During specified periods you will be able to add, remove or re-order your course preferences in your course application.

You may want to change your preferences if:

  • You have changed your mind about which course you most want to study
  • If a new course has become available
  • If a course you had applied for has been cancelled and you want to replace it in your preference list

There is no cost involved in changing your preferences. As long as you pay your course application processing fee, you can change your preferences as many times as necessary within the specified periods.

Tertiary institutions provide a range of seminars, workshops and hotlines to assist applicants with changing their preferences. Visit change of preference support hotlines, events, and activities for dates and locations.

When can I change my preferences?

Change of preference is closed during each selection period (just before each offer round) but is open at all other times. For more information, check the dates and fees page.

How to change your preferences

1. Log in to your VTAC account

To change your preferences, first log in to your VTAC account.

2. Open your course preference list

Access your course preference list from your VTAC account dashboard by clicking on ‘Edit courses’.

On the following screen, click ‘Update course preferences’.

3. Add, delete or re-order your course preferences

To add courses, begin by filtering your selection by institution and qualification level. You can then navigate the selection or search by keyword, e.g ‘science’. Click on the green + button on the right to add the course to your preference list.

To remove courses click on the red x to the right of each line.

Reorder you preferences by using the up and down arrows to the right of each line.

Don't forget to list course in the order you would most like to study them, with the course you most want to get into at the top.

4. Submit your change of preference

Click on the ‘Save and exit’ button at the bottom of the screen to submit your changes.

Tips for changing your course preferences

Always list courses in order of preference!

Don't make the mistake of listing your course preferences in the order you think you will get into them. You will only receive an offer for your highest eligible course on your preference list. If you don't list courses in the order you most want to study them you may end up missing out on the course you most want to do. For more information on how offers work, see Offers, enrolment and deferment.

Check course selection criteria carefully

Keep in mind that the closing dates for any additional requirements in the selection criteria for courses may be approaching or may have already passed. Read the selection criteria carefully before adding any courses to your preference list, and contact the institution if you're not sure of the requirements.

Some courses can't be added after certain dates

Some courses do not accept new course applications after a certain date. Check the course description and selection criteria carefully before adding any courses to your preferences to ensure the closing date has not already passed.

Don't delete and re-add courses – use the re-ordering arrows

If you delete a course with an early closing date (see above) from your preferences, you will not be able to add it back to your application. To be safe, use the up and down arrows to re-order your preferences.

Changing your preferences during the offer rounds

Once you have received an offer you cannot delete that course from your preferences, however you can move it up or down your list, change the order of your other preferences or add new courses.

Any course listed higher than your offered course will be considered in the next offer round. Courses listed lower than your offered course will not be considered.

Don't forget to list courses in the order you would most like to study them, with the course you most want to get into at the top.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does change of preference work?

Change of preference will reopen after each offer round, and close before the next one (until the last round). While change of preference is open, you can add, remove, and re-order your preferences as many times as necessary.

Can I change my course preferences after offers are released?

Yes, all applicants can change their preferences between offer rounds. Change of preference dates and deadlines are available on the VTAC dates page.

Will all courses participate in all offer rounds?

Most courses will make offers in the December offer round and all courses must participate in the first January offer round. Courses are not required to participate in future offer rounds in late January and February.

The course I want to add to my preferences requires me to attend an interview, submit a folio, etc. Can I still add it to my course preferences?

When you add a course to your course preferences you must always ensure that you’ve met the prerequisites and selection requirements for that course. If the course you want to add has selection requirements, contact the institution directly as they may be prepared to allow you to fulfil the requirements before the next round of offers.

What if I don’t get an offer, should I change my preferences?

If you don’t get an offer you have two options:

  • Wait to see if you receive an offer in a subsequent offer round for your existing course preferences. You will be automatically reconsidered for all of your preferences in the next round.
  • Change your preferences by adding, removing or re-ordering your course preferences for the next offer round.

Whichever option you choose, you remain eligible to receive supplementary offers (after February Round 1) as long as you haven’t received any other offer and have opted in to this process.

If I get an offer, can I still change my preferences?

Even if you receive an offer for a course you can still change your preferences before the next round.

Just make sure that you meet the prerequisites and have completed any selection requirements outlined in the course entry.

What if I get my first preference, can I still change my preferences?

If you receive an offer for your first preference, congratulations!

If you are interested in one of your lower preferences, simply move it above your offered course for consideration in the next round.

You can also add new courses above your offered course for consideration.

Only courses listed higher than your offered course will be considered in the next offer round.

Preferences listed lower than your offered course will not be considered.

Remember that you are not guaranteed to get an offer in any subsequent rounds, so make sure to accept your first offer by following the enrolment instructions from the institution.

Will accepting my offer lock me out of changing my preferences in future rounds?

No.

You can change your preferences as many times as necessary, regardless of whether you have already received an offer and enrolled or not.

If you have enrolled in a course and receive a preferred offer in a subsequent offer round, all you need to do is contact the institution at which you have enrolled to withdraw.

How do I know what courses are still actively selecting applicants after each offer round?

After the first January round, institutions are not obliged to participate in subsequent offer rounds. Courses that know they will no longer be making selection decisions can indicate this and it will be shown against your preferences in your VTAC account.

Any offer you receive will lapse before the next offer round, so it is a good idea to accept your offer by following the institution’s enrolment instructions to secure the opportunity.

Your higher preferences will still be considered in the next offer round, regardless of whether you have accepted an offer or not.

Should you receive a preferred offer in a subsequent offer round, you can accept that and withdraw from your previous offer.