Applicants with higher education study

This information relates to applicants with higher education study (tertiary study) completed within the last seven years (excluding extension studies taken as part of Year 12). If this information is not relevant for applicants of a specific course, it will be noted in the course-specific information. Applicants whose last study was more than seven years ago should refer to the information about the University's Non-school leaver entry pathway, in the section for applicants with work and life experience below.

When assessing applicants with higher education study, a weighted average mark (WAM) (weighted according to the point value of the individual subjects) is calculated. The WAM is calculated across any undergraduate and graduate coursework study undertaken. Any research study undertaken is considered in addition to the WAM.

Applicants are selected according to academic merit, usually in the form of the WAM.

Applicants with less than a year (1 EFTSL) of higher education study

The entire academic record is considered and both the ATAR (or secondary school result) and the WAM will be taken into account.

If an applicant has completed less than a year (1 EFTSL) of higher education study and does not have a secondary qualification assessed by the University as equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), then the applicant will not be eligible for entry unless they are eligible under the Non-school leaver entry pathway (see the section for applicants with work and life experience below).

Applicants with a year (1 EFTSL) of higher education study

Generally, the WAM will be primary factor in assessment, particularly if the study is in a relevant discipline.

Applicants with more than a year (1 EFTSL) of higher education study

For most of our undergraduate courses, WAMs will be calculated across all the higher education study and across the last year (1 EFTSL) – then the higher of the two will be considered in assessment. If the points equating to the last 1 EFTSL fall within a study period (eg, semester) then all subjects within that study period will be included in the calculation.

Consideration will also be given to the information provided in the VTAC personal statement regarding your motivation in applying for the course and your future study and career goals.

Personal statements

For applicants with higher education study who are not clearly-in, the VTAC personal statement may be taken into account during assessment. Only some elements of the statement will be considered:

• Relevant work and community experience will be considered only where work experience is specified as part of the selection criteria for the course.
• Explanations about why the WAM does not truly represent an applicant’s potential:
  • Extenuating circumstances – we would typically assume that these have been dealt with via special consideration and other internal mechanisms at your previous institution. If this is not the case, you can describe the issue and the impact it had in a personal statement, and attach independent supporting documentation to corroborate your claim.

Please note that applicants with previous higher education study are not eligible for Access Melbourne consideration. We do not look at information provided in the VTAC SEAS application by applicants in this category, only at information provided in the personal statement.

• If you believe your performance was impacted by the discipline you were studying and you are now seeking a ‘fresh start’, you can indicate this in the personal statement form. If your higher education study was consecutive, recent, not more than a year, and your secondary results are above the level required for entry, then in some cases you may be assessed primarily on your secondary results.

For applicants who have completed more than a year of tertiary study, details about your motivation in applying for the course and your future study and career goals will be considered.

Prerequisites

All applicants must satisfy the course prerequisites. For most applicants prerequisites will be satisfied by completion of the relevant Australian Year 12 subject. However, there are other ways to satisfy a course prerequisite.

There is no time limit for satisfying an English prerequisite, but other prerequisites must be satisfied within the last ten years to ensure the knowledge is current.

Advanced standing (credit)

Advanced standing (sometimes known as credit or recognition of prior learning) may be awarded based on prior study. Advanced standing is not awarded for work experience in undergraduate degrees. How to apply.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)

Applicants are selected according to academic merit, in the form of the ATAR or notional ATAR, as calculated by the relevant Tertiary Admissions Centre. Courses which select primarily on ATAR may have guarenteed ATARs set in advance but the lowest selection rank is not pre-determined(although the lowest selection rank from the previous year can be considered as a guide). Only applicants for whom additional criteria has been considered can be selected with an ATAR/notional ATAR that is below the lowest selection rank. The standard required to receive an offer in any intake may be above the published lowest selection rank from the previous year and will be determined as part of the selection process, depending on the pool of eligible applicants and the number of places available.

External assessment is a key component required in all qualifications approved as entry pathways to the University of Melbourne. For this reason, an ATAR or notional ATAR will be required for courses which select primarily on ATAR and study scores will be required to satisfy prerequisites (not simply completion of prerequisite subjects).

The University of Melbourne does not make any adjustments to the ATAR for applicants eligible for the Victorian Baccalaureate.

Prerequisites

All applicants must satisfy the course prerequisites. For most applicants, prerequisites will be satisfied by completing the relevant Australian Year 12 subject(s). However, there are other ways to satisfy a course prerequisite.

Criteria that may apply in addition to ATAR

For applicants who are not clearly-in, a number of factors may be taken into consideration in addition to the ATAR or notional ATAR:

Access Melbourne

Additional consideration is given on an individual basis based on the circumstances described in the SEAS application. For some applicants, selection guarantees may apply. For all applicants eligible for Access Melbourne, offers are regularly made significantly below the guaranteed ATAR (if applicable) and below the lowest selection rank ATAR. More information.

Elite Athletes and Artistic Performers Entry Scheme

Additional consideration is given on an individual basis based on the circumstances described in the Elite Athletes and Artistic Performers Entry Scheme application. For some applicants, selection guarantees may apply. For all applicants eligible for the Elite Athletes and Artistic Performers Entry Scheme, offers may be made below the guaranteed ATAR (if applicable). More information.

Adjustments for the following criteria are already made as part of the ATAR calculation and adjustments are not made by the University of Melbourne for:

• Extension studies undertaken as part of Year 12
• Bonus points for completed language subjects.

Personal statements

For applicants with secondary education who are not clearly-in, the VTAC personal statement may be taken into account during assessment. Only some elements of the statement will be considered:

• Relevant work and community experience will be considered only where work experience is specified as part of the selection criteria for the course.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The University is committed to improving participation in higher education by Indigenous students. All applicants who indicate through the VTAC course application and/or the VTAC SEAS application that they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent will have their status verified by Murrup Barak, the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development.

Once verified, an assessment will be made to determine if the applicant is likely to succeed in the proposed course of study. The standard entry requirements and entry standards for the course will not necessarily apply, although they will be considered as part of the assessment of whether the applicant is ‘likely to succeed’. When determining the ‘likelihood to succeed’ the additional support available through Murrup Barak and the Wilin Centre will be taken into consideration.

For some applicants, an Indigenous selection guarantee may apply. Indigenous applicants regularly receive offers when their ATAR (or notional ATAR) is significantly below the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made and the guaranteed ATAR for a course (if applicable).

How to apply

Domestic

Domestic students apply for undergraduate courses through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

Further information about the application process.

The main intake is at the start of the year (for Semester 1) but many of our courses also have a mid-year intake. Further details about the mid-year intake.

International

International students who are studying an Australian Year 12 or who are current University of Melbourne international students apply for undergraduate courses through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

All other international students apply online directly to the University.

Student and campus services (including financial assistance)

The University of Melbourne offers a comprehensive range of student support services.

Where to get further information

• University of Melbourne website
• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
• Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching
• Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
• Information about the University of Melbourne selection appeals process