Introduction
If you’re in Year 9 or 10 in Victoria, or a parent helping your child plan ahead, now is the perfect time to start thinking about VCE subject choices. The subjects you pick can open (or close) doors to certain university courses, especially for competitive degrees at Victoria’s top universities.
This guide breaks down the essential and recommended VCE subjects for popular university pathways, based on prerequisites from the top five Victorian universities:
By understanding subject requirements early, you can make smart decisions that keep future options open and reduce stress in Year 11–12.
Popular Degrees and Their VCE Subject Requirements
1️⃣ Medicine / Biomedicine
- Must-Have:
- English / EAL
- Chemistry
- Recommended:
- Biology
- Mathematical Methods
- Extra: UCAT exam + interviews are required for most medical programs.
2️⃣ Engineering / IT / Data Science
- Must-Have:
- Mathematical Methods
- Recommended:
- Specialist Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry (for some engineering majors)
- Algorithmics or Computing (for IT and data science)
3️⃣ Commerce / Business / Economics
- Must-Have:
- English / EAL
- Recommended:
- Mathematical Methods (required for Melbourne Uni Commerce)
- Specialist Mathematics (for Economics/Actuarial Studies)
- Accounting or Economics (helpful but not compulsory)
4️⃣ Law
- Must-Have:
- English / EAL
- Recommended:
- Global Politics or Legal Studies (good preparation, not required)
5️⃣ Nursing / Health Sciences
- Must-Have:
- English / EAL
- Recommended:
- Biology
- Chemistry (required for majors like Nutrition or Physiotherapy)
6️⃣ Architecture / Design / Media
- Must-Have:
- English / EAL
- Recommended:
- Visual Communication Design
- Media / Studio Arts
- Mathematical Methods (for Architecture)
📊 Summary Table
| Degree | Must-Have Subjects | Recommended Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Chemistry, English | Biology, Methods |
| Engineering | Methods | Specialist Maths, Physics |
| Commerce | English | Methods, Spec Maths, Accounting |
| Law | English | Legal Studies, Politics |
| Health Sciences | English | Biology, Chemistry |
| Architecture | English | VCD, Maths |
Pay attention: If you want to study medicine at Monash University, you should take the UCAT in Year 11 to ensure your scores are available for your Year 12 application.
Final Tips for Year 9–10 Students & Parents
✅ Start exploring your interests now and think about possible career paths.
✅ Check university websites regularly for up-to-date prerequisites.
✅ If unsure, choose subjects that keep more options open—especially Mathematical Methods and Chemistry.
✅ Talk to your school’s VCE coordinator or career counsellor for personalised advice.
Planning ahead in Year 9–10 makes Year 11–12 much smoother and helps you aim for competitive university courses with confidence.
Check VTAC or the university websites regularly to ensure you have the most up-to-date course prerequisite information.
💡 Need personalised guidance?
Our academic advisors can help you choose the right VCE subjects and create a clear pathway towards your dream university course.
