For the newly graduated Class of 2016 Year 12 Students – CONGRATULATIONS! You made it through one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your high school life. Be proud of yourself, because you did the very best you could. And whatever happens from here on in, just remember that your ATAR does not define your potential to do great things in your life.

Now comes for the apprehension that follows while waiting for your ATAR results. It’s inevitable that for some people, things may not have turned out how they might have hoped they would, but that’s okay. Life is much about growth as it is about personal accomplishment and success, so everyone’s journey towards their future goals and aspirations occur at different paces. The key is to not be discouraged when the unexpected happens, and to trust that life has a different plan for you than you would have otherwise thought.

The good thing about universities is that they are incredibly flexible and cater to all different students. There are many alternative pathways you can take up depending on which university you choose to go to. Here is a list I’ve compiled together of 8 Victorian universities to make it easier for you to weigh up your options and choose the one that most suits your circumstance.

1. Australian Catholic University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: acu.edu.au

Australian Catholic University (ACU) has Victorian campus’ located in Melbourne and Ballarat.

ACU offers a range of Alternative Pathway Courses that can provide you with the knowledge and skills to apply for and be eligible for one of their many undergraduate courses in: Business Information Systems, Commerce, Educational Studies, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Theology, Language, Social Science, Visual Arts and Design, Youth Work, Education Support, Exercise Science, Early Childhood Education and Care and Nursing.

ACU’s Alternative Pathways include: 

  • Associate Degrees:
    Can be completed within 2 years for full time enrolment, and is used to provide you with direct entry into the corresponding Bachelor degree you wish to undertake after completion.

  • Diplomas:
    Can be completed within 12 months for full time enrolment, and considers the grades attained to calculate your entry score in your application to enter into the Bachelor degree of your choice thereafter.

  • Certificates:
    Can be completed within 6 months for full time enrolment, of which the same conditions apply alongside Diplomas.     
  • Vocational Pathway Courses (VET):
    Can be completed between 6 to 24 months for both part time and full time enrolment. Much like Associated Degrees, successful completion can provide you with direct entry into the chosen Bachelor Degree of your choice.

For more information, go to the ACU Website and for enquiries contact ASKACU.

2. Deakin University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: deakin.edu.au

Deakin University has Victorian campus’ located in Burwood, Waurn Ponds,  Geelong, Warrnambool and their Online Cloud Campus

Deakin’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Associate Degrees:
    Provide the same opportunity to immerse yourself in the campus life and have access to a learning environment specifically catering to students who are seeking a bridging pathway to gain entry into their chosen course. Deakin offers Associate Degrees in Arts, Education and Criminology, all three of which can be completed within 2 years for both part time and full time enrolment.

  • Deakin College:
    Provides students with a fast-track pathway program into undergraduate degrees by offering Diplomas in: Commerce, Management, Computing, Media & Communication, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Science. Upon successful completion, students are eligible to enter into the 2nd year of their chosen Bachelor degree at Deakin.

  • TAFE:
    Deakin is partnered with Victorian TAFES including: Bendigo TAFE, Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Chisholm Institute, Melbourne Polytechnic, South West Institute of TAFE and The Gordon. Successful completion of a TAFE diploma at any one of Deakin’s partner TAFES provides students with a guaranteed placement into their corresponding university degree. 

For more information, go to Deakin’s Website.

3. Victoria University:

Source: VU.edu.au

Source: vu.edu.au

VU has Victorian campus’ located in Melbourne, Footscray, Sunshine, Werribee, St. Alban’s and MetroWest.

VU’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Certificates, Diplomas & Advanced Diplomas in: Arts, Business, Education, Engineering & Science, Health & Biomedicine, Law & Justice and Sport & Exercise Science. Upon successful completion,
    offer direct entry into the corresponding undergraduate Bachelor degree of your choice.

For more information, contact ASKVU.

4. Swinburne University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: swinburne.edu.au

Swinburne University has Victorian campus’ located in Hawthorn, Croydon, Wantirna and their Online Study course through Swinburne Online.

Swinburne’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Diploma:
    By attaining course credits within your completed diploma, provides you with entry into the corresponding university degree.     
  • UniLink diploma:
    Provides an equivalent to completing 1st year of university, ultimately fast-tracking you into the 2nd year of an associated Bachelor degree, and taking only 8 months to complete. Swinburne provides diplomas in Arts & Communication, Business, Design, Engineering, Health Science, Information Technology and Science.

  • Associate degrees:
    Upon successful completion, you obtain guaranteed entry into the associated Bachelor degree with only one added year of study. Swinburne offers Associate degrees in 3 fields: Business – with guaranteed entry in the Bachelor of Business Administration; Engineering – with guaranteed entry into 1 of 8 associated Bachelor of Engineering Honours Degrees; and Health – with guaranteed entry in the Bachelor of Community Health.

