Welcome to the Year 11 & 12 Hub. Here you'll find everything from events for students and parents to FAQs, important dates and deadlines, handy explainers, VTAC preference and application help, and more.

On this page you can find:

Why make Swinburne your #1 preference?

A campus with community

From student clubs to mentoring and support services, you’ll have no problem finding your place (and your people!) at Swinburne.

Next gen technology

Build real-world skills with cutting-edge facilities, creative learning, and innovation in every course.

Work Integrated Learning 

Guaranteed real industry experience in all our bachelor degrees that connects you to your career, faster.

VTAC key dates and deadlines

Here are the important dates you’ll want to stay across this year:

Timely applications open | 29 July (9am) – 30 September (5pm)

Late applications open | 30 September (5.15pm) – 1 November (5pm)

Very late applications open | 1 November (5.15pm) – 6 December (5pm)

ATAR release | 12 December (7am)

  • Course entry requirements have changed

    We’re pleased to announce that we’ve updated the entry requirements for some of our courses to provide Year 12s with better opportunity to study at Swinburne.  This includes revised study scores for English and EAL, and broadening the Maths requirement to include General Maths for certain courses.

    Explore your course page to learn what's been updated and check course codes. 

Or browse by study area

Need more info about navigating VTAC?

Find out how to arrange your VTAC preferences and get more from your ATAR. 

Visit our Change of Preference hub
Ready to preference Swinburne?

Head over to the VTAC website now to arrange your preferences. 

Visit the VTAC website

Student stories and advice

Simple-but-powerful info to help you make the right decisions about uni.

Podcasts

  • What I wish I Knew podcast

    Want more for your ATAR? We got a VTAC expert, careers adviser and current student to spill their top tips for Year 12s in a VTAC podcast you won’t want to miss.

  • Black and white realistic burger with an illustrated eyes and mouth, against a red background with illustrations.

    Get Hungry podcast

    What’s the secret sauce to career success? We put this question to celebrated industry professionals over lunch in our podcast, Get Hungry.

Step-by-step career guides

Learn how to reach your dream career, from qualifications to top skills.

  • Greyscale image of a young male with dark hair and glasses, holding a laptop, on a white background with stylised graphical overlays in black grey and red.

    How to become a business analyst

    Turn data into better business decisions. Be in-demand by industry hungry for data insights. Earn a top salary. Learn how to become a business analyst now.
  • Girl standing in front of white background with red graph details, a black fingerprint and black crime scene numbers

    How to become a criminologist

    What does a criminologist do? Are criminologists in demand? How much do criminologists earn? Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a criminologist. 

  • How to become a communication designer

    A communication design career can take you all over the world – from thriving major cities to an off-grid digital nomad life. Here's everything you need to know about how to become a communication designer.
  • Guy wearing hoodie and cap on white background with a question mark and lots of interconnecting red and grey dots, lines and circles.

    How to become a cyber security analyst

    A career in cyber security will be as secure as the systems you work on. Join this booming sector and earn a top salary. Learn how to become a cyber security analyst now.
  • Girl wearing suit on white background with a gavel, scales of justice and interconnecting red and grey dots.

    How to become a lawyer

    Learn how to become a lawyer and pull the levers that control the justice system to create a safer and fairer society for everyone. Read Swinburne's 4 steps to becoming a lawyer.

Top 1% globally

We’re ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world

*QS World University Rankings 2024

Top 25 Under 50

We’re one of the best universities in the world under 50 years old

*Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024

5-star rating

Rated 5 stars for undergraduate student support and overall experience

*The Good Universities Guide 2024

Frequently asked questions: support, pathways and more

Feeling supported throughout your studies is just as important to your education as what you learn. That’s why at Swinburne, you’ll have access to plenty of support – from the moment you apply to the day you graduate.

Deciding what you want to study is an important choice, but it’s also an exciting one. When it comes to weighing up your options, it's worth asking yourself a few clarifying questions:

  • Is there anything you’re especially passionate about?
  • What do you enjoy learning about?
  • Do you have any special skills or strengths?
  • Which school subjects do you excel in?
  • What is your dream job?
  • Do you have a preferred learning style?
     

