← Understanding VET in Schools
Senior certificate & ATAR · Queensland
A VET qualification earns QCE credits. A completed Certificate III or above can be one of five ATAR inputs, and a completed Certificate III, IV or Diploma earns its own selection rank for university entry.
Year 11–12
3
A completed Certificate III, IV or Diploma earns its own selection rank, separate from the ATAR.
The QCE is made up of credits. A completed VET qualification adds credits, and its level determines the credit category.
20
credits needed for a QCE
12
of them from completed Core courses
You also need to meet the QCE literacy and numeracy requirements.
| Qualification | Category | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate III | Core | Up to 8 credits | Counts towards the 12 Core credits. |
| Certificate IV | Core | Up to 8 credits | Counts towards the 12 Core credits. |
| Diploma | Complementary | 1 credit per unit, up to 8 credits | While enrolled at school. Not used for the 12 Core credits, so Core still comes from subjects or a Certificate III or IV. |
The two routes are independent. Students can use either or both.
Route 1
QTAC builds the ATAR from your five best inputs. One of them can be a completed Certificate III or above, alongside four General subjects.
GeneralGeneralGeneralGeneralVET
One score per level.
Each year, every completed qualification at the same level gets the same scaled score, whatever the field or provider.
Higher level, higher score.
From 2023 to 2025 a Diploma scaled to between 58.72 and 59.14, and a Certificate III to between 38.00 and 39.11.
Never a penalty.
QTAC uses it only if it beats your fifth subject.
Route 2
A completed Certificate III, IV or Diploma earns its own selection rank, separate from the ATAR. Where you have both, universities generally consider the higher one.
ATAR
[e.g. 70.00] and Diploma rank
[e.g. 87.00] then Considered on
the higher rank
| QUT | Diploma 87.00, or up to 91.95 with graded results. Usable after Year 12 even without an ATAR |
| Griffith | Certificate III or above guarantees entry to listed degrees |
| JCU | Certificate III, IV or Diploma guarantees entry to listed degrees |
| UQ | Diploma up to 82, or 91.95 graded or with STAT. From Semester 2 after Year 12 |
Selection ranks shown for 2027 entry. Each university sets its own and they change each year.
To count in the ATAR, the qualification must be completed and recorded by the end of Year 12.
UQ accepts VET finished at school from Semester 2 of the following year.
A qualification does not replace subjects a degree requires, such as Mathematical Methods.
Admission rules change between years. Always confirm with the university.
Shafston School of Business · VET in Schools 2027. Sources: QCAA, QTAC ATAR Report 2023, and QUT, UQ, Griffith and JCU admissions information, checked October 2026.