If your circumstances have impacted on your academic performance, you may be eligible to apply for equity access.
You can apply for equity consideration using the VTAC Equity schemes & scholarships if applying for programs through VTAC, or RMIT Access if applying for programs by direct application to RMIT.
RMIT participates in the four categories within the VTAC Equity schemes & scholarships and RMIT Access that cover: personal information and location, difficult family and life circumstances, financial hardship and living with a disability or medical condition.
Check the eligibility criteria
In addition to meeting the general eligibility criteria, you must also be able to prove you meet the eligibility criteria for the category/categories under which you are applying.
Some categories require you to provide additional evidence to support your claims, which may include:
- an impact statement describing how your circumstances have affected your education
- a statement of support from a responsible person*
- documentary proof such as copies of a Centrelink statement.
Categories considered for equity access include:
- Personal information and location
- Financial Hardship
- Disability or medical
- Difficult family life/circumstances
The following outline the eligibility requirements for each category. Note that the maximum equity adjustment you can receive when applying for Equity schemes & scholarships or RMIT Access is 20 aggregate points, or up to 16 ATAR points.
Personal information and location
You will be assessed for consideration on your age, school, living location, gender, Indigenous status and/or non-English speaking background based on the information you have provided in your application. Eligibility criteria for each circumstance is as follows:
Eligibility criteria and adjustments for Age based consideration
Higher education applicants must be 21 or older on 1 January of the year in which they start their RMIT program.
Vocational education applicants must be 18 or older on 1 January of the year in which they start their RMIT program.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: 5 aggregate points, or up to 4 ATAR points.
Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
You must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent and accepted as such by your community.
Applicants will be contacted by the Ngarara Willim Centre and invited to participate in the Indigenous Access Program.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: 20 aggregate points, or up to 15 ATAR points.
Eligibility criteria and adjustments for living location based consideration
You must have a permanent address in a regional, remote or under-represented area. Regional and remote areas have been determined using the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness Areas classification.
VTAC applicants
Under-represented areas with a high proportion of people who experience socio-economic disadvantage have been determined using the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) - Index of Education and Occupation (IEO) score for the Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1) of the permanent address.
Direct to RMIT applicants
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) - Index of Education and Occupation (IEO) postcode of your permanent address must be listed as low on the SES and Regional adjustments calculator.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: between 10-20 aggregate points, or 7-15 ATAR points.
Eligibility criteria and adjustments for gender based consideration
You must be female, and applying for a program (listed below) in which RMIT has specified that women are under-represented.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: 10 aggregate points, or up to 7 ATAR points.
2026 Programs underrepresented by women
| Compare | Course name | Study type | Location | Entry score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) | Vocational study | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Advanced Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering | Vocational study | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) | Vocational study | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology - Electrical | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not published | ||
| Advanced Diploma of Music (Sound Production) | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Advanced Diploma of Surveying | Vocational study | Bundoora, Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Certificate IV in Information Technology | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) | Vocational study | Bundoora, Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Diploma of Information Technology | Vocational study | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Diploma of Logistics | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Diploma of Music (Sound Production) | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Diploma of Surveying | Vocational study | Melbourne City | Not applicable | ||
| Associate Degree in Aviation (Professional Pilots) | Undergraduate degree | Point Cook, Bendigo | See admissions | ||
| Associate Degree in Engineering Technology | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Associate Degree in Health Sciences | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Associate Degree in Information Technology | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (Music Industry) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Aviation (Pilot Training) | Undergraduate degree | Point Cook, Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Bundoora | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Computer Science | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Computer Science (Professional) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Cyber Security | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Cyber Security (Professional) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Data Science | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Adv Manufacturing & Mechatronics)(Hons)/Bachelor of Business | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Adv Manufacturing and Mechatronics) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering) (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic and Computer Systems Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic and Computer Systems Engineering)(Honours)/Bachelor of Business | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) (Honours)/Bachelor of Business | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering) (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Engineering(Electronic & Computer Systems Engineering)(Hon)/Bachelor of Computer Science | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Brunswick, Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Information Technology | Undergraduate degree | Online, Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Project Management (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Property Development, Investment and Valuation (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Software Engineering (Professional) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Space Science | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions | ||
| Bachelor of Surveying (Honours) | Undergraduate degree | Melbourne City | See admissions |
Non-English speaking background
You must:
- have arrived in Australia on or after 1 January 2016
- have been born outside Australia in a non-English speaking country
- speak a language other than English at home.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: 5 aggregate points, or up to 4 ATAR points.
