Change of Preference

The SNAP access scheme provides priority entry to RMIT programs 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 program or programs can receive an equity adjustment. Depending on their initial ATAR and the competitiveness of the program/s, this may deem some applicants eligible for an offer. 

VTAC’s Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) allows us to consider disadvantages and circumstances that may have impacted on 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 programs 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 programs 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) for to your results in these selection tasks

Learn more about RMIT’s equity access schemes.

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 preference submission deadline on 4 January 2021 at 12pm 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 logged in.

Note: 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 

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. 

Pathways finder

Pathways Guaranteed 

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. 

Pathways Guaranteed

Apply directly to RMIT 

We also have certificates 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. 

Traineeships and apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships and traineeships are a good way to study while you work. RMIT has a broad range of apprenticeships and traineeships on offer.  

Explore 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 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 maximise your chances of receiving an offer.

You cannot attempt to make changes outside the specific Change of Preference period. For Year 12 domestic VCE and interstate students, this period opens on Wednesday 30 December from 12pm AEDT and closes on Monday 4 January at 12pm AEDT.

For domestic and international IB applicants, this period closes on Monday 4 January at 4pm AEDT.  

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 tertiary institutes on your list.

For further information, please 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 selection into the course. 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.

Please use our pathway finder 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 Thursday 14 January 2021. 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.

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

Change of Preference opens on Wednesday 30 December from 12pm AEDT. For domestic VCE and interstate students, it closes on Monday 4 January at 12pm AEDT. For domestic and international IB applicants, it closes on Monday 4 January at 4pm AEDT.

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 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.

When the Change of Preference period has closed on Monday 4 January at 12pm AEDT (domestic VCE and interstate students), or Monday 4 January at 4pm (domestic and international IB applicants), VTAC will contact all 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

After this, if you are a domestic student, you will receive your offer on Thursday 14 January 2021, with the opportunity to further change preferences in subsequent rounds.

If you're an international student Change of Preference closes at 4pm on Saturday 14 December. Follow this step-by-step guide on how to apply to RMIT if you're an international student.

Information for international students

You could still secure a place in your dream RMIT Engineering or Science degree by undertaking the RMIT Maths Bridging Programme. This programme is a second chance for those who may have missed the required Maths Methods study score to gain entry to an RMIT Science and Engineering Degree. It provides the knowledge, essential skills and support that have not otherwise met the mathematics prerequisite study score for your RMIT desired course. To find out more about eligibility and how it works, visit the Maths Bridging Programme page.