Where it fits › Queensland
Where does VET fit? · Queensland
In Queensland, your VET qualification can count three ways.
It earns credits towards your QCE. A completed Certificate III or above can be one of your five ATAR inputs. And a completed Certificate IV or Diploma earns a selection rank of its own, so it can get you into university even without an ATAR.
Year 11–12
School subjects + your VET qualification
↓
1 · QCE
VET counts towards your QCE
The Queensland Certificate of Education is built from credits. A completed VET qualification adds credits, and the level decides which category they fall into.
20
credits needed for a QCE
12
of them from completed Core courses
+
literacy and numeracy requirements met
Core
Certificate III
Up to 8 credits
Counts towards the 12 Core credits.
Core
Certificate IV
Up to 8 credits
Counts towards the 12 Core credits.
Complementary
Diploma
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.
2 + 3 · University
Two ways VET can help you into university
They work independently. A student can use one, the other, or both.
Route 1
Inside your ATAR
QTAC builds the ATAR from your five best inputs. One of them can be a completed Certificate III or above, alongside four General subjects.
General
General
General
General
VET
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. In 2023 a Diploma scaled to 58.97 and a Certificate III to 38.84.
Never a penalty. QTAC uses it only if it beats your fifth subject.
Route 2
A selection rank of its own
A completed Certificate 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
→
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.
Before you count on it
Finish it in Year 12
To count in the ATAR, the qualification must be completed and recorded by the end of Year 12.
Timing differs at UQ
UQ accepts VET finished at school from Semester 2 of the following year.
Prerequisites still apply
A qualification does not replace subjects a degree requires, such as Mathematical Methods.
Check the year you apply
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.