How students are picking vocational and trade subjects to boost their ATAR

Tanya Bolt said when her eldest son, Seth, chose his senior subjects at the end of year 10, university was not something on his mind.

Less than a year later, as the 16-year-old began showing an interest in university courses, Bolt said picking vocational subjects was the best decision he could have made.

“Chatting with his English teacher, she said, ‘It breaks my heart because it actually gives a higher ATAR than had he gone for a [standard] ATAR pathway at school’,” Bolt said.

The Gold Coast year 11 student opted to pursue a diploma in business as a vocational education and training (VET) subject, but remained eligible for an ATAR – universities’ key criterion for student selection into tertiary courses.

In Queensland, senior students studying vocational subjects can receive an ATAR provided they meet minimum maths and English requirements, complete their VET qualification before graduating, and study four general subjects at a year 12 level.

When these requirements are met, the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) converts vocational subjects – graded on an A-to-E scale – into a score out of 100 that can be included in students’ ATAR calculations.

Bolt said pursuing a standard ATAR pathway of six general subjects across year 11 and 12 would have been “a waste of time” for Seth.

“Sitting in economics, sitting in psychology, sitting in woodwork – he just had no interest whatsoever,” she said.

Instead, Bolt said her son was keen to follow his father into property development, although he had also considered a sports coaching business or, more recently, studying town planning at university.

However, in Seth’s case, Bolt said the 16-year-old would likely walk “straight in” to university with his diploma alone.

QTAC chief executive Chris Veraa said many Queensland universities often considered external qualifications above a certificate IV level – the step below a diploma – on their own.

“Traditionally, universities have assessed VET qualifications by assigning them a selection rank or ATAR equivalent to determine an applicant’s competitiveness for entry,” he said.

Veraa said universities were increasingly offering guaranteed and direct admissions pathways based on VET qualifications, with direct entries growing by 21.2 per cent since 2024.

“This reflects a broader shift in how VET is being used within tertiary pathways, with applicants increasingly considering VET as either an input to, or an alternative pathway into, higher education,” he said.

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