Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the senior secondary school qualification for students in Years 11 and 12. The VCE is recognised globally, providing a pathway to university entry worldwide and is highly regarded by international employers. For those considering employment abroad, the VCE can provide a significant advantage. Employers internationally recognise 2 key components of the VCE:
- the qualification
- the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) score.
Completing the VCE prepares students for university or vocational studies. This flexibility helps students to tailor their education to their future academic and career dreams, equipping them with necessary skills, knowledge and pathways.
Unit structure
The VCE is typically undertaken over 2 years, primarily in Years 11 and 12. However, students have the option to commence some VCE units as early as Year 10 at many schools. The structure of the VCE is flexible, allowing students to tailor the number of units they undertake each year. The full VCE program comprises of four units (Units 1 - 4), each spanning a semester:
- Units 1 and 2 are generally completed in Year 11 but can also be studied in Year 10 or 12.
- Units 3 and 4 are typically taken in Year 12, though advanced students may begin these in Year 11. These are crucial as they contribute to the ATAR score and build upon the knowledge gained in Units 1 and 2.
To successfully achieve a VCE, students must satisfactorily complete over 65% of their selected subjects, including from the English group, which includes English as an Additional Language (EAL) for international students. Schools provide guidance to help students design and adjust their study plans to meet their future academic and career goals.
Subjects
You can choose from over 90 subjects in the VCE, including languages (other than English), e.g. Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and more.
Each school usually offers between 20 and 30 subjects, depending on the number of students. You can also do subjects outside your school, for example, by studying at the Victorian School of Languages.
There are over 90 VCE subjects across 9 key learning areas:
- English：choose from 4 English subjects.
- Languages (other than English)：choose from over 40 languages other than English.
- Science：choose from 5 science subjects.
- Mathematics： choose from 5 mathematics subjects.
- Technology： choose from 5 technology subjects.
- The Arts：choose from 10 arts subjects including 3 music, 3 performing arts and 3 visual arts subjects.
- Humanities： choose from 17 humanities subjects including 8 history and 3 politics subjects
- Business Studies：choose from 5 business subjects.
- Health and Physical Education：choose from 3 health and physical education subjects.
The full list of VCE subjects is available at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School has unique curriculum offerings in the areas of music and performing arts.
Recognition of previous study
International students are eligible for recognition of previous study completed in either their home country or at another Australian education provider. You can apply for a credit recognition which will recognise your previous study as a credit towards your VCE. If successful, this will likely mean that you do not have to repeat the same subject/s again in a Victorian government school.
Assessment
In the VCE, assessment is based around outcomes. These outcomes describe what you should know by the time you complete a particular unit. Government schools in Victoria set assessment tasks throughout the year to see how you are progressing.
Some of the ways students may be assessed, include:
- examinations
- written assessments
- oral presentations
- practical assessments
- in-class coursework or tasks.
ATAR scores and university entrance
The VCE provides an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) score, which ranks your performance against other Australian students and determines your eligibility for university courses in Australia.
This score reflects your grades in VCE studies, typically undertaken in Years 11 and 12, which range from A+ to E or UG (ungraded). Each VCE unit receives a study score out of 50.
You can gain in-depth advice on course selection and any university prerequisites from the school's course coordinator as well as a career advisor, before starting and during your VCE. Your International Student Coordinator can also help place you in the right direction.
