More than a quarter of HSC students are now including vocational education and training courses among their HSC subjects, according to data from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).
The 2026 HSC Enrolment Snapshot, taken in September each year and released by NESA, shows that in 2026, VET enrolments grew by 6 percent compared to last year, with 28 percent of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) cohort now studying a VET course.
Since 2020, HSC VET course enrolments have increased by 20 percent.
Hospitality (9,250 students), Construction (4,188 students) and Business Services (3,158 students) continue to see the highest number of enrolments year-on-year, with the data showing students are also turning to a range of other VET courses that support their future plans.
Financial Services is gaining in popularity, jumping by 82 percent this year to 215 students; while Human Services is up by 21 percent to 1,182 students, and Electrotechnology (763 students), Automotive (597 students) and Information and Digital Technology (600 students) are among the VET courses that have increased by more than 10 percent.
The growth in HSC enrolments in VET courses follows the State Government’s $11.6 million expansion of the Educational Pathways Program, which provides participating schools with additional resources to connect students with employers for work experience, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
The program will be delivered in an additional 24 high schools in 2027, bringing the total participating schools to 207.
“It’s fantastic to see more students choosing to study VET subjects for their HSC, with the reputation and recognition of VET as a valuable pathway continuing to grow,” said Minister for Education and Early Learning Ms Prue Car.
“We need students finishing school with a range of skills and a toolbelt of knowledge to help them move into their next phase of life and prepare for the jobs of the future, which is why the [State Government] is strengthening VET pathways in our schools.”
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