How do course preferences work?

Want to go to uni next year? Confused about how to apply for a course? Don’t know when and how to make your uni preference list?

All your worries end here! Below is a quick three-step explanation of the key dates and phases of the 2025 VTAC preference period for Victorian Year 12 students.

1. Put your future down on paper

VTAC preference applications for courses starting in 2026 open on 28 July 2025.

So, you’ve decided on the unis and courses you’re interested in – what next? It’s time to lock in those choices on VTAC. The very late applications cut off for VTAC is 5 December 2025. 

Then, VCE results will be released the following Thursday, and you'll have until noon on 12 December to change your preferences.

But, first thing's first – let's start with the basics:

Make a VTAC preference list

Create a VTAC account and create your online preference list. On your preference list, you will be asked to:

• enter a minimum of one and a maximum of eight desired courses
• list courses in order of preference, starting with the course you want to do the most.

Special consideration

If you have encountered anything during your studies that negatively affected your performance in Year 12, you can apply for special consideration in a SEAS application.

TAFE applications

Some TAFE courses are not applied for via VTAC, so you must apply directly to the institution. Courses using this application method have the instruction 'Apply: Direct to institution' in their VTAC course listings.

Application closing dates

VTAC very late applications close at 5pm on 5 December 2025.

Discover everything you need to know to complete your preferences on time and head into your holiday period confident about your options.

2. Want to change your preferences?

What if you were sure you wanted to be a nurse back in August, but now you can only see yourself working in a law court? Or, once your VCE results are released, you need to rearrange your future plans?

Don’t stress! You can still change your course preferences – right up until 12 noon on Friday 12 December 2025.

So, you'll receive your Year 12 results on 11 December 2024 at 7am. Then you have just over 24 hours to rethink, rejig, or get extra advice – and we're here to help you with it all in person!

Our VU Change of Preference event will take place at Footscray Park Campus on Thursday 11 December, from 2pm to 5pm.

On the day, we can support you to find a pathway built around your ambitions – no matter your results. With one-on-one advice, personal insights from current students and graduates, campus tours and fun freebies, you'll discover how you can open doors to your future at VU.

3. Party time

23 December 2025: first-round offers are released

All going to plan, you'll receive an offer for your first preference in round one on 23 December 2025.

If so, congratulations!

If not, don’t worry.

Subsequent offer rounds are made for courses that have not met their quotas in the first round – so you may still receive a place.

You can also change your preferences between subsequent offer rounds to maximise your chances of finding the right course, even if you have already received and accepted an offer in round one.