Victorian Certificate of Education
Swinburne’s Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE Connect) offers secondary school qualifications for students seeking an alternative VCE experience with individualised choices.
As a Swinburne VCE Connect student, you will access all the university has to offer, including cutting-edge facilities and outstanding teaching staff. Ideal for those with aspirations in Trades, Engineering, Nursing, Health Science, Horticulture and Technology, this course offers an innovative program with practical hands-on training.
Gain the skills and knowledge to prepare you for the next step – whether that’s a progression to apprenticeship, diploma or even pathway to a degree. Develop the attributes that will set you in good stead for a success-filled future, including confidence, accountability and adaptability.
Change of Preference Expo
Whatever your results we’ve got a course for you. Come chat to our course experts and get your preferences sorted at Change of Preference Expo, 13 Dec. Register now.
Want to know more? Come to a Swinburne VCE/VCAL Info Evening. Chat one-on-one with program coordinators, discover which pathway leads you towards the most exciting future and submit your application in person.
Interested? Register now!
Get your 2020 sorted
Lock in the diploma or certificate that’ll take you where you want to be. Start the new year smiling. Apply now.
Time’s ticking
You have until 4pm December 14 to preference a Swinburne diploma or certificate for the December offer round. Choose Swinburne.
Duration
2 years full-time
Intakes
Croydon (February, July)
Wantirna (February, July) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Full-time
Year 11 and 12 at Swinburne
Our Year 11 and 12 students share what it's like studying VCE, VET and VCAL at Swinburne.
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
VCE Connect at Swinburne is a complete VCE certificate program offering individualised choices. Our VCE program is designed for students to procure an ATAR if they wish; however, the majority of the students will be prepared for the world of work and life after school without external exams.
The VCE program at Swinburne University of Technology promote 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 is delivered under the authority of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and follows the policies and procedures outlined in the ‘VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook 2019’. VCAL information for students and parents can also be found at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) website.
Course structure
- 3 units from the English group, with at least one unit at Unit 3-4
- at least 3 sequences of Unit 3-4 studies other than English, which may include any number of English sequences once the English requirement has been met.
- VET Building and Construction: Certificate II in Building and Construction - Carpentry or Bricklaying (22338VIC)
- VET Health: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (HLT33015) partial completion
- VET Business: Certificate II in Business (BSB20115)
- VET Community: Certificate II in Community Services (CHC22015)
- VET Electrical Industry: Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE22011)
- VET Engineering: Certificate II in Engineering Studies (22470VIC)
- VET Horticulture: Certificate II in Horticulture (AHC20416)
- VET Information and Digital Media Technology: Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology - Games Focus (ICT30118) partial completion
- VET Laboratory Skills: Certificate III in Laboratory Skills (MSL30118)
- VET Landscaping: Certificate II in Landscaping (AHC21616)
- VET Plumbing: Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship) (22304VIC)
- VET Retail Services: Certificate II in Retail Services (SIR20216)
- VET Design: Certificate III in Design Fundamentals (CUA30715)
- VET Media: Certificate II in Creative Industries - Media (CUA20215)
Units of study
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Successful completion of the VCE 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. The integrated and STEM focused program will expand students' future options to pursue further education, training and work opportunities.
Swinburne VCE/VCAL statistics
The following statistics are sourced from Swinburne Student Management System, VCAA (VASS database) and 2018 On Track Survey.
Participation rate
VCAL (Intermediate) 62 students
VCAL (Senior) 61 students
VCE 36 students
Unit completion rate
VCAL (Intermediate): 79.4%
VCAL (Senior): 79.1%
VCE: 89.8%
Destinations of students
Further TAFE or VET courses: 36%
University: 0%
Apprenticeship or traineeship: 36%
Employment: 7%
Looking for work: 21%
Deferred: 0%
Not in Labour force, employment or training: 0%
Aims and objectives
Each student’s learning program will be made up of core and elective VCE studies and/or VET programs, which may include structured workplace learning. For the first year intake, students may choose electives from our full suite of Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) programs. By second year, students can chose selected advanced certificate level units to study alongside VCE Units. It is a cross-campus program and students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities across our Croydon and Wantirna campuses.
Building on Swinburne’s existing secondary school offerings: VCAL and VETiS, the introduction of VCE Connect furthers Swinburne’s 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 Connect 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
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Fees for 2019
Victorian Certificate of EducationEstimated course fees for 2019* |
||
|---|---|---|
| For students who are not granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | For students who are granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | |
| You will need to pay this amount | $9,670 | $1,880 |
If you’re deemed eligible, you could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.
This course is delivered with state government funding.
Alternative study methods
| 2019 rate* | Estimated total cost of the course | Estimated cost of the course per year (for full-time students) |
|---|---|---|
| Concession | $376 | $376 |
Indicative nominal course hours: 1,000.
Concession rates on tuition fees
Concessions provide eligible students with a discount on Swinburne’s standard tuition fees for a range of vocational education (TAFE) qualifications. You may be eligible for a concession rate on tuition fees if you:
- are eligible for a government-subsidised training place in a Certificate I–IV; OR
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are eligible for a government-subsidised training place in a TAFE certificate, diploma or advanced diploma.
Fees for 2020
Victorian Certificate of EducationEstimated course fees for 2020* |
||
|---|---|---|
| For students who are not granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | For students who are granted a Skills First government-subsidised place | |
| You will need to pay this amount | $10,060 | $1,960 |
If you’re deemed eligible, you could be granted a Skills First government-subsidised place when you apply for this course. Check your eligibility now.
This course is delivered with state government funding.
Alternative study methods
| 2020 rate* | Estimated total cost of the course | Estimated cost of the course per year (for full-time students) |
|---|---|---|
| Concession | $392 | $392 |
Indicative nominal course hours: 1,600.
Concession rates on tuition fees
Concessions provide eligible students with a discount on Swinburne’s standard tuition fees for a range of vocational education (TAFE) qualifications. You may be eligible for a concession rate on tuition fees if you:
- are eligible for a government-subsidised training place in a Certificate I–IV; OR
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are eligible for a government-subsidised training place in a TAFE certificate, diploma or advanced diploma.
Entry requirements
- Left school, leaving school or young adults returning to study
- Previous educational requirements
- successful completion of Year 10, including at least one Mathematics and one Science subject
- applicants with alternative previous education are encouraged to contact VCE Connect directly to discuss their options - Students committed and interested in obtaining a senior secondary qualification in conjunction with vocational training and/or select VCE units.
- produce a recent school report and/or academic transcript
- be willing to undertake a supervised Literacy and Numeracy assessment
- complete written responses to select questions
- attend an interview.