VTAC for international students

Some international students can apply to study at RMIT via VTAC. Find out if you're eligible to apply for your chosen courses this way.

Applying via VTAC as an international student

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses in Victoria, Australia (including Melbourne).

You are an international student who can apply via VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you are currently ​studying:

  • an Australian Year 12 ​(in Australia or overseas) for example:  VCE, VCAL, HSC, NTCE, QLD Senior Certificate, SACE, TCE, WACE ​​or​

  • an International Baccalaureate ​(​in Australia or New Zealand) ​

You can apply via VTAC for higher education programs, which include bachelor, associate and honours degrees. 

Note: If you wish to apply for vocational education programs, which include: certificate IV, diploma and advanced diplomas a different process applies, see Application methods for more information.

Courses codes listed in the VTAC website ending in ‘3’ (e.g. 3223445153) are available to international students. To see RMIT's programs available to international students, visit programs and fees.

Every RMIT program has its own specific entry requirement that may include selection task(s). Please check the requirements in the course entry in VTAC or on the program page on the RMIT website.

If you completed year 12 in another Australian state please refer to the VTAC website.

Offers Released
January offer round 1 international 7 January 2021
January offer round 2 international 12 January 2021
January offer round 3 international 15 January 2021
January offer round 4 international 20 January 2021
January offer round 5 international 25 January 2021

>> Offers are emailed to applicants on the day of release and available in the VTAC account from 2pm the same day.

* RMIT will endeavour to send official offers to international students within 48 hours of VTAC offer
* Please refer to VTAC website for graduate entry teaching courses as the dates may differ

Change of Preference

Change of Preference is a period of time at the end of each year where year 12 students can update their course preferences. This might be because of a change of plans, or the student may have got a lower or higher ATAR score than they anticipated.

Frequently asked questions

Here's the answers to the most common questions we're asked each year during the Change of Preference period.

The ATAR requirement depends on how many students apply for a course, how many places are offered, and the ATARs of these students. If there is high demand for a course in a given year, this will increase the ATAR requirement for that year. If the demand drops off the next year, it will decrease. 

It is impossible to predict whether ATARs will go up or down from year to year. We suggest that if you wish to do a certain course, keep it on your preference list and make good use of your other preferences in order to maximise your chances of receiving an offer.

2021 ATAR profile can be found on RMIT program website as a reference. 

How to find RMIT 2021 ATAR profile 

Step 1: Please refer to RMIT Programs, Intakes and Tuition Fees for international students

Step 2: Find the program

Step 3: In the program overview page, please view entry score under Student Type: International.

Prerequisites refer to studies you must have completed to be eligible for a course. This information can be found on an RMIT course page under Entry Requirements or on the VTAC website.

For some courses you need to complete selection tasks as part of your application. In the VTAC guide these are referred to as selection requirements.

Selection tasks might include:

  • attending an interview
  • submitting a portfolio
  • completing a supplementary information form or pre-selection kit.

If a course requires you to complete a selection task, this will be stated under the heading Entry requirements in the course summary in Study with us, or in the VTAC website.

Program level EAL English
Foundation studies and VE programs (Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma) 20 15
Diploma of Commerce 25 20
Diploma of Nursing / Bachelor of Nursing (from 2020) Academic IELTS 7.0 (7.0) N/A
Associate Degree 25 20
*Bachelor Degrees (Bachelor Degree, Double Degree and Honours Degree) 30 25

*Some bachelor degrees may require a higher EAL / English study score.

If your ATAR score is sufficient for entry into a program, but you do not meet the English language requirements via EAL/English scores you have achieved, you can apply directly via for the program to intend to study via Studylink. Our admissions team will issue a package offer including English based on your scores. Please use the following table as an indication of the number of weeks of English program required at RMIT English Worldwide.

Achieved Score Weeks of English that can be offered Intended level of program
EAL 25–29 10 Bachelor program
EAL 20–24 20 Bachelor program
EAL 20–24 10 Associate Degree or Diploma of Commerce
EAL <20 N/A N/A

Please refer to RMIT Pathways to find the possible pathways that students can undertake. These may include Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, and Associate Degrees.

If you need any further guidance please contact Study@RMIT or call us on 03 9925 2260.

There are a variety of options for you at RMIT including pathways through vocational education.

