VCE Subject Selection Guide 2027
Selecting VCE subjects for 2027 requires balancing minimum completion rules with specific tertiary prerequisites and school-level attendance policies.
Selecting VCE subjects for 2027 requires balancing minimum completion rules with specific tertiary prerequisites and school-level attendance policies. Students must secure at least 16 units, including a core of English and three other Unit 3 and 4 sequences, to graduate.
VCE Completion and Tertiary Prerequisites
To complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), students must achieve a minimum of 16 units (VCE Administrative Handbook). This total must include three units of English, which must include the Units 3 and 4 sequence, and three other Unit 3 and 4 sequences.
For students aiming for university or other tertiary education, meeting prerequisites is a separate requirement from VCE completion. According to VTAC guidelines published 18 August 2026, the following standards apply:
- Units 1 and 2: Students must achieve a satisfactory result in both units.
- Units 3 and 4: These generally require a minimum VCE study score of 10 (Meeting Prerequisites). Additionally, students must achieve at least two graded assessments that are higher than a 'U' (Ungraded).
VTAC notes that these prerequisite requirements are based on VCE study scores rather than VTAC scaled scores.
Sector Profiles and Costs
The choice of school impacts both the financial cost of the VCE and the student environment. In 2025, Victorian Government schools were the largest sector, operating 436 schools with 313,197 students and a median Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) of 989.
Independent and Catholic sectors are smaller but have higher median ICSEA values. In 2025, Independent schools operated 197 schools with 175,084 students (median ICSEA 1089), while Catholic schools operated 102 schools with 109,630 students (median ICSEA 1054).
Victorian secondary enrolments by sector, 2020-2025 (ACARA)
Tuition costs vary significantly by sector. Victorian Government schools charge no tuition. For fee-charging sectors, 2026 data shows a wide range of costs.
| Sector | Median Tuition 2026 ($) | Fee Range ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | 15,330 | 215 – 48,538 |
| Catholic | 7,916 | 1,080 – 17,973 |
| (School fee schedules) |
Across all fee-charging sectors, the median tuition varies by year level. The highest median cost occurs in Year 11 at $12,589, while the lowest is in Year 9 at $10,580.
Attendance and Assessment Integrity
Attendance is increasingly linked to the ability to complete VCE units. In Victorian Government schools, the attendance rate for Years 7-10 fell from 90.1% in 2019 to 84.7% in 2025. More critically, the percentage of students attending 90% or more of the time dropped from 68.1% in 2019 to 47.6% in 2025.
Some schools have implemented strict policies to address this. Mordialloc College requires at least 90% attendance in scheduled classes for its Year 11 and 12 programs (Vce Course Selection Guide 2027). Failure to meet this 90% attendance level may result in a student receiving an 'N' (Not Satisfactory) outcome.
The VCAA 2027 Administrative Handbook, published August 2026, provides updated guidance on how students can redeem 'N' outcomes and includes refined language regarding the integrity of school-based assessments (VCE Administrative Handbook).
School-Specific Program Variations
Different schools offer varied pathways and requirements beyond the VCAA minimums.
VCE and VCE Vocational Major (VM)
Footscray High School follows the standard VCE requirement of 16 units (3 English and 3 other Unit 3/4 sequences) (2027 Vce Subject Selection Guide). For the VCE VM, it requires 16 units consisting of 3 English/Literacy, 2 Maths/Numeracy, 2 VET (Vocational Education and Training), 2 Work Related Skills, 2 Personal Development Skills, and 3 other Unit 3/4 sequences.
Greensborough College structures the VCE VM week to include two days of school, one day of VET, and two days of Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) (Final 2027 VCE Subject Selection Handbook).
Specialized Requirements
Some schools impose additional academic or subject-based constraints:
- Subject Load: Footscray High School advises students against taking more than two "folio" or "performance" subjects in a single year.
- Baccalaureate Pathways: Killester College's VCE Baccalaureate requires a study score of 30+ in English (or 33+ for EAL), higher-level mathematics (Methods or Specialist), a VCE Language, and two other Unit 3/4 sequences (2027 Vce Curriculum Student Handbook Final).
- Religious Education: Killester College requires students to complete at least two Religious Education units over the two-year program.
Nothing here is financial, legal or investment advice. Every figure is published by its named source and carries the date it was published; figures may since have changed.