#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment1
#1 in the world for sport science2
#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
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If you’re planning on attending university , you’ll soon be tasked with one of the first big decisions of your career – selecting your course preference list.
We know the prospect of choosing a university and course can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the process.
That’s where we come in.
Here, we share our top tips for putting together your preference list so that (fingers crossed!) you’ll be accepting an offer from the university of your dreams in no time.
There are a few steps to submitting your uni preference list. That’s why it’s a good idea to get key dates in your diary ASAP; trust us, your future self will thank you for being on top of things.
Most undergraduate applications for courses starting in Trimester 1 are submitted online through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), unless stated otherwise in the admission guidelines.
Note: Non-Victorian residents should refer to their state or territory’s tertiary admissions centre for relevant information regarding how to apply and application closing dates.
It goes without saying that one of the most important dates to note down is the deadline for when your uni preferences are due. Keeping that deadline front-of-mind will ensure you avoid those pesky late fees. Plus, you’ll minimise the risk of missing out on the courses you’re interested in.
For most universities in Australia, applications for 2025 courses open 29 July and late applications will continue to be accepted until early December (fee applies).
Learn more about application closing dates and how to apply for courses through VTAC.
Very late applications close at 5PM on the 6th of December 2024 – but you don’t want to be that person who leaves it to the last minute!
Get ahead of the game now and start researching the universities and courses that catch your eye. By tackling your uni preferences earlier, you’ll get to sit back and relax later.
Browse university websites, read course guides, attend Deakin Campus Tours and talk to staff to get all the information you need about the courses you’re interested in.
Universities have faculty and career advisers who are ready and willing to help, especially when it comes to choosing your course preferences.
So, if you’ve got a burning question regarding how uni preferences work or when to change your uni preferences, ask away!
(P.s.: we’ve compiled a handy guide on ‘What to ask at University Open Day’ for those planning on attending one of our upcoming Uni Open Days).
Most courses have at least one prerequisite subject that needs to have been completed to qualify you for entry. Some courses have additional requirements like interviews, tests, folios or auditions.
Note that entry requirements for similar courses can vary greatly, so it pays to double check and ensure you’re applying for courses you’re eligible for.
Order is important.
You only receive one offer per round for the highest preference you are eligible for. So, regardless of whether you think you’ll get the ATAR required, uni course preferences should be listed in the order you’d most like them to be considered, not the order in which you think you’ll get in to them.
That is, enter the course that you’d most like to study first, followed by the course you’d next prefer to study, and so on.
Universities consider your top choice first, so if you’ve met all the requirements, you’ll receive an offer for that course.
If you don’t meet the criteria, they’ll move onto your next preference. This can seem a little confusing, but the system is designed to maximise your chances of getting into the course you really want to study.
Remember, if you don’t get the offer you want in the first round, we recommend you accept your first offer but try again for your preferred course during the second round.
Just a heads-up: you won’t be able to change your preferences right before each offer round, but you can still make changes after submitting your application with no additional charges (phew!).
When you’ve got a whole bunch of courses you’re interested in – many of which are probably quite similar – it can be tricky to prioritise them.
To help you decide, you might like to dig a bit deeper into what each course entails. Does the course offer specialisations you like the sound of? Can you undertake internships or work experience as part of the course? What facilities do students have access to?
Choose courses you like the sound of and that lead to careers you are interested in, not necessarily those that other people think you should study.
It’s a great idea to discuss your options with friends and family, but ultimately the courses and universities you choose to apply for should be your decision.
When filling in your uni preference list, allocate enough time to review your application and ensure you’ve included all the documentation you need.
Double check your personal details, as well as the courses you have selected, particularly course codes (the same course at different campuses of the same university will usually have a different course code).
Even if you have your heart set on one particular course, you should list as many uni courses as you can on your preference list.
Including similar degrees with more flexible entry criteria (e.g. a lower ATAR) further down your list will give you uni pathway options in case you don’t get your top preference.
You might like to consider a different campus; if a uni offers a course at multiple campuses, the ATAR will likely vary from campus to campus based on demand, even though the course is the same.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again:
Don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure when you initially choose your course preferences. You will be able to change your preferences as many times as you like during the Change of Preference period later in the year.
But hey, why not get started on your research today? The more you know about your preferences, the better you’ll feel about your future uni choices.
Ready to start choosing your future?
