What is the Early Entry Program?

We know your ATAR doesn't tell the full story of what you’re capable of as a uni student. That’s why our Early Entry program is the only one in Victoria with ATAR-free entry to all eligible courses. 

When you apply for a course in our Early Entry Program, your application is assessed using a recommendation from your school instead of your ATAR. Because you can't put a number on potential. 

Key dates

  • 20 June 2025

    Early Entry Program applications open

  • 4 August 2025

    VTAC applications open

  • 1 September 2025

    Early Entry Program application outcomes start being issued

  • 28 November 2025

    Early Entry Program applications close

Why the Early Entry Program?

Apply for a range of next-gen courses sooner and without your ATAR

Secure an early offer for your dream Swinburne course before Year 12 exams

Join the uni that puts innovation, tech, and deep industry partnerships first

Ready to apply?

Applications close Friday 28 November 2025.

Apply now

How to apply

  • 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 the Early Entry Program and request a recommendation from a school representative such as your Career Practitioner, school principal, or year level coordinator.

  • Step 3

    Complete your application

    Fill out an online application, which includes our next gen_now questionnaire. Once you’ve applied, share the form included in your confirmation email with your school representative to fill out and submit to us. 

  • Step 4

    Update your VTAC preferences

    Add your chosen course to your VTAC preference list. Make sure you select the Early Entry Program version and correct VTAC code. In order to receive a full offer, you must preference this course as the highest eligible preference on your VTAC application. 

Eligible courses

Many Swinburne courses are included in our Early Entry Program. However, we are unable to offer Early Entry for courses that have limited facilities and studio capacity, or compulsory entry requirements set by external bodies. 

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

Bachelor degrees
  • Bachelor of Accounting
  • Bachelor of Accounting/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Animation
  • Bachelor of Animation/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
  • Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Aviation Management
  • Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Aviation Management/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science
  • Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis
  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Business Analytics and Analysis/Bachelor of Cyber Security
  • Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Computer Science
  • Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology/Bachelor of Cyber Security
  • Bachelor of Cyber Security
  • Bachelor of Data Science
  • Bachelor of Design
  • Bachelor of Design (Fashion)
  • Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Media and Communication
  • Bachelor of Digital Construction Management
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Computer Science
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity
  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Animation
  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Computer Science
  • Bachelor of Health Science
  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication
  • Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
  • Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Media and Communication
  • Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Business
  • Bachelor of Nutrition
  • Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
  • Bachelor of Psychological Sciences/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
  • Bachelor of Screen Production
  • Bachelor of Screen Production/Bachelor of Applied Innovation
     
Packaged pathways
  • Diploma of Screen and Media/Bachelor of Animation
  • Diploma of Screen and Media/Bachelor of Screen Production
  • Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)/Bachelor of Digital Construction Management
  • Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural)/Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
  • Diploma of Business/Bachelor of Business
  • Diploma of Community Services/Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
  • Diploma of IT (Game Art and Design, Game Programming)/Bachelor of Games and Interactivity
  • Diploma of Graphic Design/Bachelor of Design
  • Diploma of Justice/Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking, Cyber Security)/Bachelor of Cyber Security
  • Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking, Cyber Security)/Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology
  • Diploma of Information Technology/Bachelor of Computer Science
  • Diploma of Screen and Media (Sports Media)/Bachelor of Media and Communication

FAQs

Am I eligible to apply?

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). Note that international students cannot apply for course packages that contain diploma.

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. 

Questions about applying

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.

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.

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. 

Note: 

If you receive an early entry conditional offer for a course that included a school recommendation, it cannot be transferred to the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) due to the mandatory portfolio requirement.

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.

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).

Completing VCE and arranging my preferences

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 or VCE VM.

You must complete the scored VCE subject prerequisites for your chosen course (such as VCE English). Unscored VCE applicants may also be eligible, as long as you are completing scored English (along with any other subjects with specific study score requirements for your chosen course).

If you are applying for a diploma to degree packaged pathway – a great option for VCE VM students – you do not need to meet any scored VCE prerequisite subjects.

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 also preference this version of the course – including the correct VTAC code.

My application is in. What now?

We’ll be in touch regarding the outcome of applications from the start of September.

No problem. All you need to do is update your VTAC preferences during the Change of Preference window so the eligible 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.

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

Yes, you can. Follow the standard process to defer your offer.

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