Vocational education is becoming increasingly popular among NSW senior students, with more than a quarter of the 2026 HSC cohort now studying at least one VET course.
The latest 2026 HSC Enrolment Snapshot shows VET enrolments increased 6 per cent compared with 2025, with 28 per cent of HSC students now including vocational education and training in their senior studies.
Since 2020, HSC VET course enrolments have increased by around 20 per cent.
Hospitality Remains the Most Popular VET Course
Hospitality continues to attract the largest number of students, with 9,250 enrolments in 2026.
Other major VET areas include:
- Hospitality: 9,250 students
- Construction: 4,188 students
- Business Services: 3,158 students
All three have increased from 2025, when Hospitality recorded 8,622 students, Construction 3,958 and Business Services 2,857.
Several smaller vocational areas also recorded strong growth.
Financial Services enrolments increased 82 per cent to 215 students, while Human Services rose 21 per cent to 1,182 students.
Other growing courses include:
- Electrotechnology: 763 students
- Information and Digital Technology: 600 students
- Automotive: 597 students
Each of those areas increased by more than 10 per cent compared with last year.
$11.6 Million Expansion of Vocational Pathways Program
The increase comes as NSW expands its Educational Pathways Program, which connects high school students with vocational training, employers, work experience and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
The NSW Government is investing $11.6 million over four years to add the program to another 24 public high schools.
It currently operates in 183 schools across 11 regions and will expand to 207 schools from 2027, reaching an additional 7,500 students each year.
The program includes access to vocational courses, workplace learning, career guidance and opportunities to begin apprenticeships or traineeships while still at school.
More VET Study Can Now Count Towards ATAR
Changes to NSW university admission arrangements have also widened the role VET can play in the HSC.
Students can now study more than one eligible VET course and have results count towards their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, giving students more flexibility to combine vocational and academic study.
VET courses can contribute towards the HSC while also giving students nationally recognised vocational qualifications or statements of attainment.
More Than 84,000 Students Studying HSC Courses
A total of 84,053 students are enrolled in at least one HSC course in 2026.
Of those, 74,542 students are expected to complete their HSC this year.
Mathematics remains the largest subject area after compulsory English, while more than 40 per cent of the cohort is studying at least one science subject.
A total of 35,258 students have selected a science course, while around 35 per cent of students are enrolled in at least one subject involving a major work or performance component.
For comparison, the 2025 HSC cohort included 83,893 students studying at least one HSC course, with 74,714 on track to complete the credential.
Written Exams Begin on 13 October
The 2026 HSC written examination period will begin on 13 October with English Paper 1 and conclude on 5 November with Physics.
Other HSC assessments have already begun, including oral and performance examinations for Languages, Dance, Drama and Music students.
The latest enrolment data suggests vocational education is taking a larger role in the HSC as students increasingly combine traditional academic subjects with workplace-focused qualifications and training.
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