Change of Preference

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Change of Preference

Make what's next count with your RMIT first preference. Explore pathways and study options, and discover the right course for you.

Change of Preference

Make what's next count with your RMIT first preference. Explore pathways and study options, and discover the right course for you.

Change of preference

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How does Change of Preference work?

It’s time to make what’s next count. Here’s what you can expect now that exams are over, from ATAR release to receiving a course offer. 

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Here are some things you should know

Based on thousands of conversations with Year 12 students, we've collected answers to the most common questions we're asked each year during the Change of Preference period and listed them below.

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There are many ways you may be eligible for special consideration at RMIT.

RMIT’s Schools Network Access Program (SNAP)

The SNAP access scheme provides priority entry to RMIT courses for students from designated Victorian secondary schools.

Eligible SNAP students that have an ATAR within 20 points of the lowest selection rank (including adjustments) for their preferred courses can receive an equity adjustment. Depending on their initial ATAR and the competitiveness of the course, this may deem some applicants eligible for an offer.

VTAC’s Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS)

SEAS allows us to consider disadvantages and circumstances that may have impacted your academic performance. 
 
Eligible applicants can receive an adjustment to the calculation of their selection rank, which can increase the chances of receiving an offer.

For courses that select primarily on ATAR, any adjustments you are eligible to receive are used in combination with your ATAR to calculate your selection rank.

For courses that select on Range of Criteria, where selection is based on your performance in selection tasks such as interviews or folio presentations, you will receive an equivalent level of adjustment (SEAS and/or SNAP) to your results in these selection tasks.

Other ways to access RMIT

From pathways to regional adjustments, there are many alternative ways to gain entry to a course at RMIT.

During specified periods you will be able to add, remove or reorder your course preferences in your course application. After each of these specified periods is an offer round, during which VTAC notifies you of the highest offer on your preference list.

Between offer rounds, you may want to change your preferences if you have changed your mind about which course you most want to study, if a new course has become available and you would like to add it to your preference list, or if a course you had applied for has been cancelled and you want to replace it in your preference list.

For more information on offer round dates, check the VTAC dates and fees page.

We understand that choosing your course preferences can be a little daunting, so we’re here to help.

Through our dedicated hotline and live chat, open until the domestic preference submission deadline on Monday 20 December 2021 at 4pm AEDT, you can speak to us about any questions you have, including information on your RMIT course, and study options if you didn’t get the ATAR you needed.

You will need to log in to your VTAC Online Application using your VTAC ID and PIN. Full instructions are provided once you're logged in.

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

There are a variety of options for you at RMIT, including: 

Study a similar vocational course 

Not all courses require an ATAR to gain entry into at RMIT University. If you have completed VCAL or decided to complete an unscored VCE you may be eligible to apply to RMIT’s vocational courses.  

Vocational study, sometimes known as TAFE, includes certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas. At RMIT, there are lots of vocational courses to choose from across a range of study areas. You could choose to study a vocational course that is similar to the higher education course you originally had in mind. Alternatively, you could choose a vocational course that will help you get into your desired higher education course later (otherwise known as a ‘pathway’). Vocational courses can be added to your VTAC preferences just like higher education courses.

Guaranteed Pathways 

RMIT also offers Guaranteed Pathways (or pathway packages) for some higher education degrees. This means you will be able to guarantee your place in your dream course by completing your vocational studies first, and graduate with two internationally-recognised RMIT qualifications. You can preference pathway packages in VTAC. 

Apprenticeships and traineeships

A hands-on apprenticeship or certificate will teach you the practical skills today to get the job tomorrow. RMIT has a broad range of apprenticeships and traineeships on offer so you'll be built for what's next.  

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.  

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.

The published ATAR is a reflection of last year’s intake and can only be used as a guide when choosing your courses, as 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.

Before each offer round, there is a temporary locked period when universities and TAFEs select successful applicants. After each offer round, Change of Preference will reopen until the next lock period.

If you have not paid your processing fees in full, your application and any changes to your preference list will not be considered for selection by the universities or TAFEs on your list.

For further information, please check VTAC dates or contact VTAC (1300 364 133).

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.

If you have met the prerequisites and selection requirements you may add that course to your list of preferences. It is important to note that if you have not met the prerequisites and selection requirements you will not be considered for a course offer. We recommend that you only add and reorder your preferences of courses for which you are eligible.

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.

RMIT has your back with lots of pathways and course finding tools to help you get into your dream course.

You can use our pathway finder tool to explore your study options with RMIT or 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 us on 03 9925 2260.

Each course at RMIT has a Selection Officer. It is this person's job 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 essential requirements and admission criteria of your course on the VTAC website to find out what criteria a Selection Officer will be using when making selections.

 

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you whether you will definitely get into a specific course or not. However, if you have completed the required prerequisites and selection tasks, you will be considered.

Remember: published ATARs reflect last year's intake, and can be used as a guide only.

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 the Admissions subheading, 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 folio

  • completing a supplementary information form or pre-selection kit.

If a course requires you to complete a selection task, this will also be stated on the RMIT course page under Admissions, or on the VTAC website.

If you are a domestic student, January round domestic offers are emailed to applicants on Friday 14 January 2022. Subsequent offers are also released in rounds throughout February.

Check the VTAC website if you are an international student, non-Year 12 applicant or are searching for dates on further offer rounds.

You can choose to wait to see if an offer is made in subsequent offer rounds or change your preferences by adding or removing courses.

You do not have to pay theyour VTAC application fee straight away, but if you do not pay by the deadline (see dates and fees) your application will not be considered.

For domestic VCE and interstate students, the first round of Change of Preference closes on Monday 20 December at 4pm AEDT. For international students, it closes on Friday 17 December at 12pm. For domestic and international IB applicants, it closes on Tuesday 4 January at 4pm.

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

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 thee VTAC website for all round dates. 

If you receive an offer for your first preference – congratulations! If you leave your preferences as is, you won’t receive any further offers.

However, if for some reason you change your mind, and change your course preferences, you may be eligible for further offers in subsequent offer rounds.

When the first round of the Change of Preference period has closed on Friday 17 December at 12pm AEDT (international students), Monday 20 December at 4pm (domestic VCE and interstate students), or Tuesday 4 January at 4pm (domestic and international IB applicants), VTAC will contact all the relevant universities or TAFEs 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

After this, if you are a domestic student, you will receive your offer on Friday 14 January 2022, with the opportunity to further change preferences in subsequent rounds. If you’re an international student, you will receive your offer on 21 December 2021.

If you're an international student and you’d like to receive your uni offer on 21 December 2021, you need to change your preferences and pay the VTAC fee by 12pm on Friday 17 December.

Follow this step-by-step guide on how to apply to RMIT if you're an international student.

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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 created by Louisa Bloomer

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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