Academic Calendar

Course Duration & Trimester Dates

The Bachelor degrees at Collarts are offered over six trimesters and can be completed in two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. Full time study generally requires students to be on campus 3–4 days a week, with the exception of our online-only courses.

The Diplomas for Music Performance, Music Production, Audio Engineering, Content Creation, Interior Design, Fashion Marketing and Entertainment Management are offered over two trimesters of full-time study, or can be completed in four trimesters of part-time study.

For the Diploma of Arts in Entertainment Journalism, full-time study is three trimesters, or can be completed in six trimesters of part-time study. Full time study generally requires students to be on campus 3–4 days a week.

Application Process

Current Year 12 Students

If you are currently in Year 12 you must apply via VTAC regardless of whether you live in Victoria or a different state.

Once you have submitted a Collarts course into your VTAC preferences, our Future Student Team will contact you to arrange a suitable interview and/or audition time. Make sure your details are correct!

Non-Year 12 Students

If you’re not currently in Year 12, you may apply directly on our website or via VTAC.

Once your application has been received, whether direct or via VTAC, our Future Student Team will contact you to arrange a suitable interview and/or audition time.

This application process applies to all non-year 12 candidates, including (but not limited to) those with:

1. Recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)
2. Higher education study
3. Vocational education training (VET) study
4. Work and life experience

If you reside outside of Victoria

If you are residing outside of Victoria but would like to apply for one of our courses we can set up an interview via Skype or phone and can organise an online audition if necessary.

Timings for Auditions/Interviews

Auditions and interviews take place throughout the year at your convenience. Contact us on (+61) 1300 818 777 to organise this or fill out our online application form and a member of staff will contact you.

What happens at your Interview?

Applicants for all of our courses must undertake a 30-minute interview. During the interview, we will ask you questions about your knowledge and experience in your field of interest as well as discuss your course choice with you.

• You’ll have the opportunity to tour the campus;
• You’ll learn about studying at Collarts;
• You’ll meet our friendly staff;
• You’ll be able to ask any questions you might have.
  
  

What happens at your Audition?

Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts (Music) must complete an audition as well as an interview. It is expected that applicants have a good understanding of their instrument and applicants would benefit from having some basic music theory knowledge. The audition process will also be discussed when we set up an audition time.

• You can audition as an instrumentalist (includes vocalists) or as a singer/instrumentalist songwriter
• You will be required to perform two contrasting works of your choice. If you are applying for the songwriter stream, you must audition with two original pieces
• You can perform with or without accompaniment or a backing track
• The college can provide audio playback equipment, a PA, a guitar or bass amp, a drum kit and piano for accompaniment. Let us know if you have any of these requirements.

Admission Criteria

Admissions Policy for Domestic Students

Admission Criteria for each Collarts course is different, and also varies depending on the candidate’s background, qualifications and previous experience. You can see the course-specific Admission Criteria on the individual course page.

Eligibility & Entry Requirements

To be eligible to apply for Collarts' Bachelor Degrees, you need to have successfully completed ONE of the following:

• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or International Baccalaureate (IB).
• Interstate or New Zealand equivalent to VCE ie. HSC, QCE, TCE, WACE, SACE, NTCE, ACT Year 12 Certificate, or NCEA (New Zealand)
• Overseas Secondary Year 12 Equivalent

To be eligible to apply for Collarts' Diplomas, you need to have successfully completed ONE of the following:

• Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) Year 12 Senior Level
• Interstate or New Zealand Vocational Equivalent to VCAL ie. QCIA
• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or International Baccalaureate (IB).
• Interstate or New Zealand equivalent to VCE ie. HSC, QCE, TCE, WACE, SACE, NTCE, ACT Year 12 Certificate, or NCEA (New Zealand)
• Overseas Secondary Year 12 Equivalent

If none of the above qualifications have successfully been completed, applicants must be 20 years of age or older with 2 years of work experience to apply.

Collarts does not have subject prerequisites and does not require a minimum ATAR rank.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Collarts actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  Collarts recognises that there is inequality in education opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. While there is no specific reduction in entry criteria, Collarts supports and encourages applications from within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.  At the time of your application, if you would like to identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, depending on your circumstances, we may be able to provide specific study support once enrolled.

Fees

You can choose from our fee-paying options or if you meet the criteria you can opt to pay for your studies via FEE-HELP.

Getting To Collarts

Set across FOUR incredible inner-city campuses, Collarts is a dynamic creative space full of energy, passion and opportunity.

Click here for more information on our campus facilities, public transport options and concession, and parking.

Recognition of Prior Learning

EXchange programs &

experience scholarSHips

Collarts focuses on giving students real-life industry experiences so they are career-ready when they graduate. We provide a wide range of overseas exchange programs and experience-based scholarships for Collarts’ students that enrich their study experience and connect them with their industry. Collarts supports students in a variety of ways, from overseas exchange programs, interstate conference attendance, sought-after internships and hands-on experience at major festivals. 

Our Opportunities Include:

• Songwriter Week at Popakademie in Manheim, Germany.
• Semester Exchange with Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.
• Collarts Music: Career Start Scholarship - having your music professionally recorded and produced.
• Two-week exchange with Communication University of China, Beijing; Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee; or Inland Norway University.
• Experience working at Falls Festival, Unify Gathering, Groovin' The Moo, Melbourne Fashion Week, Ego Expo, Denfair and more.
• BIGSOUND Conference in Brisbane, QLD.
• Working with Music Victoria.

Many of our programs also have additional scholarships available to students who may use them to financially assist with the cost of being involved with these opportunities. Scholarships are only available to current students applying for selected programs. Applications open at various times throughout the year and will be announced to all students. Talk to us to find out which opportunities and scholarships you might be eligible for.

