Certificate I-IV qualifications are the ideal place to start if you’re new to studying. They’re designed to produce skilled workers with a broader range of technical and specialised knowledge, including apprenticeships and traineeships. They usually take between six months to a year of full-time study to complete. 

Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas give you the chance to apply practical and job-related training in a range of context for ‘real world’ work. They normally take one to two years of full-time study to complete. You’ll graduate qualified as a highly skilled worker or paraprofessional. 

Associate Degrees are a two-year (full-time) university qualification for professional careers, with an emphasis on vocational skills, theory and the development of transferable skills.

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. 

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 hands-on and practical – and prefer a supportive learning environment – 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 in classes, and less hours on campus. Vocational study involves more face-to-face class time and a focus on gaining specific skills. 

At RMIT University we have a wide range of jobs and career resources to help you build your future career:  

• Free Resume and Cover Letter reviews
• Help to find job opportunities 
• Careers workshops and events
• Booking in a Careers Consultation
• Learn more about job ready programs such as Future Edge, Industry Mentoring and Jobs on Campus

No matter what your careers question might be, you can drop in and see our Job Shop Team. 

How much you’ll pay will depend on whether you’re offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee paying place.

The best and quickest way to check your fee amount is to enter the program code of your preferred course into the fee finder. 

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.

Please note that in addition to your tuition fees, you will be charged a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which is indexed annually. You may also be required to purchase items related to your course, including textbooks and equipment. These material fees are not compulsory and you may choose to purchase these items independently.

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. 

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. 

Every course is different, with some having classes in the day-time, evening or intensively delivered workshops over the weekend. 

The timetable for our courses are not be 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.

Find more information about timetabling at RMIT.