What are your unscored VCE and VCAL options?

What are your unscored VCE and VCAL options?

If you are an unscored VCE student or a VCAL student, you might find yourself asking how to get into university without an ATAR. There are many pathways into a university course that you may never have considered.

If you are an unscored VCE student or a VCAL student, you might find yourself asking how to get into university without an ATAR. There are many pathways into a university course that you may never have considered.

An ATAR isn’t the only way into the course of your dreams

The perfect exam score isn’t the only way to begin your university journey, and at RMIT there are many ways to achieve your dreams.

Pathways

If you studied VCAL, have completed an unscored VCE, or didn’t get the ATAR results you were hoping for, one of the first options is a pathway into university.   

A university pathway is an alternative way into a course. RMIT's flexible pathways can help you move through different levels of study to reach the qualification you're aiming for. While pathways can take a little longer, they also give you the opportunity to pick up some additional credentials and experiences along the way.  

Pathways come in all shapes and sizes, but luckily there is a quick and easy way to find what will work for you. To begin browsing your options, check out the RMIT Pathway Finder or contact us to chat about what’s available. 

Christine, wearing an orange jumper, looking at laptop screen inside RMIT building

Guaranteed Pathways

Just because you didn’t get the ATAR results you wanted, doesn’t mean you can’t start your university journey. Guaranteed Pathways are packaged course options that you can preference when you make your VTAC selections. 

Find out more

Discover your options in vocational study

You may have often thought about whether it matters that you don’t have an ATAR. An ATAR result is just one way into university – there are many tertiary education courses that don’t require an ATAR at all. If you have completed VCAL or decided to complete VCE as unscored, you are eligible to apply for RMIT University’s vocational study options (also known as TAFE).

Some of these courses may look at your ATAR as part of selection, however those that have completed VCAL or are unscored VCE students are eligible to apply.

You can even undertake an apprenticeships or traineeships to combine training and employment. These let you take that first step to landing a job in the industry, and we can help you get there with the RMIT Skills and Job Centre.

Studying a TAFE course can lead to further study or directly to an in-demand career.

Which type of vocational study is right for you?

Certificates I, III and IV

Pick up job-specific skills in as little as six months with these technical qualifications. Certificates are a great place to start gaining hands-on knowledge.

Certificate II and pre-apprenticeships

Certificate II, also known as a pre-apprenticeship, is designed to help you gain the practical experience to give an edge when you start your apprenticeship or progress into a Certificate III.

Diplomas and advanced diplomas

If you’ve just finished high school as a non-VCE or non-ATAR student, these courses are a great way to begin your university journey. They can be a great option if you want to progress on to an undergraduate degree.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

Apprenticeships and traineeships combine training and employment, normally over three to four years. Learn on the job and earn money while studying.

Frequently asked questions

VCE refers to the Victorian Certificate of Education, which is the award received for the successful completion of Year 12 in Victoria. VCE students sit through a series of exams for the VCE subjects they chose. The results of these exam determine their ATAR. This score is then used as a metric for entry into a higher education course.

Unscored VCE refers to students who complete their chosen VCE subjects but opt to not sit their final exams and do not receive an ATAR. Unscored VCE students still require a passing grade in their coursework to be awarded their VCE.

VCAL is an alternative to VCE that focuses on skills required for TAFE courses, apprenticeships, traineeships and future work. Like unscored VCE students, VCAL students do not receive an ATAR.

Whether you didn’t get the ATAR score you needed for a certain course, or don’t have an ATAR as an unscored VCE or VCAL student, there are other ways into your RMIT course. These are known as pathways.

If there are no pathways into a particular course that you are interested in, you may be able to gain entry using another vocational qualification. Speak to Study@RMIT to discuss your options.

The Admissions section on each course page details the entry requirements of the relevant course, including prerequisites and selection tasks. While some courses have requirements and prerequisites, not all courses do.

One important difference between TAFE courses and traditional university degrees is that TAFE adheres to the VET (Vocational Education and Training) approach, which means that learning is more practical in nature.

If you like to be practical – and prefer supported learning – then vocational study has you covered.

You can also start with a vocational course and transfer to a bachelor or associate degree. As RMIT is the largest dual-sector university in Australia, we offer recognised pathway options that give you the opportunity to study vocational courses before transferring to undergraduate study at RMIT.

If you know the kind of course or subject you're hoping to study, you can explore your study options at RMIT using our Pathway Finder tool. However, if you are looking to discuss your options with an RMIT staff member, be sure to contact us to find out more.

Some certificates and diplomas allow you to earn credit, or guaranteed entry into a degree at a later stage. There are a number of recognised pathway options so check your course or interest area to see what’s offered.

More information

School Network Access Program (SNAP)

RMIT's SNAP partners with 200 schools to provide students with priority access to various RMIT courses.

Information for parents

Is your teen preparing for their first year of uni, or interested in vocational education (sometimes known as TAFE)? Here's everything you need to know.

Support for career advisers

Support your students in choosing the right course for them, order brochures, explore pathway options, book an event and access other useful resources.

School Leaver Hub

Discover all your study options and tools to help you succeed during Year 12.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information