Higher Education Studies
The Higher Education Studies Program is offered by higher education institutions (universities) and the VCAA. Two types of study, Extension and Advanced Standing are offered through this program.
An Extension study is a first-year Higher Education study that is:
equivalent in content and assessment in every respect to one or more of current first-year Higher Education studies and constitutes at least 20 per cent of a full-time first-year university course
of a level for a high-achieving student and therefore is a clear advance on an identified VCE Unit 3 and 4 study and commensurate in workload with an additional VCE study
of a level that will normally allow the student, on successful completion, to proceed to second year study at the Higher Education institution in that discipline.
An Advanced Standing study is a first-year Higher Education study that is:
equivalent in content and assessment in every respect to one or more of current first- year Higher Education studies and constitutes at least 20 per cent of a full-time first-year course
is comprised of curriculum not available in any current VCE studies and therefore is not linked to any current VCE Unit 3 and 4 study
of a level that will normally allow the student, on successful completion, to proceed to second year study at the Higher Education institution in that discipline.
Why do a Higher Education study?
Involvement in the Higher Education Program offers students access to a range of potential benefits, including:
Academic challenge in a broader range of studies
Credit towards an undergraduate qualification at the institution where the study was satisfactorily completed
Contribution towards satisfactory completion for the award of the VCE as a Unit 3–4 sequence without a study score
Contribution to the calculation of the ATAR via an increment for a fifth or sixth study.
Note: Only one Higher Education Study may contribute towards satisfactory completion for the award of the VCE.
Eligibility
Higher Education studies are designed for high-achieving, interested and able VCE students.
Students undertaking the International Baccalaureate are not eligible for this program.
Schools wishing to join the program should discuss their participation directly with the Higher Education institution concerned. Schools also have the responsibility of counselling students regarding the prerequisite requirements for each Higher Education study.
Schools recommend students for participation in the program. The principal of the school will certify that selected students meet the guidelines provided by the Higher Education institutions, which may include specific tests.
Where students have completed the VCE preparatory study and/or any other prerequisite requirement of the Higher Education study in a previous year, they are required to have an active enrolment and satisfactorily complete at least one Units 3 and 4 sequence towards the VCE, in the same year in which they enrol in the Higher Education study.
Higher Education in the VCE recommendations
In 2019 a Higher Education Study (HES) Focus Group was formed to discuss the results of a review of the Higher Education Studies in the VCE program. The Focus Group was comprised of representatives from each school sector, participating universities and the VCAA. Several issues were discussed, and the outcome is a range of recommendations for students, schools and participating universities.
