VET courses can get you into uni – and even set you up better to thrive once you’re there!
Plenty of school leavers find ATAR the simplest way to get into uni. But it’s very far from the only way – and for a lot of people, it’s not the best way.
Take Savannah Bolt, a paramedicine student at Charles Darwin University. She finished school without an ATAR, choosing instead to study Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses at high school.
“I did all of that because I always thought there was no need for university, so I thought if I got some certificates under my belt, it would help me find full-time work after school,” she told CDU’s newsroom.
But instead, the courses set her on a path to uni – and actually set her up to be a step ahead in her paramedicine studies.
As well as being used for university admission, some VET courses can also count towards uni course credit, meaning you can finish your degree faster.
According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, about 4% of VET graduates in 2025 were taking a course mostly so they could gain entry to a higher qualification or university, and about a third of students started further study after finishing a qualification.
Other entry pathways to uni
If a VET course doesn’t quite suit you, there are other ways to study the uni course you want as well.
This handy explainer covers 5 common ways to get to uni without a stellar ATAR: you can take alternative tests like the STAT test, or bridging courses.
Most universities also have their own specific pathway programs. Some are for specific degrees, while others are for specific groups of students they want to attract to the uni. Search the name of a uni or degree you’re thinking about, along with “pathways”, and have a read of your options.
At most universities, you can also chat one-on-one with staff working in admissions to figure out the best entry for you personally. Look up contact forms or options to book appointments with uni staff.
Remember: universities want you to study with them! If you’re interested in a course, there will almost always be a way into it.
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