Alternative Tertiary Entry Program

The Alternative Tertiary Entry Program gives Year 12 students the chance to gain entry to a Swinburne degree or UniLink program without an ATAR.

It is ideal for students who are already demonstrating the ability to be independent learners but are seeking an alternative to the traditional ATAR-based entry system.

You will undertake a selection of two first-year Swinburne subjects based on your interests.

Upon completion of the program (and provided you meet entry requirements), you will be guaranteed an offer into a Swinburne course that aligns with your broad career goals.

The Alternative Tertiary Entry Program is run in conjunction with a student’s school and is not available independently.

Click here to download the Course FAQ for information on the course and application process

Students participating in ATEP undertake units relevant to their academic and broad career interests.

Students will enrol in one unit per semester selected from the list of available units. These units are recommended as suitable for first year study and have no pre- or co-requisite requirements. The choice of units is discussed between the student and the school and will reflect the student’s developed ability and interests.

• complete one Swinburne unit per semester from a prescribed list
• undertake specified transition activities.

If the unit undertaken is a "Core" unit in the degree course then you will do an elective in place of the core unit already undertaken through ATEP

Although this program is specifically designed to be an alternative to the ATAR system, Swinburne recognises that students may have already undertaken, or wish to undertake, other VCE units. Under the ATEP, students may take up to three assessed VCE 3 and 4 units (English plus two others) and still qualify for admission to a Swinburne course under the ATEP system. not be counted towards their degree course requirements.

Units of study

Please note: The ATEP units will not count towards the student’s degree requirements - they are solely for the purpose of ascertaining a student’s

Students must have attained a pass in VCE English Units 1 and 2 and in the school’s estimation have completed Year 11 to a satisfactory level.

• play an active role in their own learning
• think deeply and logically, and obtain and evaluate evidence in a disciplined way
• be creative, innovative, and resourceful, and solve problems in ways that draw upon a range of learning areas and disciplines
• plan activities independently, collaborate, work in teams and communicate ideas.