Schools Network Access Program (SNAP)
VTAC applicants only
You must:
- be a current student at a SNAP school
- follow the prescribed application process for SNAP
Learn more about the Schools Network Access Program (SNAP).
Financial hardship
You can apply for this category if financial circumstances have affected your education. Examples of disadvantaged financial circumstances may include but are not limited to: you or your guardian receiving a Centrelink benefit; excessive financial obligations; individual or family poverty.
Circumstances:
Personal or family financial hardship
Eligibility criteria:
You must be able to demonstrate that you have been prevented from reaching your full educational potential because of your family or personal financial circumstances.
Required evidence:
Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) benefit
VTAC applicants
As part of your Equity schemes & scholarships application you will need to provide financial evidence. You may qualify if you, your parent/guardian can confirm you receive income support benefits with Centrelink or DVA.
Learn more about Equity schemes and scholarships financial evidence requirements at VTAC.
RMIT Access (direct) applicants
Provide a copy of either your income statement or your parents’ income statement from Centrelink or DVA, which must not be more than three months old at the time of your application. Bank statements showing Centrelink or DVA deposits or screen shots of statements are not accepted as evidence.
Learn more about RMIT Access financial evidence requirements (PDF) below.
Impact statement
If you are not receiving Centrelink or DVA benefits, you must provide an impact statement describing how your financial background has adversely affected your education. You will need to indicate if these circumstances are short term (2024-25) or long term (prior to 2024).
Statement of support
If you are not receiving Centrelink or DVA benefits you must also provide a statement of support written by a responsible person* who has knowledge of your financial situation and circumstances and can comment on the impact.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: up to 15 aggregate points, or up to 11 ATAR points.
Living with a disability or medical condition
You can apply for this category if you are living with a disability, long-term illness and/or mental-health condition.
Circumstances:
Illness, living with a disability or medical condition
Eligibility criteria:
You must be able to demonstrate that you have experienced educational disadvantage as a result of a disability, impairment and/or long-term medical condition that has affected your studies.
Required evidence:
Impact statement
You must submit an impact statement describing your disability/medical condition and how this has adversely affected your education. You will need to indicate if these circumstances are short term (2024-25) or long term (prior to 2024).
Statement of support
VTAC applicants
You must also provide a statement of support written by the relevant health care professional involved in the maintenance of the condition, illness or disability. The health care professional should include details about absences from learning, if applicable, and how the condition has adversely affected academic performance.
RMIT Access (direct) applicants
Along with your application you must complete and submit the medical practitioner or healthcare professional form.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: up to 15 aggregate points, or up to 11 ATAR points.
Difficult family and life circumstances
You can apply for this category if your education has been adversely affected as a result of a severe family disruption, impacted by trauma, natural disaster, changed living conditions, coming from a refugee or asylum seeker background and/or other such circumstances.
Circumstances:
Severe personal or family difficulties
Eligibility criteria:
You must be able to demonstrate that you have been prevented from reaching your full educational potential because of your family or personal circumstances.
Required evidence:
Impact statement
You must submit an impact statement describing your circumstances and how they have adversely affected your education.
You will need to indicate if these circumstances are short term (2024-25) or long term (prior to 2024).
Statement of support
You must also provide a statement of support written by a responsible person* who has knowledge of your circumstances and can comment on the impact to your education.
Equity adjustment to selection rank: up to 10 aggregate points, or up to 7 ATAR points.
*A responsible person is:
- A person who is 21 years of age or older, and
- has known you for at least 12 months, or for the entire duration of the circumstance(s), whichever is shorter, and
- is not related to you by birth, marriage or de facto relationship, and
- does not live with you, and
- is in a position to comment knowledgeably about your situation without having to be briefed by you about the circumstance(s).
Important: in cases of medical circumstances, this is generally only applicable to the treating medical professional.
Apply for equity access
Applications for equity access are made either through VTAC or direct to RMIT:
VTAC applicants
If you are applying through VTAC, apply for Equity schemes & scholarships. To apply, you must:
- log into VTAC and create your VTAC profile
- submit your VTAC course application and pay the fee
- Apply for Equity schemes & scholarships under 'My Application'
- complete the Equity schemes & scholarships application and submit the evidence requirements.
Note: You will automatically be considered for factors under
personal information and location. There are three categories that require evidence in the application. You only need to fill out the sections that are relevant to your circumstances; however, you must complete at least one category for your Equity schemes & scholarships application to be valid.
RMIT Access (direct) applicants
If you are applying for your program directly to RMIT, you will be prompted to apply for RMIT Access as part of your program application.To apply, you must:
- register and submit your direct application
- indicate you wish to be considered for RMIT Access
- complete the questions for the categories under which you would like to be considered.
