The Higher Education Studies Program is offered by higher education institutions (universities) and the VCAA. Two types of study, Extension and Advanced Standing are offered through this program.
An Extension study is a first-year Higher Education study that is:
An Advanced Standing study is a first-year Higher Education study that is:
Note: Only one Higher Education Study may contribute towards satisfactory completion for the award of the VCE.
Higher Education studies are designed for independent high achieving VCE students. Schools wishing to join the program should discuss their participation directly with the Higher Education institution concerned. Schools also have the responsibility of counselling students regarding the prerequisite requirements for each Higher Education study.
Schools recommend students for participation in the program. The principal of the school will certify that selected students meet the guidelines provided by the Higher Education institutions, which may include specific tests.
Where students have completed the VCE preparatory study and/or any other prerequisite requirement of the Higher Education study in a previous year, they are required to have an active enrolment and satisfactorily complete at least one Units 3 and 4 sequence towards the VCE, in the same year in which they enrol in the Higher Education study.
Normally, for Extension studies, students enrolling will have demonstrated high achievement across all studies and have a VCE study score of 40 or more in the preparatory study where applicable. In some instances, however, students are allowed to enrol in the prerequisite VCE study concurrently with the Higher Education study.
Advanced Standing studies do not necessarily have a prerequisite or co-requisite structure in relation to current VCE studies.
To help students fit Higher Education studies in with their VCE, universities deliver programs in a variety of ways. They may be delivered on university campus, through schools, or through distance education and tutorials, depending on the institution.
Programs are taught either by university staff or by secondary school teachers who are recognised by the institutions as qualified to teach at that level and in that discipline.
A Higher Education study may contribute towards satisfactory completion for the award of the VCE as an unscored Unit 3 and 4 sequence. Students who successfully complete a Higher Education study have the title of the study, the year of enrolment and the Higher Education institution name reported on their VCE Statement of Results.
VTAC advises that where a student successfully completes a Higher Education study, and where applicable co-requisite or prerequisite conditions were met, and subject to the restricted combinations outlined in Victorian Tertiary Entrance Requirements (VICTER), the study can contribute to the student’s ATAR as a fifth or sixth study via an increment.
Schools should note that if a student undertakes two Higher Education studies VTAC will count only one study towards the increment.
Where students withdraw from or fail to satisfactorily complete the VCE preparatory study either as a prerequisite or concurrently, which is a requirement of the Higher Education study, they will not be eligible for a Higher Education study increment in their ATAR calculation regardless of their performance in the Higher Education study.
For more information on how a Higher Education study contributes to the calculation of the ATAR please refer to page 2 of the VTAC Bulletin, March 2011 or contact VTAC.
Principles and Procedures for the inclusion of Higher Education Studies in the VCE (DOC – 99 KB)
This document explains the new arrangements for 2012.
Summary of the VCAA approved Higher Education Studies offered by participating universities in 2012 (updated November 2011, PDF - 55KB)
Note: These links take you out of the VCAA website to websites not maintained or funded by the VCAA.
Swinburne University of Technology