Aspire Prepare
Complete micro-subjects during Year 11 or 12 to unlock a La Trobe Entrance Score and an early conditional offer into your dream course.
Applications now open for Term 3 (April) 2025
What’s Aspire Prepare?
Your ATAR is just one way to get into university. At La Trobe, our research has shown that there are other ways to predict your success.
That’s why we’ve created Aspire Prepare: a way into La Trobe where you study three or six micro-subjects that set you up for success in future study, alongside your regular senior school program – so you can unlock a La Trobe Entrance Score to get into your dream course, instead of relying on your ATAR.
Aspire Prepare micro-subjects are 100% free and fully online, and designed to fit into your school commitments - you can study at your own pace through La Trobe University's terms.
Who can apply?
Aspire Prepare is available to:
- all current Year 11 and 12 students, including ungraded VCE, HSC, IB and VCE Vocational Major students.
- You must be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Permanent Australian Resident to apply.
If you’re a Year 11 or 12 VCE (including unscored), HSC or IB student, you’ll complete three micro-subjects. If your Year 12 studies do not include an English or literacy subject, we may advise you to undertake more micro-subjects to meet this requirement.
If you are taking the VCE Vocational Major, you’ll complete six micro-subjects.
Why apply for Aspire Prepare?
La Trobe Entrance Score
Use your Aspire Prepare subject marks to apply to most courses at La Trobe University.
Early conditional offer
Receive an early conditional offer for your course with your Aspire ATAR, so you can know what your future holds.
100% online, free and flexible
Study online with access to dedicated study support when you need it.
Indigenous student support
Gain additional benefits through the RISE program.
How to apply
Applications are now open
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Prepare for your application
When you start your application, you'll find that there are two options:
- If you're a VCE, HSC, IB student you must select Aspire Prepare Advanced (PAA001O Term 3).
- If you're a Vocational Major student, you must select Aspire Prepare Intermediate (PAI001O Term 3).
You will need to let your school know that you intend to undertake Aspire Prepare and give your consent for us to share your progress with your school.
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Submit your application
Once you're familiar with the process and meet all requirements, follow the steps on the portal to submit your application.
When competing your application, you'll also need to include an endorsement from your school. Simply download the Aspire Prepare endorsement form [DOCX 145.7 KB], complete it with your teacher, and attach it to your application.
Schools and teachers who would like to discuss how this program can support your students’ learning can contact the Academic Director, Widening Participation, Assoc Prof Emmaline Bexley at e.bexley@latrobe.edu.au for more detailed information.
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Wait for the offer
Once you’ve submitted your application and all supporting documents, you’ll receive an outcome shortly after application dates have closed.
We will formalise your early conditional offer with confirmation of your completed VCE, IB, interstate Year 12 or VCE Vocational Major qualification.
To secure your spot at La Trobe, you must meet all entry requirements and subject prerequisites for the course you're applying for.
What courses are available after I complete Aspire Prepare?
Your conditional early offer will allow you to nominate your chosen La Trobe course by matching your La Trobe Entrance Score or your ATAR (if you receive one), whichever is higher.
You'll be able to apply for all undergraduate courses, except:
- Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), (Regional Entry), Bendigo
- Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours), Bendigo
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical), Bendigo
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical), Albury-Wodonga
Of course, you’ll also need to meet any other requirements for entry such as prerequisites or additional entry criteria (e.g. completion of the CASPer test for teaching courses) and complete the VCE (including unscored), IB or interstate equivalent.
We will calculate a La Trobe Entrance Score based on your Aspire Prepare micro-subject grades, which you can use instead of, or as well as, an ATAR when applying for eligible La Trobe degrees. We’ll use whichever score is higher.
We’ll hold your spot in your course – it’s guaranteed as long as you meet the entry requirements and successfully complete your senior school studies.
What micro-subjects will I study?
Micro-subjects are short university preparation subjects. They provide discipline specific knowledge while teaching tertiary level academic skills.
Each micro-subject consists of approximately 50 hours of learning (including time spent doing assessments) spread over six weeks.
You'll have the option of choosing a science-based or humanities-based stream, so you'll complete micro-subjects in the discipline that interests you.
The table below shows you how your micro-subjects are organised across La Trobe University terms.
VCE/HSC/IB Aspire Prepare students take one subject per term across three terms.
VCE Vocational Major Aspire Prepare students take one subject per term across four terms, and then their final two micro-subjects in La Trobe Term 1 - just in time for Semester 1 entry into your dream course.
Prepare Intermediate
https://handbook.latrobe.edu.au/courses/2025/PAI001O?year=2025
Prepare Advanced
https://handbook.latrobe.edu.au/courses/2025/PAA001O?year=2025
FAQ
An early Conditional Offer gives you reassurance that you have a place in your preferred course before completing the final weeks of your Year 12. It guarantees you a place in your preferred course once you complete Year 12, as long as you meet the course’s adjusted Aspire ATAR, subject prerequisites and other essential entry requirements.
At La Trobe, we believe a great indicator of how you’ll succeed at uni is how well you do in our university programs for school students.
We’ve looked at the performance of numerous students in our pathway programs to allocate a score associated with future performance in degree programs compared to other students.
Our La Trobe Entrance Score can then be matched to the rank you may receive for school studies. The table below shows what average grades you need in your Aspire Prepare studies to gain a La Trobe Entrance Score.
View courses you can study at La Trobe >
*This table shows the average mark conversion to a La Trobe Entrance Score for 2022
Prepare average mark | La Trobe Entrance Score* |
|---|---|
50-72 | Diploma |
73 | 50.46 |
74 | 52.93 |
75 | 55.39 |
76 | 57.85 |
77 | 60.31 |
78 | 62.77 |
79 | 65.27 |
80 | 67.7 |
81 | 70.16 |
82 | 72.62 |
83 | 75.08 |
84 | 77.55 |
85 | 80.01 |
86 | 82.47 |
87 | 84.93 |
88 | 87.4 |
89 | 89.86 |
90 | 92.32 |
91 | 94.78 |
92 | 97.24 |
93 | 99.71 |
94 - 100 | 99.95 |