FACT

SHEET

HOW TO USE COURSESEARCH

CourseSearch lists over 1,700 courses offered by Victorian TAFEs, universities and colleges.
It’s a powerful search tool and contains essential information needed during the application process.

Find CourseSearch at www.vtac.edu.au under the 'Find Courses' tab.

If after reading this fact sheet you have questions or need help with CourseSearch, please call us on (03) 9926 1020

Use CourseSearch to discover courses

Keyword search
When you type more than one search term, separated by a space—CourseSearch will look for all of them.

The keyword search includes course names, codes, qualifications, majors, institutions or campuses.

Filter courses
The list of options can be used with a keyword search to better target your search. Alternatively, you can filter without using the keyword
search.

Create a shortlist
When you find a course you are interested in, you can add it to your favourites by clicking on the button next to the course name. To view,
email or remove courses from your favourites list click on “View Favourites’ found on the top right hand of the page.
Understanding course descriptions
Keyword search
CourseSearch contains important information that helps you to understand to determine whether the course is right for you.

VTAC publishes course information online in CourseSearch. When you view a course description you will see the following information.

Reading a course entry

1 Course title
The course title tells you the area of study.

2 Qualification/award name and

minimum duration
Qualification/award name
The qualification/award name is the formal title of the course
including the level of study (e.g. Certificate, Advanced Diploma,
Bachelor’s degree). However, look beyond the title when
researching a course, to ensure it meets your expectations.

Minimum duration
The minimum duration is the shortest time in which you can
complete the course. Often this is as a full-time student. For
part time students it will typically take longer.

3 Institution
This tells you which institution the course is offered by.

4 Campus
The campuses that the course is offered at. Some institutions
have campuses all around Victoria, so as a part of your
research, make sure you’re able to get to/move to the campus.

5 Course codes
Every course that accepts applications through VTAC has a
VTAC course code. Some have more than one. These codes
are extremely important when applying for courses because
the course code is specific to each course, institution, and
campus. You find them in course entries on CourseSearch and
you will use them when you apply and complete your course
preference list. If the course information does not include any
VTAC course codes, it means they accept applications directly
9 Course overview
to the institution (not through VTAC). The course overview gives you a summary of the course, and subsections
may include professional accreditation, course fees, career opportunities,
6 Fee types pathway options and other additional information. However, this is just an
The amount you pay for your course will depend on the type of overview—to thoroughly research the course visit the institution’s webpage
course you are enrolled in. There are Commonwealthsupported and visit the campus to learn about the course structure and subject
place (CSP), Domestic feepaying (DFEE) and VET – Domestic offerings.
feepaying (VET) Student Loans for eligible students types
courses for Australian students.
10 Major studies
Major studies are the areas that you can specialise in. Please note that
7 Study mode courses with the same name may offer different major studies.
This tells you if the course is offered on a full-time and/or a
part-time basis. Some courses will be restricted to one mode
or the other.

8 Lowest ATAR plus SEAS and other

adjustment factors
This was the minimum ATAR (includes adjustments made for
SEAS and any other adjustments such as subject bonuses
if applicable to the course) needed to have been sure of
selection into the course up to the main January selection
period (if course requirements and prerequisites were also
met).

This will only be listed in the course entry if the course used the
ATAR as part of their selection process.
11 Course requirements
Select your applicant category
A course may have different essential requirements and admission
criteria for applicants depending on your educational history and
work/ life experience. If you are studying and aiming to complete
Year 12 this year, choose the Studying Year 12 category. If you are
in Year 11 or Year 10 you can also select this category to see the
prerequisite studies required for the year you intend to commence
the course, and for an idea of requirements and criteria to expect. Be
aware these requirements and criteria may change between years.

12 Essential requirements
Essential requirements are criteria for a course that are compulsory
for all applicants.

Essential requirements for selection and application must be

completed to be considered for selection into the course.

Essential requirements for enrolment or graduation are advisory:

they are not required for selection, but the course requires them for
enrolment or completion
of the course. These will need to be completed before enrolling or
during the course. For example you may be required to complete a
first aid certificate before enrolling or a police check before a work
placement.

13 Compulsory Requirements
Compulsory requirements are criteria for a course that are
compulsory for certain applicants. For example, a prerequisite study
may be compulsory for year 12 students but not for applicants that
have started a bachelor degree.

14 Other admission criteria

Admission criteria refers to what will be considered when selecting applicants for entry into a course. These may only apply to certain types of applicant,
or may not be compulsory. Read these requirements carefully to discover what may apply to you.

15 ATAR profile
Courses that use the ATAR in selection publish an ATAR profile. This is a summary of selection data from the previous year’s selection round.

ATAR profile
The profile shows the highest, median and lowest ATARs of applicants to whom offers were made: firstly for the 'raw' or unadjusted ATAR before any adjustments
such as SEAS or subject bonuses are applied, and secondly for the selection rank— the ATAR after adjustments are applied.

The ATAR profile displayed on VTAC CourseSearch entries is the data for the main offer round in January. Institutions may also publish further tables on their
websites, which adjust the profiles based on subsequent offers made through VTAC or directly to the institution.

Courses which make a small number of offers based on the ATAR will publish “L/N” (low number) or “<5 offers” instead of numeric data to protect the privacy of
those applicants. For courses which do not use the ATAR in selection, you may see an “N/P” or “–” (not published) indication.

The piece of data in an ATAR profile that is most useful to applicants is the 'lowest selection rank'. This represents the minimum selection rank (ATAR or adjusted
ATAR) needed to have been sure of selection into that course in that selection period (if course requirements including prerequisites were also met).

The ATAR profile provides an array of other data that you can read about in The ATAR profile explained fact sheet.

Student profile
The student profile details the number and percentage of students who commenced the course in the most recent intake, to provide you with an indication of
the likely peer cohort of new students.

How to apply
Most courses in CourseSearch require an application through VTAC, but some require you to apply directly to the institution, this section will provide information
on how to apply for the course.

Further information
You can obtain more information about the course and institution through the websites listed under ‘Further information’.

vtacguide
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
Telephone: (03) 9926 1020 vtacguide
www.vtac.edu.au
vtacmedia
Updated June 2023