be in your preference list, to ensure you receive an official place in the course of your choice.
How does early entry work?
Most institutions with an early entry program will allow you to apply online.
For VU Early Entry, you’ll be asked to tell us a little about yourself, by answering the following questions:
- Why do you want to study at VU?
- How do you contribute to your community, school or family?
- Who inspires you to succeed?
- How would studying at VU help you to make a difference in the world?
Need a little inspiration? Don't worry – we've included some sample answers on the form.
If you’re accepted, you’re guaranteed an offer, before you get your final exam results.
Benefits of early entry to university
The guarantee of an offer through a program like VU Early Entry can take some of the stress out of your final year of school. You can stride confidently towards your future, knowing there is a course you can study at university the next year.
An early entry offer doesn’t close off your options either. You can still list your course preferences in your VTAC application, and change them around as you wish, until change of preferences closes. Here are some important preferencing dates you should mark in your calendar.
The ease of pressure that an early entry offer grants can also free you up for other logistics. You can start planning your life after school – such as where you want to live and what kind of part-time jobs may work around your study schedule.
If flexibility is important to you while you study, our award-winning VU Block Model® can help you fit study around your life. You'll study one subject at a time, in four-week blocks. That means you can focus your efforts, master your skills, and receive real-time feedback before moving on to the next subject.
VU Early Entry – your personalised ticket
Our VU Early Entry program (formerly known as VU Guaranteed) has some unique benefits that kick off while you’re still in year 12.
These include:
- Early Entry scholarship – we’re offering scholarships to the value of $5,000, to be paid incrementally throughout your studies
- 5 bonus ATAR points - for all VCE-scored students, 5 bonus ATAR points will be added to your ATAR score for VU courses that consider ATAR as part of the admission requirements*
- VU gym access for you and a friend – hit up one of VU's gyms on us with a free 30-use pass for you and a friend, and stay active during your studies.
- Course advice – we offer one-on-one consultations in your final year of school, so you can craft a perfectly personalised VTAC list.
* Bachelor of Education (P-12) and Bachelor of Education (Primary) excluded.
How do I apply for early entry?
To score a Conditional Offer, you need to apply directly to your university of choice. You’ll also need to apply through VTAC, for final confirmation.
Keen to make 2025 your year at VU? Here’s how you can apply for VU Early Entry:
1. Prepare your application
When you apply, you'll answer questions about who you are — tell us what makes you unique! For more tips, read our guide below.
2. Submit your application
Submit your application and you'll hear back from us within 7 days. Applications close 14 October, 10pm AEST.
3. Apply to VU
You will need to include your desired VU course as your highest eligible preference on your VTAC preference list (so make sure it's up to date!), or apply directly if it is an apply-direct course.
Who can apply for early entry to university?
Good news – you don’t have to be in year 12 to apply for early entry to Victoria University.
If you're a Year 11 or 12 student studying VCE, VCE Vocational Major, Unscored VCE or an International Baccalaureate in Victoria, you can also apply for VU Early Entry.
You won't receive a Conditional Offer unless you're working towards a scored VCE. You will however be eligible for other benefits, such as VU gym access and course advice.
*conditions apply, see VU Early Entry for full details.
