Year 10 Guide for University of Melbourne
Year 10 Guide for University of Melbourne
Information for
year 10 students
2026 entry
Why choose the
University of Melbourne?
Build a degree based on your interests, This flexible model of study allows you to
strengths, and passions as you discover choose subjects from over 100 different
them. study areas to combine focused knowledge
in your area of interest with a unique skillset
The Melbourne curriculum is a journey
across a range of other subjects.
through higher education aligned with
leading universities in Europe, North America The Melbourne curriculum gives you an
and Asia. opportunity to figure out what you love to
do and who you want to be. You’ll develop
You start with a three-year Bachelor
skills in critical thinking, problem-solving,
degree. Once completed, you can enter the
communicating and leading in the classroom
workforce with a broad knowledge base and
and through industry-based learning and
career-ready skills. Or, continue the journey
projects, in Melbourne and across our
to gain specialised knowledge via a graduate
global learning community of over 200
degree or in graduate research.
exchange partners.
You will be challenged to pursue the things Study what you love Learn in many ways
that give you an intellectual buzz. You’ll Huge variety of subjects to choose from Your course could include lectures, tutorials,
collaborate with people from all walks of life labs, workshops, field trips, internships and
and find out who you really are. overseas experiences
If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, uni Reach your potential Expand your worldview
could be the right choice for you. As a university graduate you’ll have more career University will challenge you to think
options, develop confidence and connections, and of issues and topics in new ways
learn to work and think independently
Oscar Wycisk
Bachelor of
Commerce
The earlier you start thinking about uni, the easier your journey will be. That’s because the subjects you
choose in Years 11 and 12 will determine which courses you can get into at uni. These subjects are called
course prerequisites – read more about them on page 11.
Keep your options open by completing the prerequisite subjects for the degrees you’re interested in, as well as choosing
subjects you enjoy and perform well in.
Year 10
• Explore university courses and careers by looking at university websites and course brochures and speaking
with your school career practitioner
• Familiarise yourself with the prerequisites for the courses that interest you
• Think about the subjects you have enjoyed so far at school, as well as the things you like to do in your free time
• Keep an eye out for any career-related events to attend in your community or through school
• Complete work experience and consider any insights you gain from the experience
• Consider applying for the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program at the end of Year 10 (see page 5)
Year 11
• Prepare for Year 12 by focusing on your interests and building great study habits
• Keep up your extracurricular activities and hobbies
• Attend a few university Open Days
• Begin to research scholarships, pathways and entry schemes
• Consider applying for the Extension Program before entering Year 12 (see page 5)
Year 12
• Attend Year 12 information evenings, events and visits
• Take VCE exam preparation courses or attend winter/summer schools
• Explore more universities at Open Days
• Apply through VTAC and list your preferences
• Apply for scholarships and entry schemes
• Complete VCE exams
• Get your results
• Attend university Change of Preference events if you need more advice
Start uni
Gain a head start now with a taste of Engineering and IT VCE Summer School
university before you finish high school.
There are many exciting engineering and IT The VCE Summer School (VCESS) is a two-
experiences available, including camps, and week tutoring program provided by the
Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars workshops. Student Union that takes place in January and
Program aims to help high school students who have
[Link]/engage/schools experienced disadvantage gain a head start
If you’re a Year 10 student studying in Victoria or
on their final years of education. It’s run by
the border regions of New South Wales or South
Australia, apply for the Kwong Lee Dow Young Fine arts and music students for students, with a focus on creating
a healthy study-life balance, helping to correct
Scholars Program for an exciting uni experience The Victorian College of the Arts and
the disadvantage in the Victorian education
that will push you to achieve your best. Melbourne Conservatorium of Music run a
system and providing tutoring on a wider
Applications are open from August each year. range of courses and experiences, including
range of subjects than any other academic
camps and workshops.
Benefits include: service provider.
[Link]/professional-development/
• Exclusive events and activities to expand [Link]/getinvolved/
lp/creative-arts-studios
your academic and personal horizons summerschool
• If you go on to study at Melbourne, you “I am a huge advocate of the Melbourne
could be awarded a Melbourne Global Science curriculum and believe it is suitable for both
students like me who have a career pathway
Scholars Award to study at one of more Get involved with science through our VCE in mind, and also for those who are still
than 200 partner institutions in over 45
workshops or events we host on campus. You unsure. You can choose from a wide variety
countries on exchange, or anywhere in the of subjects not only in your course but also
can delve deeper in the science areas you love,
world on study abroad in other streams. It also gives you lots of
or you might discover something new.
• $2500 allowance to help with the costs of flexibility to travel, complete part of your
moving to Melbourne from a regional area. degree overseas and gain important real-life
In the Faculty of Science Year 10 Work
experience before your graduate degree and
Experience Program, you can participate in entering the workforce.”
[Link]/kld
workshops and activities in a STEM discipline
of your choice Ellie-Grace Mooney
University of Melbourne Extension Bachelor of Arts
Program (UMEP) [Link]/engage/science-in-
schools
Are you a high-achieving student in Victoria?
