Are you looking to further your academic potential?
Free to join, the Extension Program gives you the opportunity to study university subjects during your final year of high school.
Expand your knowledge, meet other high achievers, contribute points to your ATAR, and build an impressive CV for your career.
With an extensive range of subjects to choose from, you’ll study alongside first-year students who share your academic interests, and have a chance to experience university life while still at school.
University of Melbourne Extension Program benefits
Boost your ATAR
Extension Program subjects can be used as a fifth or sixth VCE* subject in the calculation of your ATAR. Depending on your results, you could receive a valuable contribution of 3 to 5 points to your ATAR aggregate (the score used to calculate your final ATAR).
Earn credit towards your degree
If you come to the University of Melbourne for your undergraduate degree, you may receive credit for your Extension Program subjects. This could mean that you finish your degree faster or take a lighter study load in first year.
Make new connections and friends
You'll meet leading academics and teachers and be studying with our undergraduate students as well as other secondary students participating in the Extension Program.
Experience university life
You'll receive a student card, email account and access to our libraries, study spaces and student clubs and societies. Plus support from our student services.
Celebrate at our graduation ceremony
Receive your completion certificate at our graduation event mid-December, where you can celebrate your success with family, friends and fellow students.
Build an impressive CV
With your University of Melbourne academic transcript and the chance to receive further achievement awards through the program.
*Students studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) are not eligible to receive an ATAR contribution.
To be eligible for the Program you must:
- Be a domestic student. If you're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, you're considered a domestic student
- Be eligible for the award of the VCE or IB* in Victoria in the year you intend to participate (including having at least one VCE Units 3 and 4 or IB equivalent enrolment during the year in which you undertake the Extension Program); and
- Be undertaking a normal full-time VCE or IB load over Year 11 and 12. By the conclusion of your secondary studies, you must have completed a minimum of four VCE Units 3 and 4 subjects (the University strongly encourages you to have completed five VCE Units 3 and 4 subjects or equivalent IB subjects); and
- Have at least a B+ average across non-prerequisite/non-corequisite subjects (Units 1 and 2 plus any Units 3 and 4 subjects you have already completed); and
- Meet the prerequisite or corequisite subject requirement for the specific subject (noting that where a prerequisite is completed this must be used for selection and takes precedence over a corequisite); and
- Satisfy the academic standard and any additional requirements of the specific subject.
Before applying for the Extension Program, it is important that you seek permission from your school and your parent(s) or guardian(s).
Undertaking the Extension Program requires considerable commitment and you should discuss responsibilities such as your Year 12 studies, sport and part-time work with your parents/guardians and school.
Please follow the instructions on these forms carefully to ensure that your application is complete.
How to apply
Applications are now closed for 2026
There are a number of subject areas available. You can choose only one to study – so research carefully.
View the full list of subject areas
Things to consider:
- What the subjects are about and if you will enjoy them
- The timetable, contact hours, locations and ease of transport to classes
- What kinds of assessment the subjects involve
- Whether you will meet the prerequisite requirements.
You'll need to be a domestic student studying a normal full-time VCE (or IB Diploma) load over Year 11 and 12. If you're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, you're considered a domestic student.
You'll also require a school recommendation, principal approval, and permission from your parents.
Your application will be assessed by looking at all of your results from Year 11 – from all Units 1 and 2 subjects as well as any Units 3 and 4 subjects you have already completed. You'll need to satisfy subject prerequisites and requirements.
Forms you’ll need to complete and submit:
Parent/Guardian Permission Form
Teacher Recommendation and Principal Approval Form
For applicants through the Centre for Higher Education (CHES)
Please download and attach the supplementary document, as you have already submitted these forms during your initial application with CHES.
Once you have established the subject you wish to apply for, your eligibility and have permissions for the Extension Program, you will need to submit an online application.
Course application steps
- Select ‘Apply as a new student’ and complete your personal details
- To begin the course application, enter 'NA-UMEP' into 'Course Code', then click 'Search'
- Select 'Add' next to the '2026, Fee Exempt, Full Time, On Campus, Standard' option.
Please note: All Extension Program subject areas are classified as 'On Campus' in the application form, even those that are delivered at School Centres and CHES - Select ‘Proceed with Application’
- On the ‘Search for a scholarship’ page, select ‘Skip this step’
- On the ‘Advanced Standing Application’ page, select ’Skip this step’
- Select ‘Proceed with Application’
- Complete all required information in the application, including uploading the Parent/Guardian Permission Form and Teacher Recommendation and Principal Approval Form, Year 11 school reports and any other school reports including completed VCE studies.
Complete your application at your convenience
You can save and return to your application at any time. Make sure that you always log back in to your application using the ID number and password sent via email when you started your application.
Once you have successfully submitted your online application you will receive an automatic email from the University, confirming receipt of your Extension Program online application.
Submit the correct documents
While this email confirms that your online application has been submitted successfully, you must still make sure all required documents (including results) are attached to your application in order to be considered for a place in the Extension Program.
