What is the Early Entry Program?

Are you a Year 12 student who wants to be part of the next generation of change-makers and big-thinkers? Looking to join the uni that puts innovation, tech, and deep industry partnerships first? 

Our Early Entry Program means you can apply to Swinburne early and ATAR-free, and start shaping the next gen_now.   

When you apply for a course in the Early Entry Program, your application is assessed using a recommendation from your school instead of your ATAR. Because we know your Year 12 results don’t always tell the full story of your potential. 

Do you think your ATAR or Year 12 academic results won’t truly reflect who you are and what you’re capable of as a uni student? We encourage you to apply for the Early Entry Program – especially if you believe you’re a next gen innovator, thinker and doer. As an added bonus, as an Early Entry Program applicant, you’ll be notified about exclusive opportunities to experience Swinburne early. Stay tuned for more!

Ready to apply for the Early Entry Program?

Our Early Entry Program lets you apply to Swinburne sooner and ATAR-free — start shaping the next gen_now. 

Apply now

How it works

Step 1: Choose a course

While many Swinburne courses allow Early Entry, not all of them do. Browse the list of Early Entry Program eligible courses before you begin your application.

Step 2: Arrange a recommendation

Speak to your school about your interest in Swinburne’s Early Entry Program and request a recommendation for your application. This recommendation can come from a school representative such as a Career Practitioner, your school’s principal, or your year level coordinator.

Step 3: Complete your application

Got your school recommendation? The next step is to fill out an online application, which includes our next gen_now questionnaire. Take your time answering the questions in this section, as your responses will be used to assess your application.

  • Students who apply for the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) must submit a portfolio of work with their application.
  • Students who apply for the Bachelor of Design can choose to submit a portfolio of work instead of the next gen_now questionnaire.
     

Step 4: Submit your application

Once you’ve completed your online application, you will receive a confirmation email. This will include a form that your school representative must fill out and submit to us so we can pair it with your application.

Step 5: Update your VTAC preferences

Once VTAC applications open, add the course you’ve chosen for your Early Entry Program application to your VTAC preference list. Make sure you select the Early Entry Program version of the course, and preference this course as the highest eligible preference on your VTAC application. Otherwise, your early offer won’t be able to convert to a full VTAC offer.

Check the eligible course list on this page to find the correct VTAC code for your chosen course.

Step 6: Sit tight and wait

Application submitted? School recommendation sent off? VTAC preferences updated? Your work here is done! We’ll be in touch regarding the outcome of applications from the start of September.

Eligible courses

Many Swinburne courses are eligible for Early Entry. Those included are courses where a school recommendation would be a reasonable alternative to selection via ATAR. Not every course at Swinburne is included in the Early Entry Program.

We’re unable to offer places in specialist courses like aviation and film and television because they are limited by specialist facilities and studio capacity, and with nursing and education courses, there are compulsory entry requirements set by external bodies. 

Be sure to check the full list of participating courses before applying for Early Entry.

CSP = Commonwealth supported place  
IFP = International fee place  
TBA = To be announced  
N/A = Not applicable 
 

  • Bachelor of Accounting – VTAC code: 3400211771 (CSP); 3400211773 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212701 (CSP); 3400212703 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Animation – VTAC code: 3400211781 (CSP); 3400211783 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212791 (CSP); 3400212793 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Arts – VTAC code: 3400211791 (CSP); 3400211793 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212661 (CSP); 3400212663 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400211801 (CSP); 3400211803 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Psychological Sciences – VTAC code: 3400212471 (CSP); 3400212473 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science – VTAC code: 3400211811 (CSP); 3400211813 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Aviation Management – VTAC code: 3400211821 (CSP); 3400211823 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212681 (CSP); 3400212683 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400211831 (CSP); 3400211833 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science – VTAC code: 3400213351 (CSP); 3400213353 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400211841 (CSP); 3400211843 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis – VTAC code: 3400211851 (CSP); 3400211853 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212721 (CSP); 3400212723 (IFP) 

  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400211861 (CSP); 3400211863 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Cyber Security – VTAC code: 3400213121 (CSP); 3400213123 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212711 (CSP); 3400212713 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Computer Science​ – VTAC code: 3400211871 (CSP); 3400211873 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212831 (CSP); 3400212833 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology​ – VTAC code: 3400211881 (CSP); 3400211883 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212671 (CSP); 3400212673 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology/Bachelor of Cyber Security – VTAC code: 3400213111 (CSP); 3400213113 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Cyber Security – VTAC code: 3400212841 (CSP); 3400212843 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Data Science – VTAC code: 3400212851 (CSP); 3400212853 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours) – VTAC code: 3400212741 (CSP); 3400212743 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) – VTAC code: 3400212691 (CSP); 3400212693 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212731 (CSP); 3400212733 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400212191 (CSP); 3400212193 (IFP) 

