The ATAR is an out-of-date, imperfect measure of success and increasingly irrelevant for Victorian universities, vice-chancellors say.

A growing number of universities are instead selecting their students based on interviews, portfolio work, special consideration and their performance in exams.

Swinburne University of Technology vice-chancellor Linda Kristjanson says the ATAR is a "blunt and imperfect instrument". Credit:Arsineh Houspian

"We really are in a post-ATAR stage," said Swinburne University of Technology vice-chancellor Linda Kristjanson, who is also chair of the Victorian Vice-Chancellors Committee.

"The ATAR is a very blunt and imperfect instrument."