Vic university results not hacked: VTAC

Students gained early access to an off-limits website though the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) says its system was not hacked.

The website, which reveals details of university offers, was supposed to remain closed to student access until 2pm on Monday.

A breach occurred when some students who received a VTAC email late on Sunday found a way to manipulate the weblink it contained.

"Some applicants worked out how to manipulate the URL to access their user account early," the VTAC said in a statement.

"They then posted that on social media so that other applicants could do the same.

"The exposure was limited to an applicant being able to retrieve their own (university) offer prior to the published release time."

Students only gained early access to their own information, and not other students' information.

"At this stage, because applicants could only access their own user account, VTAC don't consider it as a hack," the VTAC said.

The practice of locking down the website is under review, and may change next year.