Change of Preference

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.

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

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.

There are a variety of options for you at RMIT:

• Pathways through certificate and diploma programs
  Vocational education courses are certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas. These can be added to your VTAC preferences to be used as pathways into higher qualification courses.
  
  
• Apply directly to RMIT
  We also have certificate courses that you can apply for directly to RMIT. Direct application programs are mostly certificates I, II and III. Please visit Study with us to find out if you can apply directly to the certificate program you’re interested in.
  
  
• Apprenticeships and traineeships
  Apprenticeships and traineeships are a good way to study while you work. RMIT has a broad range of apprenticeships and traineeships on offer. 
  More information about apprenticeships and traineeships
  
  
• Single courses (subjects)
  Single courses (subjects) are a great introduction to a field of study. If you plan to apply for full time courses in the future, you may be able to receive credits for your single courses. 
  More information about RMIT short and single courses
  
  

The ATAR 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 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 maximize your chances of receiving an offer.

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 ( or call  VTAC on +61 3 9926 1020).

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 ATAR.

• Published 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 2018 ATARs (PDF)  or the VTAC website for the most recent ATAR information.
• Where the ATAR is 30 or below, VTAC will publish it as NP.
  
• 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 an ATAR.
• Courses which have 10 or fewer offers will have the opportunity to decide whether to publish the ATAR or record it as NP.
• 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.

Study pathways provide opportunities for you to transfer between RMIT courses - but the exact process can vary depending on each individual course. Please refer to the RMIT Pathways page to find the possible pathways that students can undertake. These may include Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Associate Degrees.

If you still need more guidance please call Info Corner on 03 9925 2260.

Institutions are not in a position to tell you 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. Minimum 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 minimum 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.

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.

If you're an international student Change of Preference closes at 4pm on Saturday 15 December. Follow this step-by-step guide on how to apply to RMIT if you're an international student.

Information for international students