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Equivalent studies

Some VCE studies consist of more than four units. There are no restrictions within these studies on the number or combinations of units that students may undertake. For example, in VCE Applied Computing, students may obtain credit for Units 3 and 4 of both Data Analytics and Software Development. To obtain credit for a sequence, students must satisfactorily complete both Units 3 and 4 from the one study.

There are credit restrictions on including equivalent units towards satisfactory VCE completion. If a student undertakes an equivalent study of a unit they have already satisfactorily completed, only one of these units can be included towards satisfactory VCE completion.

Schools must run a VCE or VCE VM student eligibility report on VASS for all students and contact Student Records and Results if the report shows any concerns.

List of equivalent studies

VCE Aboriginal Languages of Victoria

The VCE Aboriginal Languages of Victoria study design (Accreditation period 2023–2027) replaces the previous study of VCE Indigenous Languages of Victoria – Revival and Reclamation.

Students who completed VCE Indigenous Languages of Victoria – Revival and Reclamation units before 2023, and who subsequently enrol in VCE Aboriginal Languages of Victoria, cannot count Units 1–4 of VCE Aboriginal Languages of Victoria towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Art Creative Practice

The VCE Art Creative Practice study design (Accreditation period 2023–2027) replaces the previous study of VCE Art. Students who completed VCE Art units before 2023, and who subsequently enrol in VCE Art Creative Practice, cannot count Units 1–4 of VCE Art Creative Practice towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Art Making and Exhibiting

The VCE Art Making and Exhibiting study design (Accreditation period 2023–2027) replaces the previous study of VCE Studio Arts. Students who completed VCE Studio Arts units before 2023, and who subsequently enrol in VCE Art Making and Exhibiting, cannot count Units 1–4 of VCE Art Making and Exhibiting towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Computing

The VCE Applied Computing study design (Accreditation period 2020–2024) replaces the previous study of VCE Computing and Information Technology. Students who completed VCE Computing and Information Technology units before 2020, and who subsequently enrol in VCE Applied Computing, cannot count Units 1–4 of VCE Applied Computing towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE English and English as an Additional Language (EAL)

English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) are equivalent studies, so only one study at each unit level may be counted towards the award of the VCE.

VCE Food Studies

The VCE Food Studies study design replaces all previous study designs for VCE Food and Technology from 2017. Students who completed VCE Food and Technology units before 2017, and who subsequently enrol in VCE Food Studies, cannot count Units 1–4 of VCE Food Studies towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Languages

There are 48 languages available for VCE enrolment and students may study more than one language. However, for satisfactory VCE completion, students cannot count the same units of:

  • Chinese First Language, Chinese Second Language, Chinese Second Language Advanced and Chinese Language, Culture and Society
  • Indonesian First Language and Indonesian Second Language
  • Korean First Language and Korean Second Language
  • Japanese First Language and Japanese Second Language
  • Vietnamese First Language and Vietnamese Second Language.

Students who are enrolled to study the same language in both a VCE Languages study and a Certificate II or III VET language qualification (either simultaneously or sequentially) will receive credit for only the VCE Languages study.

VCE Languages studies and the VET Applied Language certificates

Current duplication has been identified between VCE Languages studies and the VET Applied Language certificates where they are undertaken in the same language. Where a student is enrolled in both a VCE Languages study at Units 3 and 4 levels and the VET Certificate III in Applied Language in the same language, the VCE Languages study will be the only one to contribute towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE on a Northern Hemisphere Timetable

The same study undertaken in both academic years has equivalent sequences but only one sequence may be counted towards the award of the VCE and only one study score will count towards the calculation of the ATAR.

VCE Mathematics

The VCE Mathematics study design (Accreditation period 2023–2027) will replace all previous study designs of VCE Mathematics. Students who have completed Units 3 and 4 of Further Mathematics units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in Units 3 and 4 of General Mathematics cannot count Units 3 and 4 of General Mathematics towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Music

The VCE Music study design (Accreditation period 2023–2027) will replace all previous study designs of VCE Music. Students who have completed:

  • either Units 1 or 2 or both of Music Performance before 2023 cannot count either Units 1 or 2 or both of Music (2023–2027) towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • both Units 3 and 4 of Music Performance before 2023 cannot count Units 3 and 4 of Music Repertoire Performance (2023–2027) towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • both Units 3 and 4 of Music Investigation before 2023 cannot count Units 3 and 4 of Music Inquiry (2023–2027) towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • both Units 3 and 4 of Music Style and Composition before 2023 cannot count Units 3 and 4 of Music Composition (2023–2027) towards satisfactory VCE completion.

VCE Politics

The VCE Politics (Accreditation period – Units 1 and 2: 2024–2028 and Units 3 and 4: 2025 - 2028) will replace the previous study of VCE Australian and Global Politics. From 2024, students who have completed:

  • either Units 1 or 2 or both of Australian and Global Politics cannot count either Units 1 or 2 or both of VCE Politics towards satisfactory VCE completion.

From 2025, students who have completed

  • both Units 3 and 4 of Australian Politics cannot count the VCE Politics Unit 3–4 sequence towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • both Units 3 and 4 of Global Politics cannot count the VCE Politics Unit 3–4 sequence towards satisfactory VCE completion

VCE VET programs and other VET qualifications

Duplication between VCE VET programs and other VET qualifications available through block credit recognition will be taken into account when determining the amount and level of credit towards the VCE. If UoCs sit within the scored Unit 3–4 sequence of a VCE VET program, they will not be included in VE3 qualifications in the same industry.

VCE VM studies

Students who have received credit for completed VCAL units in or prior to 2023 cannot count the corresponding VCE VM units towards satisfactory VCE completion. This means students who have received credit for:

  • Intermediate Literacy units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM Literacy, cannot count Units 1 and 2 of VCE VM Literacy towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Intermediate Numeracy units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM Numeracy, cannot count Units 1 and 2 of VCE VM Numeracy towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Intermediate Personal Development Skills units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM PDS, cannot count Units 1 and 2 of VCE VM PDS towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Intermediate Work Related Skills units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM WRS cannot count Units 1 and 2 of VCE VM WRS towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Senior Literacy units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM Literacy, cannot count Units 3 and 4 of VCE VM Literacy towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Senior Numeracy units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM Numeracy, cannot count Units 3 and 4 of VCE VM Numeracy towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Senior PDS units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM PDS, cannot count Units 3 and 4 of VCE VM PDS towards satisfactory VCE completion
  • Senior WRS units before 2023 and who subsequently enrol in VCE VM WRS, cannot count Units 3 and 4 of VCE VM WRS towards satisfactory VCE completion.

Contact vcaa.vce.curriculum@education.vic.gov.au