You can study a university subject during your
final year of high school. It’s free to join. You’ll
not only experience uni life and make new
connections and friends, but you could also
receive a valuable contribution to your ATAR
aggregate (depending on your results) and
earn credit toward your Melbourne degree.
[Link]/extension-program
5 Year 10 guide 2026 entry
What can I study at the
University of Melbourne?
Study at the University of Arts, Humanities and Education
Melbourne is a journey with Social Sciences
many possible destinations. I want to:
I want to: Change young people’s lives, give back to the
Your first step is to select the degree that community
Work creatively, understand and influence society,
interests you most. We offer seven Bachelor communicate new ideas
I imagine working in a career as a:
degrees in the Melbourne curriculum – Arts,
I imagine working in a career as a:
Biomedicine, Commerce, Design, Fine Arts, Teacher, education manager, academic
Music, and Science – covering over 100 Politician, sociologist, journalist, international advisor,
Marketer To become a teacher, you can begin with any
different study areas allowing you to design
a program that is uniquely yours. We also undergraduate degree at Melbourne. Next, you
Choose the Bachelor of Arts. You will gain
offer specialist degrees in Agriculture and will progress into the Master of Teaching –
broad knowledge, community leadership
Oral Health, where everything you study is a unique graduate degree that combines
skills and cultural awareness, graduating with
structured for your chosen discipline. evidence-based theory with practical
the skills necessary to succeed in the rapidly
placements, giving you powerful insights into
Explore the full list of courses and study changing global workplace. Popular graduate
how children and young people learn.
pathways online at: study options following the Bachelor of Arts
include criminology, development studies,
[Link]/find
international relations, law and journalism.
Improve people’s lives, cure and prevent disease Be challenged, make a difference, contribute to a just Research, interpret, solve the world’s greatest
society challenges
I imagine working in a career as a:
I imagine working in a career as a: I imagine working in a career as a:
Doctor, pathologist, psychologist, social worker,
dentist, dental hygienist, physiotherapist, optometrist Lawyer, judge, barrister, policy analyst, Scientist, lab technician, researcher
parliamentarian
Depending on your area of interest, you can Choose the Bachelor of Science. You can study
A career in law begins with an undergraduate
choose the Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor a wide range of topics from astrophysics and
degree in the discipline of your choice. If
of Science or Bachelor of Oral Health. Many ecology through to engineering and health
you like, you can take law breadth subjects
health-related professional careers require sciences, plus new and rapidly growing fields
from the first year of your degree. You will
you to complete a graduate qualification such as climate and weather and data science.
then continue with the Melbourne Juris
following your undergraduate degree. You can Popular graduate study options following the
Doctor (JD) graduate course to qualify as a
choose from a huge range of options including Bachelor of Science include biotechnology,
lawyer. The Melbourne JD will equip you with
medicine, nursing, audiology, physiotherapy, health sciences, data science and science
the skills and knowledge to take a leading
dentistry, psychology, social work, speech research.
role in contemporary legal practice, the
pathology, optometry and more.
business world, government and community
organisations.
Information Technology and Music and Visual and Veterinary, Agricultural and
Computer Science Performing Arts Food Sciences
I want to: I want to: I want to:
Work in a dynamic industry, solve technical problems, Entertain, perform, create Work with animals or on the land, improve the
analyse data environment
I imagine working in a career as a:
I imagine working in a career as a: I imagine working in a career as a:
Performer, filmmaker, director, visual artist, musician,
Computer scientist, IT specialist, data scientist, composer Vet, animal nutritionist, food scientist, agricultural
developer, software engineer scientist
Burnley Campus
6km
Southbank
Campus
Glossary
A H S
ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank): A rank HECS-HELP: The Australian Government’s Higher SEAS (Special Entry Access Scheme): A scheme that
calculated for tertiary institutions to compare the Education Loan Program (HELP) is available to eligible allows all universities participating in the VTAC system
overall achievement of students who have completed domestic students enrolled in a Commonwealth to receive applications for their special entry schemes.
different combinations of Australian Year 12 studies. Supported Place. It enables you to borrow the amount In order to be eligible for Access Melbourne, you must
of your student contribution and then pay the loan back submit a SEAS application through VTAC.
once you are in the workforce and earning more than
B a specified amount. For more information, please visit: Semester: One of two divisions of an academic year. At
the University of Melbourne, semesters usually begin in
[Link].
Bachelors degree: Usually your first degree February and July and are 12 weeks in duration.
at university, a bachelors degree is the highest Honours: A one-year extension (with a research
undergraduate award offered. component) of a three-year bachelors degree. Honours Student contribution: The fee domestic students
primarily involves the undertaking of an original piece enrolled in a CSP are required to pay, determined each
Breadth: A component of most bachelors degrees at of research in a specific field, and can be a pathway to year by the Australian Government. Payment can be
the University of Melbourne that allows you to choose further research degrees. made upfront, or deferred through HECS-HELP for
up to a quarter of your subjects from disciplines outside eligible students.
your core studies and majors.