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

Collarts does not provide accommodation to students. However, we are able to provide information about sources of student accommodation and can recommend the following as a guide to finding short and long-term accommodation in Melbourne.

Student Notice Board

Displays ‘wanted to share’ or ‘accommodation available’ especially late January and early February. 

Homestay Network

This is a network of accommodation provided by host families in Melbourne. We have provided a number of web links if you are interested in homestay accommodation. These agencies are privately owned and operated and it is the responsibility of each student to assess the homestay facilities as suitable for their needs:

homestaynetwork.org

homestaydirect.com.au

student-accommodation.com.au

Hostels & Boarding Houses

Hostels and boarding houses are listed in the Yellow Pages Online. Similar accommodation listings can be found under ‘Accommodation Available’ in the various local and Melbourne newspapers. Youth Hostels Australia has a large accommodation network across Australia

yha.com.au

Flats, Units & Houses

Comprehensive listings for flats, units and houses for rent through real estate agents are found on:

domain.com.au

realestate.com.au

It is also advisable to contact real estate agents in preferred suburbs.

Share Accommodation

If you want assistance in finding a room-mate, visit websites such as Flatmates, Flat Mate Finders, or Gumtree.

Victoria has well defined tenancy laws that support the rights of landlords and tenants.  For more information go the Consumer Affairs Victoria website, or if you are experiencing a problem with your landlord, call them on 1300 55 81 81 (or +61 3 8684 0735).  The Tenants Victoria can also help.

SUPPORT & SERVICES

Health & Wellbeing

If you are struggling with a personal matter or worried about anything – whether it relates to your study or not – knowing there’s someone you can talk to can really help.

The agencies listed in the Useful Contacts section below provide free, anonymous and confidential services.

Collarts also offers students access to free and confidential appointments with our Wellbeing Support and Counsellor.  You'll find more information regarding this service on this page.

LGBTIQ+ Support at Collarts

Collarts celebrates its diverse community of students and staff. We know that people who identify as part of the LGBTIQ+ community or people of diverse sexualities and genders face a range of unique challenges. We acknowledge the need to actively and positively support this diversity and the importance of providing a safe and welcoming environment for all staff and students.

A list of resources that you might find helpful for accessing support or building inclusion and promoting involvement at Collarts or the community are listed below:

QLife: A counselling and referral service for LGBTI people. Provides nation-wide telephone and web based services to people of all ages across the full breadth of people’s bodies, genders, relationships, sexualities and lived experiences.

Minus18: Minus18 is Australia's largest youth driven organisation for LGBTIQ youth. Minus18 provide incredible social events, dance parties and resources for LGBTIQ youth all over Australia.

Oii: Organisation Intersex International Australia is an independent support, education and policy development organisation run by and for people with intersex variations or traits. Oii focus on human rights, bodily autonomy, self-determination and on evidence-based, patient-directed health care.

Wellbeing Support & Counselling

All current Collarts students can access free and confidential appointments with our Wellbeing Support and Counsellors. Our counsellors are able to assistance with many issues, including:

• concerns about course or study-related issues (concentration, motivation, exam anxiety)
• difficulties in relationships with significant others (family, partners, friends)questions of identity, self-esteem and confidence
• feelings of depression, anxiety and fear loss or trauma
• alcohol or other drug related problems
• stress or conflict at home, work or University
• coping with disabilities, health problems or mental illness
• sexuality, sexual identity and coming out

Some of the benefits of counselling can be:

• having support following a crisis or trauma
• sharing your thoughts and feelings with a trained person
• developing strategies for problem solving, decision making and change
• identifying and building on your strengths
• looking at alternative ways of behaving or thinking
• becoming clearer about your concerns and direction

Useful Contacts

Lifeline: 13 11 14 - Telephone counselling (Available 24 hours, 7 days)

Suicide Helpline: 1300 651 251 (Available 24 hours, 7 days)

Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1800 806 292 - Counselling, advocacy and referral

Directline: 1800 888 236 - Drug and Alcohol counselling (Free, anonymous and confidential - 24/7)

Griefline: 03 5596 7799 - Bereavement support (12pm - 3am)

Mensline: 1300 789 978 - counselling and referrals for men

WIRE: 1300 134 130 - Support and referral for women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people (Free and confidential)

Nurse on Call: 1300 606 024 - expert health advice (24 hours, 7 days a week)

City of Yarra Child Care: (03) 9205 5555 - Child care centres near Collarts campuses

In an EMERGENCY call:  000 or 112 from a mobile phone

Library

Collarts provides access to a range of physical and online library resources, services and facilities across two sites, as well as off campus. With a Design Library at Cromwell St and a space dedicated to music and performance resources at Wellington St, Collarts is committed to providing all students with constant opportunities to discover, access, use, create and share knowledge. Online services have been curated in response to student need and include highly regarded research and learning databases such as JSTOR, Informit and Linkedin Learning.

Academic Skills

Collarts offers support and guidance in a variety of academic areas such as essay writing, referencing, research techniques, time management, planning, presentations, and critical reflection. We also offer support in developing learning habits that align with what research shows the most successful students apply in their studies. Students can also receive guidance in using online tools for writing feedback, managing references and creating a personalised research compendium. Meetings are available in one-on-one sessions in person, online, or via email. Individual courses also offer subject-specific tutoring.

Handbooks, Policies, Rules

The student handbook contains details about our college including: our mission and vision, campus information, enrolment details, program and assessment details, as well as our policies and procedures.

You can view or download the Higher Education Student Handbook here.

You can view or download the VET Student Handbook here.

For all Higher Education Policies, click here.

For all RTO Policies and Forms, click here.

WITHDRAWAL & GRIEVANCE

Application to Withdraw and Cancel Enrolment

Formal Grievance Form

Application to Appeal

Tuition Fee Refund Form