Victorian Certificate of Education

Have you thought about where you want your future to go and are ready to take the leap? Do you need a higher level of education to help get you there? Then the Victorian Certificate of Education may your pathway to achieving your dreams.

For Senior Secondary students (aged 16-18) and adult students who wish to return to study, the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

The VCE opens pathways to university, higher-level TAFE or VET certificate courses, apprenticeships, traineeships and the workforce. TAFE Gippsland offers both a scored and non-scored VCE pathway and the VCE Vocational Major.

Our VCE programs include:

• Adult VCE (online - one-year full-time program - but does not need to be taken in a single year, can be completed part-time)
• Student VCE (online - two-year full-time program for Year 11 and Year 12)
• VCE Vocational Major (face-to-face, two-year full-time program for Year 11 and Year 12)
• VCE VET Studies (online/face-to-face, two-year full-time course offered as part of VCE programs).

Throughout your study, you will be supported by our expert teachers, interacting with them and other students regularly in order to discuss your learning and helping to increase your confidence.

Subjects on offer in our (online) VCE program for 2025 include:

• English
• Maths
  • Foundation Maths
• Health and Human Development
• Psychology
• Sociology

Adult VCE Certificate

Adults returning to study must:

• Be at least 18 years of age at 1 January in the year of enrolment
  AND
• Not have undertaken full-time secondary schooling for the full year preceding the first year of enrolment.

To satisfy requirements for the awarding of the VCE, adult students must satisfactorily complete at least eight (8) units including:

• A 3-4 sequence from the English (Units 3-4)
• Three (3) sequences (Units 3 and 4) in three subjects other than English.

Student VCE Certificate

Students, not classified as Adult VCE students, are those who do not fit the adult criteria. The minimum requirements for the awarding of the VCE to students is satisfactory completion of at least sixteen (16) units which must include:

• At least three (3) units from the English group), including a unit 3 and 4 sequence.
• At least three other sequences of Unit 3-4 studies.

Over years 11 and 12, most students study between 20 and 24 units, usually 6 studies in year 11 and dropping back to 5 in year 12.

All online VCE students must have a computer, reliable internet or access to for a min. 20-25 hrs per week. They need access to a webcam or camera, a headset and, preferably, a printer regularly to be able complete course.

Students are required to purchase textbooks before commencing course (materials list will be distributed at time of interview)

When you complete this qualification, there really is no limit to where you can go. You can either enter the workforce immediately and gain hands-on experience or choose to take your learning further by enrolling at university with your ATAR score (scored pathway).
Whether you’re wanting to become a teacher, a builder, a nurse or anything else in between, the Victorian Certificate of Education at TAFE Gippsland will help you feel confident in getting there.

Further TAFE courses
Apprenticeships/Traineeships
Entry into workforce ,
Attain an ATAR ranking for entry to university (scored VCE program)

VCE study is designed to provide a two-year program (Adult VCE may be studied in a single year). Studies are nationally and internationally benchmarked at Unit 1 and Unit 2 level to a Year 11 standard, and studies at Unit 3 and Unit 4 level are benchmarked to a Year 12 standard. Units 1 and 2 can be completed as single units and Units 3 and 4 in each study are designed to be undertaken as a sequence.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Adult entry is available only to students who are 18 as of the 1st of January of the year commencing and have not studied VCE in the 12 months prior.
Students under 17 must seek 'Exemption from School' letter prior to enrolment.

Recommended entry Requirements:

Completed Year 10
For online VCE only, students must have a computer, reliable internet or access to for a min. 20-25 hrs per week. They need access to a webcam or camera, a headset and, preferably, a printer regularly to be able complete course.
Students are required to purchase textbooks before commencing course (materials list will be distributed at time of interview)

Limitations to course Entry:

Must reside in Victorian or have a Victorian home address

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No