What you need to submit
Complete the process by logging back into your online application to submit:
- Complete copies of your Year 11 school reports (both semester 1 and semester 2), including details of all VCE Units 1 and 2 results, or Year 11 IB Diploma results (please include a grading scale key so that your results can be easily standardised for assessment purposes). If you completed any Unit 1 and 2 subjects prior to Year 11 please also submit the reports for these
Key dates for 2027 subject applications
-
September 2026
-
Applications open to current Year 11 students
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December 2026
-
Applications close for 2027 Extension Program subjects
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January 2027
-
Outcomes sent to applicants
Frequently asked questions
If you are a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) student, successful completion of a full year of the University of Melbourne Extension Program can be used as a fifth or sixth study in the calculation of your ATAR. Depending on the mark you achieve, between three and five points will be added to your ATAR aggregate (the score that is used to calculate your final ATAR). The table below outlines the points you will receive, and the equivalent VCE study score value.
| Average mark for Extension Program subjects you take | Extension Program ATAR aggregate contribution | Equivalent VCE study score |
|---|---|---|
| 90 or more | 5.0 points | 50 |
| 80-89 | 4.5 points | 45 |
| 70-79 | 4.0 points | 40 |
| 60-69 | 3.5 points | 35 |
| 50-59 | 3.0 points | 30 |
Please note: You must also have satisfactorily completed at least four VCE Units 3 and 4 subjects for which study scores have been calculated (including at least one English subject). Any prerequisite Units 3 and 4 subjects that are being completed concurrently with your Extension Program enrolment must also be completed satisfactorily for you to be eligible for the ATAR contribution.
You can find more detailed information about how the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) calculates the ATAR contribution.
Note that International Baccalaureate (IB) students are, unfortunately not eligible to receive an ATAR increment upon successful completion of the University of Melbourne Extension Program studies. IB students are, however, eligible for all other benefits of the Extension Program including access to student services and support, a University of Melbourne student card, email account, library access, credit for future tertiary study, and much more.
Advice about the University of Melbourne Extension Program for students who are completing the IB is available upon request by emailing extension-program@unimelb.edu.au.
Subject areas delivered on campus are taught by University of Melbourne academics, lecturers and tutors. Classes at School Centres are delivered by secondary teachers who have been trained by the University to teach the Extension Program subject.
No, students are only able to apply for one Extension Program subject area. Applicants who submit more than one application will be asked which application they wish to progress, and additional applications will be withdrawn.
There are no tuition fees for the Extension Program. Some School Centres may charge a small administrative fee which, if applicable, is listed against the relevant subject.
Students who successfully complete subject areas as part of the Extension Program and subsequently enrol in a University of Melbourne undergraduate course may be granted advanced standing for that unit, if the completed subjects can be taken as part of the chosen degree.
Being granted advanced standing provides the option of accelerating through a course, or of having a slightly lighter study load at some stage during the degree. In certain cases, an exemption will be awarded to students, in place of credit (which means students will have their prior study recognised but do not receive a contribution to their GPA).
The Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) has been established to provide senior secondary students from government schools across the state with opportunities for stretch, challenge and acceleration in their studies. CHES has partnered with the University of Melbourne to offer courses in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology to eligible Year 12 students in government schools. Students apply directly with CHES for these courses. Students from government schools who enrol in these courses through the University of Melbourne Extension Program may elect to study their course through CHES. There is no cost to students or their schools for students to enrol in a Higher Education Study through CHES.
All CHES programs include access to the university’s course portals, lectures and materials and access to a weekly tutorial with other secondary school students held in person or online at CHES and led by a member of the university teaching staff. In addition, CHES students will have access to a range of enrichment activities, masterclasses and special events offered through CHES. These events are intended to provide students with information about cutting edge research, pathways options and access to leading university academics and programs.
Please visit the CHES website for further information.
Please email us at extension-program@unimelb.edu.au. Include as much detail as possible about your application including your User ID Number, your name, a screenshot (if applicable) and an overview of the problem you are experiencing.
You will be assessed according to the entry requirements of the subject area for which you apply.
Your performance in your prerequisite and/or corequisite subject will be considered, and where a prerequisite has been completed, this will take precedence over a corequisite.
Your performance in all non-prerequisite and non-corequisite Unit 1 and 2 and Unit 3 and 4 subjects completed is also assessed. Students need to achieve a B+ average across these subjects (not a B+ in every subject, but as an average across these subjects).
The University takes into consideration your high schools own grading scale when calculating this average, which means you need to provide this when you apply. An internal calculator is then used to derive your non-prerequisite and non-corequisite average.
If you experience illness or any other circumstances that adversely affect your Extension Program studies you can apply for special consideration from the University. You may be granted an extension of time to complete a piece of assessment or be allowed to sit an exam at a different time.
Students with a disability or long-term medical condition may be eligible for assistance from the University’s Student Equity and Disability Support service. Please contact the Extension Program office for more information.
Students who withdraw from the Extension Program will not experience any disadvantage when subsequently applying to study at the University of Melbourne or at any other tertiary institution.
Students who wish to withdraw must formally notify the University using the online withdrawal form. Students can withdraw at any time however it is strongly suggested that students withdraw before August of the year they are completing the Extension Program.
Students who fail an Extension Program subject will be automatically withdrawn from the program without penalty. Students who fail in Semester 1 will not proceed to Semester 2.
A student who withdraws from or fails to satisfactorily complete the prerequisite or preparatory VCE subject/s (where they are completing this alongside their Extension studies, during Year 12) will not be eligible for an increment in their ATAR calculation, regardless of their performance in their Extension Program studies.