Vocational education courses include certificates, diplomas, and advanced diplomas. You can apply for these pathway options directly to RMIT.

Use Studylink to submit your application. Please refer to RMIT Pathways to find the possible pathways that students can undertake.

Please note: Some programs are not available for international students intending to study on a student visa.

Yes, you can, but it must be the same agent that you may have authorised to submit your VTAC application on behalf of you. Select your country on Representatives in your country to find an agent near you.

You will need to log in to your VTAC Online Application using your application number and PIN. Full instructions are provided once logged in.

Note: You don’t have to change all of your preferences. You can simply add, subtract or re-arrange whichever courses you would like to. This may only be one course, or it may be all courses on your list.

If you miss the Change of Preference period, your unchanged preference list will be processed and forwarded to the institutions for consideration in round 1.

Note: To apply for a course that is not on your final preference list, you will get a chance to change your preferences during round 2. Please visit the VTAC website for dates.

If you have not paid your processing fees in full you will be denied the option of changing your preferences. Your original list of preferences will be processed and considered for selection.

You cannot attempt to make changes outside the specific VTAC Change of Preference period.

For further information please contact VTAC.

No, if you are happy and confident with the original list of courses that you selected through VTAC, then you do not have to make any changes to your preference list.

Clearly-in ATARs are a product of the selection process and therefore aren’t known until after selection takes place. After the Change of Preference period, institutions look at the list of students who have applied for their course and select students from this list. The ATARs of the students who have been selected form the basis of the clearly-in ATAR.

  • Published clearly-in ATARs reflect last year's intake and should only be used as a guide as ATARs can change from year to year.
  • Please refer to the RMIT ATAR course finder or the VTAC website for the most recent clearly-in ATAR information.
  • Where the clearly-in ATAR is 30 or below, VTAC will publish it as N/A.
  • Courses with RC (Range of Criteria) select on a few different requirements, as outlined on the VTAC website for the specific course. Due to this they do not have a clearly-in ATAR.
  • Courses which have 10 or fewer offers will have the opportunity to decide whether to publish the clearly-in ATAR or record it as N/A.
  • Certificate and diploma courses may use ATAR for selection, however these are not published.

If you meet the prerequisites and selection requirements for a course, you may add it to your list of preferences. It is important to note that if you do not meet the prerequisites and/or selection requirements your application will not be considered. We recommend that you only add and reorder your preferences for courses you are eligible for.

VTAC provides prompts to applicants ensuring that they check their details carefully. For example, if you apply for a course that requires you to have submitted an extra requirement, such as a folio, VTAC will ask you whether you have done this. Please refer to the VTAC website to ensure you have completed any necessary extra requirements.

Institutions are not able to provide advice on how to order your specific preferences. How you order your preferences should be based on which courses you would prefer to do.

The course that you would most like to do should be your first preference. Your second favourite course should be your second preference and so on, provided you are eligible. The preferences further down your list can be used to include pathway courses to your most preferred courses.

Each course at RMIT has a selection officer. It is this person's role to select students based on the prerequisites and selection requirements outlined in VTAC. This may include ATAR, folio, interview, selection tasks, personal statements or supplementary forms.

You can check the admission criteria section of the specific course entry on the VTAC website to find out what criteria a selection officer will be using.

Published ATARs reflect last year's intake and can be used as a guide only. Clearly-in ATARs may change each year, either up or down due to a number of factors. If there is high demand for a course in a given year, this will increase the clearly-in ATAR for that year. If the demand drops off the next year, it will decrease. 

Due to this we are unable to advise you if you will definitely get into a course or not, however if you have completed the required prerequisites and selection tasks you will be considered.

When the Change of Preference period has closed, VTAC will contact all of the relevant institutions on your final preference list with the following information:

  • Your application details
  • Your Year 12 study scores and ATAR (if applicable)
  • Details of any other/additional studies (if any claimed)
  • Your SEAS/special circumstances application, if lodged

Interstate applicants can refer to the VTAC Interstate Scoring Conversions page.

You can accept online via Studylink.

Ready to apply?

If you're applying for higher education, you can do so via the VTAC website.

For information on how to apply for vocational education, visit RMIT's Application methods.

Need help with your application?

Our team is here to support you and answer any questions you have about studying at RMIT or preparing your application.

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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.

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.