What is VTAC and what does it do?

Updated

VTAC (the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) is an independent shared admissions service that handles applications for university, TAFE, and college courses in Victoria, Australia. If you are applying to tertiary study in Victoria as a Year 12 student, an interstate, international or IB student, or a post-school applicant, you generally apply through VTAC rather than directly to each institution. Applications for the 2027 intake are currently open, and timely applications close 28 September at 5pm to avoid late fees.

What VTAC actually handles

VTAC is not a university or a course provider. It is the central service that receives your application, manages your course preferences, and passes your results and supporting information to the institutions you apply to. Its main functions include:

  • Course applications — one application covering multiple courses and institutions
  • CourseSearch — a tool to explore course options, check what you need to get in, and build a list of favourite courses
  • ATAR calculation — for eligible Year 12 students
  • SEAS and scholarships — equity scheme and scholarship applications, including eligibility requirements and evidence
  • Preference management — ordering and changing the courses you want to be considered for

Who it is for

VTAC groups its guidance by applicant type, which is a useful signal of whether the service applies to you:

Applicant type Relevant if you are…
Australian Year 12 students Completing Year 12 in Australia this year
Interstate, international and IB students Studying outside Victoria or in an international/IB program
Post-school applicants Applying after leaving school, at any age or career stage
Year 10 & 11 students Planning ahead and exploring pathways

VTAC describes its role as supporting learners "of any age and at any stage of life," so it is not limited to school leavers.

How the process works

  1. Create your profile — set up a VTAC account, which is where you apply for courses, equity schemes, and scholarships.
  2. Search courses — use CourseSearch to find options and check entry requirements.
  3. Submit your application — apply before the timely deadline (28 September, 5pm) to avoid late fees.
  4. Add equity and scholarship applications — complete the separate steps and provide the required evidence if you meet eligibility requirements.
  5. Manage your preferences — order your course choices; this determines the order in which offers are considered.

Key dates and deadlines

VTAC publishes a full key dates page covering the timeline from applying through to offers, with separate deadlines for students and post-school applicants. The one date highlighted on the homepage is the timely application cutoff: 28 September, 5pm. Missing it means late fees apply.

Practical notes

  • Applications are made through your VTAC account, not by contacting institutions individually.
  • VTAC offers a subscription for general application advice and key deadline reminders if you want updates pushed to you.
  • If you are unsure whether you are a Year 12, interstate/international, or post-school applicant, VTAC's guides are split along exactly those lines — start with the one matching your situation.

For course-specific entry requirements, use CourseSearch; for the application timeline, use the key dates page.