The program

The University Extension Studies program gives the most able students the chance to extend their ability in a particular area during Year 12. Each student selected for the program is able to include an extra study as part of his/her VCE program or in addition to his/her IB program.

University studies in the program are:

Equivalent in content and assessment in every respect to one or more current first year university studies and are at least 20 per cent of a full-time first year university course
Of a level for an exceptional student and, therefore, a clear advance on the designated preparatory VCE/IB Year 12 study, and commensurate in workload with an additional VCE/IB study
Of a level which will normally allow the student, on successful completion, to proceed to second year study at the university in that discipline (subject to the approval of the university)

Normally, students enrolling in university studies will have demonstrated outstanding achievement and have a VCE study score of 41 or more in the preparatory study. Where students have not had the opportunity to complete the preparatory Units 3 and 4 sequence prior to enrolment in a university study, a student may be recommended to the University on the basis of the University Extension Co-ordinator's evaluation of the student's Year 11 performance.

Note: The final selection of students for participation in a university study remains the prerogative of the university at which the study is offered.

The student must

Be judged overall as an excellent student
Be judged as having demonstrated exceptional achievement in at least Units 1 and 2 of the preparatory VCE study
Realistically be evaluated as likely to achieve a VCE study score of 41 in the preparatory study
Undertake the designated preparatory Units 3 and 4 concurrently with their university study

ATAR increment

Extension studies are reported on the VCE Statement of Results, with a maximum of one study contributing to the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) as a sixth study only.

The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) has advised that for extension studies there will be a grading of the ATAR increment for any result of a pass or above.

A Higher Education ATAR increment is available for a Higher Education VCE Study if:

The student is eligible to receive an ATAR
The student has satisfied the VCE study requirements as specified in the VCAA documentation for the Higher Education VCE study (usually the undergraduate VCE study requirements for that study)
The student has passed the Higher Education VCE study

The Higher Education ATAR increment will be determined as follows:

Where a student completes a Higher Education VCE study and the average mark over all units awarded is at least 90, the Higher Education Increment will be 5.0
Where a student completes a Higher Education VCE study and the average mark over all units awarded is at least 80 but less than 90, the Higher Education Increment will be 4.5
Where a student completes a Higher Education VCE study and the average mark over all units awarded is at least 70 but less than 80, the Higher Education Increment will be 4.0
Where a student completes a Higher Education VCE study and the average mark over all units awarded is at least 60 but less than 70, the Higher Education Increment will be 3.5
Where a student completes a Higher Education VCE study and the average mark over all units awarded is at least 50 but less than 60, the Higher Education Increment will be 3.0

Subjects available as University Extension Studies

Melbourne and Monash Universities offer a wide range of subjects at the first year level.

The subjects offered by these institutions in 2012 include Art History, Australian History/Politics, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, German, Japanese, Physics and Psychology. Individual subjects are undertaken at a variety of metropolitan schools and, in some cases, on campus at the particular institution. Specific information regarding location can be obtained from the University Extension Co-ordinator.

Application procedure

Students who wish to apply for an extension study initially should register their interest on their Subject Selection form. Students are then required to attend a compulsory information session at the University and following this are required to submit an online application form.

The due dates for applications are as follows:

Melbourne University: Friday 23 November 2012
Monash University - tentative date only: Friday 7 December 2012 (All subjects except Japanese), Friday 30 November 2012 (Japanese)

Cost

Fees for individual programs vary but are normally of the order of $475 per semester. This fee includes provision for teaching, course materials and the organisation and marking of assignments, examinations and other forms of assessment. It is approximately equivalent to the current fee charged to students with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) enrolled at a tertiary institution.

Cross-accreditation of subjects