  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Media and Communication – VTAC code: 3400211901 (CSP); 3400211903 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Digital Construction Management – VTAC code: 3400212481 (CSP); 3400212483 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – VTAC code: 3400211921 (CSP); 3400211923 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212751 (CSP); 3400212753 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts – VTAC code: 3400212761 (CSP); 3400212763 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400211931 (CSP); 3400211933 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Computer Science – VTAC code: 3400211941 (CSP); 3400211943 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science – VTAC code: 3400211951 (CSP); 3400211953 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science – VTAC code: 3400211961 (CSP); 3400211963 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity – VTAC code: 3400211971 (CSP); 3400211973 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Animation – VTAC code: 3400211981 (CSP); 3400211983 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212811 (CSP); 3400212813 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Computer Science – VTAC code: 3400211991 (CSP); 3400211993 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Health Science – VTAC code: 3400212001 (CSP); 3400212003 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212821 (CSP); 3400212823 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Arts – VTAC code: 3400212011 (CSP); 3400212013 (IFP) 

  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400212021 (CSP); 3400212023 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication – VTAC code: 3400212201 (CSP); 3400212203 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Science – VTAC code: 3400212031 (CSP); 3400212033 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology – VTAC code: 3400212041 (CSP); 3400212043 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212861 (CSP); 3400212863 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Media and Communication – VTAC code: 3400212051 (CSP); 3400212053 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212871 (CSP); 3400212873 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Business – VTAC code: 3400212061 (CSP); 3400212063 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Nutrition – VTAC code: 3400213361 (CSP); 3400213363 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Psychological Sciences – VTAC code: 3400212071 (CSP); 3400212073 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Psychological Sciences/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology – VTAC code: 3400212081 (CSP); 3400212083 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Science – VTAC code: 3400212091 (CSP); 3400212093 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212891 (CSP); 3400212893 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Screen Production – VTAC code: 3400212101 (CSP); 3400212103 (IFP)

  • Bachelor of Screen Production/Bachelor of Applied Innovation – VTAC code: 3400212771 (CSP); 3400212773 (IFP)

FAQs

You only need to apply once. Nominate the course that you would like to receive an early offer for in your Early Entry Program application. If you change your mind about which course you’d like to study, update your preferred course in your VTAC preferences and we’ll transfer your early offer to the course you’ve preferenced in VTAC. 

No problem. All you need to do is update your VTAC preferences during the Change of Preference window so the course you’d like to study the most is at the top of your list. You will then be considered for this course in the next VTAC offer round.

You can apply for the Early Entry Program if you are an international student who is completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (such as VCE, HSC or an equivalent curriculum from another state). 

Unfortunately, you aren’t eligible for the Early Entry Program unless you are studying an Australian Year 12 qualification. However, you can contact us to learn more about your options for applying for a bachelor degree at Swinburne.

Yes, you can.

Yes, you can. You’ll need to complete VCE and achieve a score of 30 in EAL to be eligible for the Early Entry Program. 

Your recommendation can come from a school representative such as a Career Practitioner, your school’s principal or their delegate, or your year level coordinator

Yes.  In order to receive a full VTAC offer, you must preference the Early Entry Program version of your course – including the correct VTAC code – as the highest preference on your VTAC application.

If you believe you could meet the Guaranteed Entry ATAR for a course, then we recommend including it on your VTAC preference list. However, if you’re applying for a course via the Early Entry Program, make sure to preference this version of the course – including the correct VTAC code.

No. Students applying for courses through the Early Entry Program have different entry criteria to students applying via their ATAR.

Yes, you still need to complete VCE.

You must complete the scored VCE subject prerequisites for your chosen course (such as VCE English).

If you're studying VCE Vocational Major (VM), unfortunately you're not eligible for the Early Entry Program, but we encourage you to explore pathways to Swinburne using our pathway planner.

We recommend speaking with your Career Practitioner or teacher at your school about your application. They may want to have an ongoing conversation to better understand why you feel you would be suitable for the Early Entry Program. If you’re unable to organise a recommendation, we suggest considering another pathway into Swinburne, like UniLink or the Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS).

No. We do not record entry pathways on transcripts. You’ll be studying the same course as those who entered via their ATAR. 

There are two courses that include portfolio entry:

  • Bachelor of Design (Fashion) – required
  • Bachelor of Design – optional

You will need to have your completed portfolio ready to submit when you apply for the Early Entry Program. 

Your portfolio should include three to five examples of your work that showcase your interest, ability, and creative process. You can use a variety of different mediums. Please refer to the portfolio submission portal for comprehensive guidelines on what to include.

Portfolios are submitted through SlideRoom. To submit your portfolio:

  1. Access the Early Entry Program application portal and select your preferred course from the dropdown menu. 
  2. A link to SlideRoom will appear. Click this link to open the SlideRoom portal.
  3. Find your preferred course in the list of available programs. Make sure you click on the Early Entry Program version of your course.
  4. On the next page you can view key info for your portfolio application, including the submission deadline, an early entry application question, and detailed portfolio requirements.
  5. Click on the ‘apply now’ button to create your SlideRoom login and begin your application. You can also save your application and return to it later.
     

Once your portfolio has been submitted, copy the provided SlideRoom link to include in your Early Entry Program application.

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