Ask - /faq/5980/non-vce-subject-prerequisites/

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the qualification awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies (Year 11 and 12 or equivalent) in the Australian state of Victoria.

Students who complete VCE will have their VCE studies automatically recognised as meeting any VCE (or equivalent) prerequisites set on University of Melbourne subjects.

Students who completed their year 12 studies in a state other than Victoria will usually have their secondary study automatically recognised as meeting any VCE (or equivalent) prerequisites set on University of Melbourne subjects.

The interstate Year 12 certificates recognised include:

• ACT: Year 12 Certificate
• NSW: Higher School Certificate (HSC)
• NT/SA: South Australia Certificate of Education (SACE)
• QLD: Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
• SA: South Australia Matriculation (SAM)
• TAS: Tasmania Certificate of Education (TCE)
• WA: Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)

If the enrolment system does not recognise your equivalent secondary studies as meeting prerequisites for a particular subject, you can use the Enrolment Variation form to request assistance:

1. Log in to the Enrolment Variation form
2. Select the Requisite Waiver option
3. Upload the transcript from your non-VCE qualification as evidence that you do meet the prerequisite for the subject.

More information on how to use the Enrolment Variation form is available here.

Below you can find a list of some of the most common school qualifications and the subsequent Level 1 subjects that they allow you to enter.

Students admitted to a course based on secondary studies completed under an International Baccalaureate (IB) will have those studies automatically recognised as meeting prerequisites on Level 1 Maths and Science subjects only.

Students admitted to a course on the basis of another pathway, e.g. Trinity Foundation Studies, GCE A Levels, tertiary studies, will not have those studies automatically recognised as meeting prerequisites set on University of Melbourne subjects, and may have difficulties enrolling in the necessary Level 1 (first year) subjects. These subjects include:

• CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
• PHYC10003 Physics 1
• PHYC10005 Physics 1: Fundamentals
• PHYC10001 Physics 1: Advanced
• PHYC10002 Physics 2: Advanced
• PHYC10004 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
• PHYC10006 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
• MAST10005 Calculus 1
• MAST10006 Calculus 2
• MAST10007 Linear Algebra
• MAST10010 Data Analysis
• MAST10012 Introduction to Mathematics
• MAST10008 Accelerated Mathematics 1
• MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
• ENGR10004 Engineering Systems Design 1
• ENGR10003 Engineering Systems Design 2
• ECON10003 Introductory Macroeconomics
• ECON10004 Introductory Microeconomics
• FNCE10002 Principles of Finance

If the enrolment system does not recognise your VCE or equivalent secondary studies as meeting prerequisites for a particular subject, you can use the Enrolment Variation form to request assistance:

1. Log in to the Enrolment Variation form
2. Select the Requisite Waiver option
3. Upload the transcript from your non-VCE qualification e.g. final year of secondary school, tertiary studies.

More information on how to use the Enrolment Variation form is available here.

Below you can find dropdown lists of some of the most common school qualifications and the subsequent Level 1 subjects that they allow you to enter.

International Baccalaureate students:

• Students who completed HL or SL Chemistry should enrol in Chemistry 1 followed by Chemistry 2 (Chemistry 2 requires the successful completion of Chemistry 1)
• Students who did not complete Chemistry should enrol in Fundamentals of Chemistry in Semester 1

GCE A-Level students, Trinity College Foundation Studies students, or South Australian Matriculation (SAM) students:

• Students who completed Chemistry should enrol in Chemistry 1 followed by Chemistry 2 (Chemistry 2 requires the successful completion of Chemistry 1)
• Students who did not complete Chemistry should enrol in Fundamentals of Chemistry in Semester 1

Students who completed high school studies other than VCE or a qualification listed above should email the subject coordinator for approval to enrol. Students should attach evidence of relevant high school studies in the e-mail. If approved to take the subject, students should then submit an Enrolment Variation form and attach the e-mail approval saved as a PDF.

Your mathematics options depend on your school qualification and the subjects that you studied. For information on the first year mathematics pathways and common pre-requisite qualifications, please see First-year Mathematics and Statistics.

If you completed qualifications or mathematics subjects/options not listed, please use the Enrolment Variation form to request a requisite waiver and attach a copy of your transcript from your non-VCE qualification.

*High Achieving students who have undertaken Physics at Year 12 level are not eligible to enrol in Fundamentals
**Students who have not completed VCE Specialist Mathematics 3/4 or equivalent are recommended to enrol in Calculus 1.

Students who completed high school studies other than VCE or a qualification listed above should email dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au for approval to enrol. Students should attach evidence of relevant high school studies in the e-mail. If approved to take the subject, students should then submit an Enrolment Variation form and attach the e-mail approval saved as a PDF.

If you did not study the VCE please submit a copy of all your relevant transcripts via an Enrolment Variation form. You will then be enrolled in the correct Biology subject(s). There is no need to contact the subject coordinator directly. The Enrolments team will refer you to the Subject Coordinator if required.