Victorian Certificate of Education (Vocational Major)
Swinburne University of Technology has a successful history in delivering Senior Secondary programs in a non-school setting under the accreditation of the Victorian Registration and Qualification Authority (VRQA) and Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). The Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major is being offered for Year 11 and 12 at Swinburne’s Outer Eastern campuses.
Swinburne’s VCE VM delivers a personalised program for students, offering a dynamic, cutting-edge learning environment with inspirational and energetic teachers. Our objective is to challenge and engage students in best practice vocational and applied learning. This department aims to attain high student completion rates and retain them at Swinburne with prioritised entry through domestic admissions, VE certificates, apprenticeships, and diplomas to facilitate ongoing articulation.
Our point of difference is the way we deliver senior secondary education with break-through learning that utilises collaboration with Swinburne Research, access to state-of the-art learning centres across the university offering technical, academic innovations, and fostering the professional capacity of our teachers and leadership.
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Duration
2 year full-time
Intakes
Croydon (February, July)
Online (February, July)
Wantirna (February, July) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Full-time
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
As a Swinburne student, your VCE Vocational Major program will utilise and access all the University has to offer. This is the place to learn for those with aspirations in Trades, Engineering, Health Sciences, (including Nursing), Laboratory Skills, Technology, Information and Digital Media. This is a standalone senior secondary program, within Swinburne, offering alternative secondary education to driven students seeking an innovative and individualised experience.
An exciting course that’s engaging and technology rich, VCE Vocational Major at Swinburne has a strong vocational focus and allows students to gain practical experience in the areas that interest them most.
The Victorian Certificate of Education – Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a senior secondary certificate of education recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It has been designed to include the VCE VM studies as well as industry programs and/or training.
VCE VM is delivered under the authority of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and follows the policies and procedures outlined in the ‘VCE Administrative Handbook’. Information can also be found at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) website.
Results and certificates
VCE VM results and certificates, where students have met all eligibility criteria, are issued directly by the VCAA. Results and certificates are sent once only, in late December, by the VCAA to Swinburne University of Technology for distribution to students. The University sends results and certificates to the student postal address on the enrolment record.
The VCE VM program at Swinburne University of Technology promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to: elected government; the rule of law; equal rights for all before the law; freedom of religion; freedom of speech and association; the values of openness and tolerance.
VCE VM is delivered under the authority of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and follows the policies and procedures outlined in the ‘VCE Administrative Handbook 2023’.
Course structure
To be awarded the VCE VM certificate a minimum of 16 credits over the two-year period are required, this consists of:
- 3 - Units 1-4 in Literacy including a 3-4 sequence
- 2 - Units 1-4 in Numeracy
- 2 - Units 1-4 in Personal Development Skills
- 2 - Units 1-4 in Work Related Skills
- 2 - Industry Specific Skills Strands (180 nominal hours or more, subject to VETDSS modules or units of competence and/or FE modules)
- Health: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (HLT33015) partial completion
- Business: Certificate II in Workplace Skills (BSB20120)
- Community: Certificate II in Community Services (CHC22015)
- Electrical Industry: Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE22020)
- Engineering: Certificate II in Engineering Studies (22470VIC)
- Information and Digital Media Technology: Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120) partial completion
- Laboratory Skills: Certificate III in Laboratory Skills (MSL30118)
- Plumbing: Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship) (22569VIC)
- Design: Certificate III in Design Fundamentals (CUA30720)
- Media: Certificate II in Creative Industries (CUA20220)
- VETDSS Sampler
Units of study
Units 1 & 2
LT031 – Literacy Unit 1
LT032 – Literacy Unit 2
NM031 – Numeracy Unit 1
NM032 – Numeracy Unit 2
PD031 – Personal Development Skills Unit 1
PD032 - Personal Development Skills Unit 2
WR031 – Work Related Skills Unit 1
WR032 – Work Related Skills Unit 2
Units 3 & 4
LT033 – Literacy Unit 3
LT034 – Literacy Unit 4
NM033 – Numeracy Unit 3
NM034 – Numeracy Unit 4
PD034 - Personal Development Skills Unit 4
WR033 – Work Related Skills Unit 3
WR034 – Work Related Skills Unit 4
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Successful completion of VCE VM will provide students with pathways through Swinburne to both Vocational and Higher Education. With a policy to keep all doors open to students with options for further study and work, the program also delivers on skills that are important for life and in the workplace, expanding students' future options to pursue further education, training and work opportunities.
The following statistics are sourced from the Swinburne Student Management System, VCAA (VASS database) and 2022 On Track Survey.
Participation:
VCAL (Intermediate) 53 students
VCAL (Senior) 38 students
VCE 22 students
Unit completion rate:
VCAL (Intermediate) 71.3%
VCAL (Senior) 79.8%
VCE 90.5%
Destinations of students - survey responses (students who completed in 2021)
Further TAFE or VET courses 30.0%
University 5.0%
Apprenticeship or traineeship 20.0%
Employment 30.0%
Looking for work 0.0%
Deferred 10.0%
Not in labour force, employment or training 5.0%
Aims and objectives
Each student’s learning program will be made up of core VCE VM units and VETDSS programs, which may include structured workplace learning.
Swinburne has a commitment to delivering a range of senior secondary programs to young people in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs.

Graduate skills
Graduates of Swinburne's VCE program will be future-ready learners who are:
- confident and enterprising and able to create social impact
- prepared to find and solve complex problems
- adaptive and equipped for careers of the future
- global citizens
Pathways and scholarships
- Pathways and credit transfer.
Course fees and requirements
- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Victorian Certificate of Education (Vocational Major)Estimated course fees for 2023* |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Course fee options | Full course fee | Skills First Government-subsidised place | Concession rate |
Total Cost (GST Free) | $21,670 | $5,250 | $840 |
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.
You could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.
You may be entitled to apply for a fee concession if you meet the eligibility criteria.
The eligibility criteria are set by the Victorian Government and assessed by Swinburne in accordance with government directives, which are subject to change at any time.
Find out if you're eligible for a fee concession here.
If you are not granted a government subsidised place, the full course fee will apply. Check your eligibility now.
Indicative nominal course hours: 2,000.
Entry requirements
- Students will be required to provide a VASS statement from their prior school as part of their pre-training review
- Students must be 16 years of age by the 30th April for their year of entry.
- Left school, leaving school (under 17 students will require a state exemption to transfer to us), or be young adults returning to study up to the age of 25.
- Successful completion of year 10.
- Applicants with alternative previous education are encouraged to contact VCE-VM directly to discuss their options by email at vcevm@swin.edu.au
- produce a recent school report and/or academic transcript
- be willing to undertake a supervised Literacy and Numeracy assessment
- attend an interview.