Get job-ready sooner or pathway into higher education with vocational study, also known as TAFE. Choose a hands-on certificate or diploma and take charge of what's next.
Get job-ready sooner or pathway into higher education with vocational study, also known as TAFE. Choose a hands-on certificate or diploma and take charge of what's next.
With a diverse range of certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas, it's never been easier to find the right fit for you.
RMIT's Free TAFE and JobTrainer courses will help you upskill or retrain for Australia's most in-demand jobs. Places are limited, so apply now to hit the ground running in 2022 with a hands-on certificate or diploma.
Australia’s VET Student Loans and Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) provides loans to students studying approved courses. They allow students to defer the costs of tuition until their taxable income reaches a certain level.
RMIT has been training TAFE students for over 130 years. Learn from industry practitioners with years of experience and specialised expertise and discover why we’re ranked 8th in Australia for graduate employability.* QS Graduate Employability Rankings (2022)
At RMIT, it is! TAFE (Technical and Further Education) refers to nationally accredited courses in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. TAFE courses are offered by government and registered training organisations, which includes RMIT University.
Pick up job-specific skills in just 6 - 12 months with these technical qualifications. A great place to start gaining practical knowledge in your field.
Get the specialised knowledge you need to work in skilled or paraprofessional areas. These programs normally take one to two years of full-time study.
Apprenticeships and traineeships combine training and employment, normally over three to four years. Learn on the job and earn money while studying.
Study pathways provide opportunities for you to transfer between RMIT courses. There's often more than one path to the degree you want, so don’t worry if you don’t meet all the entry criteria at first.
So you’ve picked what course you want to study but want to find out how much you’ll pay to get started? Get an estimate of fees for your vocational education program.
Here's some answers to the most popular vocational study questions to help you make the next step.
As part of RMIT’s flexible study options we’re developing important connection points with our students that include:
Weekly videos to outline and recap lessons
Discussion with students through online collaboration tools and forums
Online drop-in sessions with lecturers
Online learning activities to demonstrate skills and receive feedback
This means you’ll get the real-life experience and vocational skills that set RMIT graduates apart.
One important difference between TAFE courses and traditional university degrees is that TAFE adheres to the VET (Vocational Education and Training) approach, which means that learning is more practical in nature.
If you like to be practical – and prefer supported learning – then vocational study has you covered. But if you like to deep dive into research and enjoy independent learning, then a university degree would probably be more your style.
University degrees will generally explore more theory while vocational study focuses on gaining specific skills.
How much you’ll pay will depend on whether you’re offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee paying place.
You will be offered a government-subsidised place if you meet the eligibility criteria based on your citizenship, age and educational history. You must also live in Victoria during your studies.
If you don’t meet the criteria for a government-subsidised place, you’ll be offered a full-fee place.
The best and quickest way to check your fee amount is to enter the program code of your preferred course into the RMIT fee finder. If you don’t know what the program code is - you can find this code on the RMIT program’s webpage under the ‘Details’ section.
The Australian Government provides financial assistance in the form of VET Student Loans for eligible students enrolling in eligible courses.
You can browse an online list of RMIT courses that are eligible for a VET Student Loans.
More information about vocational study fees.
The great thing about vocational study is that many courses do not have difficult academic requirements - sometimes none at all!
The Admissions section on each course page details the entry requirements relating to prerequisites and selection tasks for submission, if relevant.
There's often more than one way to get into a degree so don’t worry if you don’t meet all the criteria at first. Study pathways provide opportunities for you to transfer from one course to another based on your previous educational experience.
RMIT also offers pre-university study that allows you to develop academic skills, improve your English or gain the confidence to study a university course.
RMIT recognises prior learning, so if you want to improve your current knowledge or skill level, you don’t necessarily have to start at certificate to finally walk away with an advanced diploma. Being acknowledged for previous study may reduce the duration of your course and save you money.
When you apply you will be asked to note previous study which will be considered with your application. Once you’ve been made an offer you will need to fill out a credit application form and it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Some certificates and diplomas allow you to earn credit, or guaranteed entry into a degree at a later stage. There are a number of recognised pathway options so check your course or interest area to see what's offered.
Every course is different, with our flexible learning options classes are available during the day, evening and weekends.
The timetable for our courses are not being finalised until applications have closed. However, as a student you will be able to access and manage your timetable by logging into the RMIT myTimetable system to select your classes.
At RMIT University we have a wide range of jobs and career resources to help you build your future career:
No matter what your careers question might be, you can get in touch with our Job Shop Team.
Please read the RMIT University – Online Service Standards (PDF) to find out more.
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
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.