For more information, go to the Swinburne Website.

5. La Trobe University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: latrobe.edu.au

La Trobe has Victorian campus’ located in: Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton or Online.

La Trobe’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Tertiary Enabling Program:
    A 14 week program that helps students develop appropriate academic skills required to complete university or TAFE. Upon successful completion, students can choose 1 of 3 options and enter into: any of La Trobe’s degrees, at any one of La Trobe’s TAFE partnerships, or the workforce for industry experience.

  • Related Course:
    Caters to those who weren’t able to get into their preferred course, by offering them a chance to enrol into a related course to gain experience studying in their chosen field. Successful transfer relies upon meeting requirements within the first year of the related degree.

  • TAFE/VET:
    Successful completion of a TAFE/VET course or diploma at any partnered TAFE institution of La Trobe (including Chisholm Institute and Box Hill Institute) provides you with guaranteed entry into your chosen course at La Trobe University.

For more information, contact La Trobe by chatting online.  

6. RMIT University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: rmit.edu.au

RMIT has Victorian campus’ located in: Melbourne, Bundoora, Brunswick, Hamilton and Point Cook.

RMIT offers Alternative Pathways for: Art, Design & Architecture; Building, Construction & Planning; Business; Communication & Digital Media; Computing, Games & Information Technology; Education & Teaching; Engineering; Environment & Sustainability; Health & Biomedical Sciences; International & Community Services; Justice & Legal; and Science.

RMIT’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Preparatory Certificates II, III and IV:
    Can be completed between 6 months to 1 year for full time enrolment, with successful completion leading to entry into any of RMIT’s vocational education program sequences in the corresponding diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree.

  • Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas:
    Can be completed within 2 years for full time enrolment, which can then lead you to the corresponding Bachelor degree of your choice.
  • Associate Degree:
    Can be completed between 18 months to 2 years of full time enrolment, which can also lead to the corresponding Bachelor degree much like diplomas and advanced diplomas.

For more information, go to the RMIT Website.

7. Monash University:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: monash.edu

Monash University has Victorian campus’ located in: Clayton, Caulfield, Parkville, Berwick and the Peninsula.

Monash Alternative Pathways include:

  • Diploma of Tertiary Studies:
    Can be completed within 1 year for full time enrolment at Monash’s Peninsula campus, offering students the chance to study 1st year units. Upon successful completion, can qualify you entry into a Monash degree.
  • Diploma of Higher Education:
    Can be completed within 1 year for full time enrolment at Monash’s Clayton campus, offering students qualification to enter into any degree within the field of Education and Science upon successful completion.
  • Monash College Diploma:
    Monash College offers five Diplomas including: Art and Design, Arts, Business, Engineering and Science. Successful completion of the Diploma provides direct entry into 2nd year of any corresponding Bachelor Degree within the fields of Arts, Design & Architecture, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Information Technology and Science.

  • TAFE/VET:
    Successful completion of a TAFE/VET certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma at any partnered TAFE institution of Monash (including Chisholm Institute and Box Hill Institute), can qualify you for a place within your chosen course at Monash University.

For more information, go to the Monash Website.

8. JMC Academy:

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: jmcacademy.edu.au

JMC Academy has one Victorian campus located in Melbourne.

JMC offers courses in: Animation, Audio Engineering & Sound Production, Contemporary Music & Performance, Digital Design, Entertainment Business Management, Film & Television Production, Game Development and Songwriting.

JMC’s Alternative Pathways include:

  • Alternative Admission:
    Provides students with the opportunity to undertake a two-trimester Diploma that can lead to entry into a corresponding Bachelor Degree upon successful completion.

  • VET (Certificate III in Media):
    Can be completed within 12 weeks with full time enrolment, with successful completion offering students to transition into Higher Education Diplomas and the consequential Bachelor Degree. Industry Topics explored include: 2D and 3D Animation Techniques, Film Recording and Post Production, Image Editing, Lighting, Production Support, Marketing, Audio and Sound.

For more information, go to the JMC website:

 

Alternative Pathways for Victorian Universities

Source: lci.lethsd.ab.ca

If the University or TAFE you were looking for wasn’t included in this post, just head over to the VTAC website to get a more comprehensive list of Victorian universities that offer alternative pathways.

They say that the best things in life happen unplanned, so remember that it’s not the destination that changes you, but the journey you experience to get there. Always remember that your potential is limitless so take every opportunity offered to you to achieve your personal best. Wishing you the best of luck with finding the right pathway course for you!