I
T
C IELTS (International English Language Testing
Tutorial: A small class in which material from lectures
System): An international English language test
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP): A course recognised by the University. and readings is discussed in detail with a tutor and
place for domestic students where both the student and fellow students.
the Australian Government are responsible for the cost International student: An international student is any
of study. HECS-HELP loans are available to assist eligible student who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen,
students in paying the student contribution amount. For
more information, please visit: [Link].
or who is not an Australian permanent resident or U
holder of a permanent humanitarian visa.
Undergraduate degree/course: Your first degree at
Course: At the University of Melbourne, ‘course’ refers university, including bachelors degrees, bachelors
to a program of study or degree rather than individual degrees with honours and concurrent diplomas.
subjects. L
Lecture: A formal class in which lecturers present UMEP (University of Melbourne Extension Program):
course material to a large group of students enrolled in A program that enables high-achieving Victorian Year 12
D a given subject. students to complete first-year university study while
still at secondary school.
Diploma: A qualification equivalent to one year of full- Lowest selection rank to which an offer was made:
time study in a particular area. Some diplomas can be The ATAR at or above which all applicants received a
undertaken concurrently with a bachelors degree. Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in the listed V
year. The lowest selection rank to which an offer was
Domestic student: An Australian or New Zealand made varies from year to year depending on demand for VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre):
citizen, an Australian permanent resident or the the course and the number of places available. VTAC is responsible for admissions to most Victorian
holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa, university courses for domestic students and
regardless of whether citizenship or residency rights are international students studying in Australia.
held for a country other than Australia.
M
Major: A sequence of subjects in a particular discipline
E from an introductory level through to an advanced level.
O
G OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover): Compulsory
Graduate degree/course(also known as Master health insurance that international students must hold
10 Year 10 guide 2026 entry
degree): A further degree or course of study available for the full duration of their student visa to meet its
to students after the completion of an undergraduate requirements.
degree, offering specialist knowledge in an academic or
professional discipline.
Course VCE (Units 3 and 4) Prerequisite subjects International Baccalaureate (IB) Prerequisite subjects !
Bachelor of Agriculture A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature English and a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications and
Entry: February (Semester 1) and or at least 30 in EAL, and at least 25 in one of Mathematical Methods Interpretations HL, Analysis and Approaches SL, or Analysis and
July (Semester 2) or Specialist Mathematics or a study score of at least 30 in General Approaches HL; or a minimum grade of 5 in Applications and
Mathematics Interpretations SL
Bachelor of Biomedicine A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or English, Chemistry and a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications
Entry: February (Semester 1) at least 30 in EAL, and at least 25 in Chemistry and in Mathematical and Interpretations HL, Analysis and Approaches SL, or Analysis and
and July (Semester 2) Methods or Specialist Mathematics Approaches HL
Bachelor of Commerce A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at English and a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications and
Entry: February (Semester 1) least 30 in EAL, and at least 25 in Mathematical Methods or Specialist Interpretations HL, Analysis and Approaches SL, or Analysis and
and July (Semester 2) Mathematics Approaches HL
Bachelor of Design A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at English. Those intending to major in Civil Systems, Computing,
Entry: February (Semester 1) least 30 in EAL. Those intending to major in Civil Systems, Computing, Construction, Digital Technologies, Mechanical Systems, Property or
and July (Semester 2) Construction, Digital Technologies, Mechanical Systems, Property or Spatial Systems may be required to undertake a bridging subject in
Spatial Systems may be required to undertake a bridging subject in mathematics as breadth in first year. This is equivalent to Units 3 and 4
mathematics as breadth in first year. This is equivalent to Units 3 and 4 Mathematical Methods, and entry requires a mathematics background
Mathematical Methods, and entry requires a mathematics background equivalent to Units 1 and 2 Mathematical Methods.
equivalent to Units 1 and 2 Mathematical Methods.
Bachelor of Oral Health A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at English, and one of Biology or Chemistry
Entry: February (Semester 1) least 30 in EAL, and at least 25 in one of Biology or Chemistry
Bachelor of Science A study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at English and a minimum grade of 4 in either Applications and
Entry: February (Semester 1) least 30 in EAL, and at least 25 in Mathematical Methods or Specialist Interpretations HL, Analysis and Approaches SL, or Analysis and
and July (Semester 2) Mathematics, and in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics; OR a study Approaches HL and a minimum grade of 4 in one of Biology, Chemistry
score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or at least or Physics
30 in EAL, and at least 25 in both Mathematical Methods and Specialist
Mathematics
Bachelor of Science (Extended) Units 1 and 2: Satisfactory completion of one of Biology, Chemistry, N/A
Entry: February (Semester 1) General Mathematics, Maths: Mathematical Methods, Physics or
equivalent; and Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English/
English Language/Literature or EAL; and be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander descent
Diploma in General Studies Completed VCE or equivalent; or completed an appropriate VET N/A
(Extended) qualification at Certificate IV or above; and be of Aboriginal or Torres
Entry: February (Semester 1) Strait Islander descent
11 Year 10 guide 2026 entry
! Unless otherwise indicated, all prerequisite IB subjects require achievement of at least Grade 4 at Standard or Higher [Link] students with English as their second language,
a pass in English B at the required level will be accepted as satisfying the English prerequisite.
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