Where to Now? 2024

Where to Now? 2024 Your guide to senior secondary school pathways in Victoria has details about the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), including the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM), and where it can take you after you finish school.

This guide also details the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), a flexible certificate designed for students in Years 11 and 12 who would benefit from a more individualised program at a more accessible level than the VCE and the VCE VM.

Every student has different interests and strengths. This guide explains the many choices you can make.

Make sure your path is right for you. Before you choose your pathway and subject preferences, talk to your teacher or careers practitioner.

Special Provision

If you want to do the VCE, VCE VM or VPC and you are affected by an illness, have an impairment or disability, or are impacted by factors relating to a personal circumstance, you may be eligible for special provision. Ask your school about what’s available to help you successfully finish your VCE, VCE VM or VPC.

VCE and VCE Vocational Major

Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC)

VET

Congratulations! You’ve made it to your final years at school.
I hope you are feeling excited about the two years ahead.

The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP
Minister for Education and Minister for Women

Read more of the Minister's Welcome

Student pathways

Deshi wants to be a lawyer so they’re going to enrol in VCE subjects like English, Mathematics, Legal Studies, Physical Education, History and VCE VET Business. They will finish secondary school with their VCE.

Deshi has chosen subjects that are relevant to their future career as well as those they have a genuine interest in. They discussed their choices with their teacher and school careers practitioner so that Deshi meets the university course prerequisites to study law.

Deshi’s Year 10 subjects

VCE Physical Education Units 1 and 2

Deshi’s Year 11 subjects

VCE English Units 1 and 2
VCE Mathematical Methods Units 1 and 2
VCE Legal Studies Units 1 and 2
VCE Modern History Units 1 and 2
VCE Physical Education Units 3 and 4
VCE VET Certificate III in Business Units 1 and 2

Deshi’s Year 12 subjects

VCE English Units 3 and 4
VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4
VCE History Revolutions Units 3 and 4
VCE Legal Studies Units 3 and 4
VCE VET Certificate III in Business Units 3 and 4

Kamala likes learning on the job and wants to be a metal fabricator, so she’s going to enrol in the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM). She’ll do VCE VM studies and a VCE VET Certificate II in Engineering. Kamala will finish secondary school with her Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major. She discussed all this with her family, teacher and school careers practitioner.

In Year 10, Kamala participated in a TAFE taster day and experienced VET engineering. She then went on a careers excursion to a local caravan manufacturer and asked if she could do Structured Workplace Learning at the company while she was in Year 11. This means she’ll spend some school time at the caravan manufacturer learning on the job. She will receive credit for this time towards her VCE Vocational Major. When she completes Year 12, Kamala hopes to gain an apprenticeship with this company.

Kamala’s Year 11 subjects

VCE VM Literacy Units 1 and 2
VCE General Maths Units 1 and 2
VCE VM Work Related Skills (WRS) Units 1 and 2
VCE VET Certificate II in Engineering Studies Units 1 and 2
VET Unit 1 Structured Workplace Learning (90 hours)

Kamala’s Year 12 subjects

VCE VM Literacy Units 3 and 4
VCE General Maths Units 3 and 4
VCE VM Personal Development Skills (PDS) Units 3 and 4
VCE VM Work Related Skills (WRS) Units 3 and 4
VCE VET Certificate II in Engineering Studies Units 3 and 4
VET Unit 2 Structured Workplace Learning SWLR (90 hours)

Brandon needs flexibility as he returns to school due to an ongoing medical condition. Brandon’s teacher discussed the VPC with him and his parents.

Brandon likes the VPC because he can start his learning program when he wants to. Brandon decides to enrol in VPC subjects, doing community projects and working in a team. It could take Brandon longer than two years to complete his learning program.

Instead of completing Year 10 English and Mathematics, Brandon does the VPC Unit 1 of Literacy and Numeracy. When he makes his choices for Year 11 and 12, Brandon knows the VPC is the right program for him because he still needs flexibility.

In Year 11 he starts the Certificate II in Small Business because this VET is run onsite at school which makes it easier for him to attend. By Year 12, Brandon is attending school on a regular basis and enrols in the Certificate II in Salon Assistant. He undertakes Structured Workplace Learning in a hair salon which means he’ll gain credit for his work placement.

Brandon wants an apprenticeship as a hairdresser when he leaves school.

Brandon’s Year 10 subjects

VPC Literacy Unit 1
VPC Numeracy Unit 1

Brandon’s Year 11 subjects

VPC Literacy Unit 2
VPC Numeracy Unit 2
VPC Personal Development Skills (PDS) Unit 1
VPC Work Related Skills (WRS) Unit 1
VET Unit Certificate II in Small Business (Operations/Innovation) Units 1 and 2

Brandon’s Year 12 subjects

VPC Literacy Unit 3
VPC Personal Development Skills (PDS) Unit 2
VPC Work Related Skills (WRS) Unit 2
VET Certificate II in Salon Assistant Units 1 and 2
VET Unit 1 SWLR (90 hours)