Early Entry Program
Your early entry into uni and the next gen_now. Our Early Entry Program lets you apply to Swinburne sooner and without your ATAR.
What is the Early Entry Program?
Are you a Year 12 student who wants to be part of the next generation of change-makers and big-thinkers? Looking to join the uni that puts innovation, tech, and deep industry partnerships first?
Our Early Entry Program means you can apply to Swinburne early and ATAR-free, and start shaping the next gen_now.
When you apply for a course in the Early Entry Program, your application is assessed using a recommendation from your school instead of your ATAR. Because we know your Year 12 results don’t always tell the full story of your potential.
Do you think your ATAR or Year 12 academic results won’t truly reflect who you are and what you’re capable of as a uni student? We encourage you to apply for the Early Entry Program – especially if you believe you’re a next gen innovator, thinker and doer. As an added bonus, as an Early Entry Program applicant, you’ll be notified about exclusive opportunities to experience Swinburne early. Stay tuned for more!
How it works
Step 1: Choose a course
While many Swinburne courses allow Early Entry, not all of them do. Browse the list of Early Entry Program eligible courses before you begin your application.
Step 2: Arrange a recommendation
Speak to your school about your interest in Swinburne’s Early Entry Program and request a recommendation for your application. This recommendation can come from a school representative such as a Career Practitioner, your school’s principal, or your year level coordinator.
Step 3: Complete your application
Got your school recommendation? The next step is to fill out an online application, which includes our next gen_now questionnaire. Take your time answering the questions in this section, as your responses will be used to assess your application.
Step 4: Submit your application
Once you’ve completed your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. This will include a form that your school representative must fill out and submit to us so we can pair it with your application.
Step 5: Update your VTAC preferences
Once VTAC applications open, add the course you’ve chosen for your Early Entry Program application to your VTAC preference list. Make sure you select the Early Entry Program version of the course, and preference this course as the highest eligible preference on your VTAC application. Otherwise, your early offer won’t be able to convert to a full VTAC offer.
Check the eligible course list on this page to find the correct VTAC code for your chosen course.
Step 6: Sit tight and wait
Application submitted? School recommendation sent off? VTAC preferences updated? Your work here is done! We’ll be in touch regarding the outcome of applications from the start of September.
Eligible courses
Not every course at Swinburne is included in the Early Entry Program. Those included are courses where a school recommendation would be a reasonable alternative to selection via ATAR.
We’re unable to offer places in specialist courses like aviation and film and television because they are limited by specialist facilities and studio capacity, and with nursing and education courses, there are compulsory entry requirements set by external bodies.
See the full list of participating courses below. Their corresponding VTAC codes will be listed here once released.
CSP = Commonwealth supported place
IFP = International fee place
TBA = To be announced
N/A = Not applicable
Bachelor of Accounting
Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Animation
Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Aviation Management
Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis
Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Computer Science
Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Cyber Security
Bachelor of Data Science
Bachelor of Design
Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours)
Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours)
Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Media and Communications
Bachelor of Digital Construction Management
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Computer Science
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
Bachelor of Games and Interactivity
Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Animation
Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Computer Science
Bachelor of Health Science
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Media and Communication
Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Business
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
Bachelor of Psychological Sciences/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Bachelor of Screen Production
Bachelor of Screen Production/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
Ready to apply for the Early Entry Program?
Our Early Entry Program lets you apply to Swinburne sooner and ATAR-free — start shaping the next gen_now.
FAQs
You only need to apply once. Nominate the course that you would like to receive an early offer for in your Early Entry Program application. If you change your mind about which course you’d like to study, update your preferred course in your VTAC preferences and we’ll transfer your early offer to the course you’ve preferenced in VTAC.
No problem. All you need to do is update your VTAC preferences during the Change of Preference window so the course you’d like to study the most is at the top of your list. You will then be considered for this course in the next VTAC offer round.
You can apply for the Early Entry Program if you are an international student who is completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (such as VCE, HSC or an equivalent curriculum from another state).
Unfortunately, you aren’t eligible for the Early Entry Program unless you are studying an Australian Year 12 qualification. However, you can contact us to learn more about your options for applying for a bachelor degree at Swinburne.
Yes, you can.
Yes, you can. You’ll need to complete VCE and achieve a score of 30 in EAL to be eligible for the Early Entry Program.
Your recommendation can come from a school representative such as a Career Practitioner, your school’s principal or their delegate, or your year level coordinator
Yes. In order to receive a full VTAC offer, you must preference the Early Entry Program version of your course – including the correct VTAC code – as the highest preference on your VTAC application.
If you believe you could meet the Guaranteed Entry ATAR for a course, then we recommend including it on your VTAC preference list. However, if you’re applying for a course via the Early Entry Program, make sure to preference this version of the course – including the correct VTAC code.
No. Students applying for courses through the Early Entry Program have different entry criteria to students applying via their ATAR.
Yes. This is because you’ll still need to meet the existing course prerequisites – for instance, a study score of 25 in any English. If you’re planning on completing an unscored VCE, we recommend exploring our pathway planner to see your options for entering Swinburne.
We recommend speaking with your Career Practitioner or teacher at your school about your application. They may want to have an ongoing conversation to better understand why you feel you would be suitable for the Early Entry Program. If you’re unable to organise a recommendation, we suggest considering another pathway into Swinburne, like UniLink or the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).
No. We do not record entry pathways on transcripts. You’ll be studying the same course as those who entered via their ATAR.
Keep on exploring
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Year 11 & 12 Hub
Preparing to make the exciting leap from school to university? Consider this your hub for everything you need to know – from exam prep to helpful resources on preferencing Swinburne.
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Swinburne Open Day
Your chance to explore Swinburne: in person, up close, and at your own pace.
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Find a course
Search our degrees, diplomas and master programs, and find information about pathways to a degree. Explore a range of flexible study options to suit your needs and career goals.
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Life at Swinburne
At Swinburne, we know that your studies are important, but there is more to university than classes and lectures. Find out more about the opportunities we offer to make your time studying with us a memorable experience.
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Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne guarantees real industry experience in all our bachelor degrees in the form of placements, internships or industry-linked projects.
