In your final year of school? Congratulations! It's a massive milestone after many years of life and learning experiences. Around mid-year, you likely applied to uni through your state or territory's tertiary admissions centre. Did you know you can update or change your course preferences up until the application closing dates? This is what we call 'change of preference'.
So if you change your mind, change of preference allows you to add, remove or re-order courses on your preference list. Every year, thousands of Year 12s log in to their state or territory’s tertiary admissions centre to change preferences. Sometimes multiple times.
You might want to change your preferences because your ATAR was lower or higher than expected, or you might have had a change of heart. The last chance to update your course preference starts when you get your Year 12 results – right before we start to make the main university offers in December.
If you're a Victorian resident, dates can be found on the VTAC website. For the main university offer round in December 2024 – change your preferences by 14 December (closes 12pm). You can also change your preferences during the January and February offer rounds, too. Non-Victorian residents should consult their local state or territory’s tertiary admissions centre for info on how to apply. You can also check out our key dates for all the information you need.
If you’re a current Year 12 student, you can submit your application to VTAC in seven easy steps. Remember that every state and territory is different, so familiarise yourself with all the acronyms, like SEAS (special entry access scheme), by checking out your local admission centre or VTAC resources.
Login to your your VTAC account or local admission centre account and open the course applications section.
Not in Year 12? Find out how to apply directly with Deakin.
You only receive one offer per round for the highest preference you are eligible for – so list courses in the order you want to study them, not the order in which you think you’ll get in. Remember, if you don’t get the offer you want in the first round, we recommend you accept your first offer, but try again for your preferred course during the second round.
As the #1 Victorian university for student support,* we’ll help you find the path to a future you’ll love. Whether you need general uni information, pathway options or reassurance about your course choices, don't miss the opportunity to get personalised advice.
If you want a degree that provides vital industry experience, invaluable academic support and helps secure your dream job, choose Deakin. We’re the #1 uni in Victoria for graduate employment and course satisfaction.
Many Year 12s browse courses filtered by ATAR to help them confirm preferences and make an informed decision about their future.
Our handy tools make it easy to take charge of your future. Use our ATAR calculator to estimate your ATAR, or estimate your scaled and raw study scores using our VCE study score calculator.
If you didn't get an offer to Deakin, you can still change your course preferences between offer rounds, as many times as you like. There is a pathway to Deakin!
If you didn’t get the ATAR you hoped for, there’s more than one path to your ultimate course. Take control of your next step and discover some alternative pathways to your ultimate course. Many students use alternate pathways to uni, like bridging courses and associate degrees. Or you could study the same course, but at a different campus.
Moving from TAFE to university just got easier! Deakin recognises your achievements and offers guaranteed recognition of prior learning (RPL) for eligible TAFE qualifications, as well as Deakin’s associate degrees and Deakin College qualifications. Guaranteed RPL saves you study time and money, getting you closer to your dream course faster. Use our Pathways Finder tool to unlock your potential and discover the many pathways to a degree at Deakin.
You can change your preferences as often as you like. Even if you accept your first offer you can still change it later to a course you’ve listed higher in your preferences.
Need help navigating the transition from student to graduate to employee? We can help you power your career by finding the job or industry that suits you best. Browse our career stories for motivation and inspiration.
We have a range of on and off-campus options so you can get your Change of Preference questions answered – from events across all campuses, to live chat and phone support. Connect with Deakin experts and get all the information that you need.
It's only natural to have lots of questions as you prepare for uni. Our Deakin experts have heaps of course advice and guidance through enrolment, but your parent or caregiver might have some great advice too.
When you preference Deakin you have access to a bunch of fantastic scholarships. Our scholarships recognise your achievements in and outside the classroom, and provide a financial boost throughout your journey at university.
Our guide helps you optimise your VTAC preferences and take note of VTAC key dates so you can feel confident in your future.
Read our guide to selecting your uni course preferences and find out to navigate VTAC admissions and change of preference.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our list of sources.
Our expert staff are highly skilled in providing course advice, identifying all your options and guiding you through the process. Speak one-on-one about your preferences and how we can help you start your study journey at Deakin.
Domestic students
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International students
+61 3 9918 9188
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