Senior School: VCE and VCAL

Princes Hill Secondary College offers both VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) and VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) programs for senior students. Each is a two year program.

VCE

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is a senior secondary certificate that provides pathways to tertiary education, advanced certificate courses and the workforce.

Princes Hill Secondary College offers a comprehensive selection of VCE subjects across the full spectrum of the curriculum. The subject selection process supports students with diverse interests to plan programs tailored to their future pathways and goals.

Each VCE subject is made up of four semester-long units. Units 1 and 2 are usually studied in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 are usually studied in Year 12. Units 3 and 4 are taken as a sequence.

To be awarded the VCE, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units. These units must include three units of English and three sequences of Unit 3 and 4 subjects other than English.

It is anticipated that students at Princes Hill Secondary College will undertake:

In Year 11: six unit 1 and six unit 2 subjects, including English or EAL units 1 and 2.
In Year 12: five unit 3 and 4 sequences including at least one of: English or EAL or Literature units 3 and 4.

VCAL

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a hands-on option for students in Years 11 and 12.

At Princes Hill Secondary College it is possible to complete a VCAL certificate at foundation, intermediate or senior level – the levels roughly correspond to Years 11 and 12. Students complete four compulsory VCAL studies and a VET study. VET and SBA (School-based Apprenticeships) or SWL (Structured Workplace Learning) are timetabled as a part day or an entire day and run at a range of campuses. For many students, VCAL focuses on the transition from school to further study, traineeship or apprenticeship, or work.

Click here to view the Senior School Handbook.