Remember: the course you put at the top of your VTAC preference list should always be your ultimate dream course. Feel free to book a one-on-one chat with a Student Advisor to chat about your options.

If there are circumstances or obstacles that have impacted your Year 12 studies and academic results, you may be eligible for special consideration via the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS). 

SEAS considers a range of factors, such as:

  • recognition as an Indigenous Australian

  • studying at a school on Swinburne's under-represented school list

  • experiencing financial or unforeseen hardships during your Year 12 studies

  • being the first person in your family to be attending university.
     

Many students are likely to qualify for one or more SEAS categories. We recommend talking to your school if you believe you may be eligible to apply for special consideration.

See more about the Special Entry Access Scheme

At Swinburne, we believe education should be available to everyone, regardless of circumstances. That's why we offer a range of study pathways to take you from a certificate to a uni diploma or degree.

Using a pathway program, you'll get academic credit to move through the qualification levels. Want to know which options exist for the course you’re interested in? Try our Pathway Planner and find out.

Plan your pathway

We offer scholarships to help students from all walks of life reach their academic goals. This includes:

  • students who have demonstrated academic achievements or community service

  • Indigenous students

  • students relocating from a regional area

  • students experiencing financial hardship.
     

Other scholarships are awarded based on factors such as gender, family background, and study area.

The selection criteria and application process can vary between different scholarships. Browse the full list to see if you’re eligible for a Swinburne scholarship and find out how to apply.

Find a scholarship

There is a range of government loan schemes available to help you cover your course fees, depending on your eligibility. This includes:

  • HECS-HELP: covers tuition fees for eligible students in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

  • FEE-HELP: covers tuition fees for eligible full-fee paying students

  • SA-HELP: covers the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) for eligible students.
     

Through these loan schemes, the Australian Government pays some or all of your fees to Swinburne on your behalf. You start repaying your loan to the government through the tax system once your taxable income reaches the minimum repayment threshold.

You can apply for a FEE/HECS/SA-HELP loan online after you accept your offer to study at Swinburne.

Learn more about loans

We have a wealth of free advice and assistance available – both on campus and virtually – to help make uni life as easy and enjoyable as possible. This includes:

  • support for students with a disability or carer responsibilities

  • support for Indigenous students

  • financial advice and assistance

  • health and wellbeing services 

  • study and learning support.

See our student support services

Yes. At Swinburne, you can stay in college rooms, studio apartments, or shared apartments. Living on campus makes it easy to get to class, access on-campus facilities and, most importantly, make friends.

Whether you want to join our dynamic on-campus community or prefer to live off campus, we have a range of resources to help you find the right home.

One of the best things about uni is how different it is to high school – no matter what course you choose to study. Some of the main differences include:

  • Class timetable: Your on-campus classes and lectures will be spread across different times and days, leaving you more time to study, work, or socialise.
  • Course structure: You’ll have more freedom to study the things you’re interested in with different major, minors, and electives.
  • Teaching style: At Swinburne, you’ll grow your knowledge and skills with practical, hands-on learning.
  • Student life: Wave goodbye to morning recess and say hello to all the fun of being an independent uni student, like social events, student organisations, and all the excitement of the local area.
     

And of course, you’ll be given the full rundown on all of the above – and a warm welcome! – during orientation once you accept your offer to study at Swinburne.

  • Group of 4 students sitting and studying together, one presenting / lecturing , in the SPW building.

    Pathways to university

    You do not need to have a specific academic history or perfectly linear plan to pursue a certain course or career. There are alternative pathways to get into a bachelor degree – you might just need a little help finding these options.

  • Campus tours

    Book a tour of our leafy Hawthorn campus led by a Swinburne Student Ambassador to discover our study spaces and community hubs, and get a feel for life as a Swinburne student.

Want to chat to us about your options?

Our friendly team are here to help. Book in for a video call, face-to-face appointment or phone call and we’ll be in touch to answer all your questions.