Choose and apply for university or TAFE
Apprenticeships and traineeships offer a more hands on approach to learning and they also mean you get paid as you learn. To find out more including how to apply for one, follow the information below.
Outcome
To apply for a course at TAFE or university
Let's start with why this is important:
- deciding which course to apply for is important so you are not left with a lot of study debt i.e. TAFE is a lot cheaper than uni
- at TAFE and/or uni there are a lot of online systems you need to use, the application process is good practise for the future
- TAFE and uni are different so it is important you know which suits you better i.e. TAFE is hands on and practical where as uni is more knowledge based.
KEY WORDS
VTAC: Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
Census Date: is the date early in each semester when your enrolment application becomes finalised. Before this date, you can withdraw from courses/subjects without incurring any HECS-HELP debt. (Usually you can try a course for a few weeks before you can withdraw without financial penalty).
HECS-HELP: is a government loan used to pay all or part of your tuition fees.The government will pay your loan amount directly to your chosen uni, and once you qualify to begin repayments on the loan, small amounts will be automatically deducted from your income
FEES-HELP: is a government loan used for private colleges. There is a 25% fee, which is a lot so carefully consider this option.
For a more detailed list of definitions click here.
Information
All uni's and TAFE's have their own courses and websites with lots of information. You can do your certificate, diploma and degree completely online which may be a better option for you. To apply for a TAFE or uni course in person you can do so twice a year either at start of the year or mid year. If you choose to do your course online your start date can be more flexible. You can try a TAFE or university subject for a few weeks before the census date, if you really do not enjoy it you can stop without owing any money.
It is also important to understand that in addition to public TAFE and uni there are private training institutions which can be more expensive but are often less competitive to get into.
Deciding to study at TAFE or uni is a big decision so seek as much support as you can throughout the process, especially during the application step.
TAFE is a more practical hands on approach to learning. It is also more cost effective and can also lead you into a degree at university. TAFE offers certificates and diplomas which typically take between 6 months and two years to complete.
University offers degrees and there are many careers that require a degree for you to be able to do this job. For example, teaching, nursing, accounting and law must all be studied at university. A degree is between three-five years in length. At the end of the degree you may need to be registered or do a training year before you are able to work fully in your chosen career.
What to do next
Step 1 - Choosing your course
Use this website to short list the courses you would like to apply for.
- In the search bar, put the name of your degree
- Use the "Add to shortlist" tick to add this course to your list
- At the top right of the screen compare your options by choosing "Compare your shortlist"
- Compare your options looking at cost, admission requirements and course delivery.
- Either choose to apply through VTAC with a number of options or apply directly to the institution.
Step 2 - Applying for your course
NOTE: VTAC costs $62 per application, there are no special considerations.
- You will need to make a USI before you apply with VTAC or any tertiary study institution. You can get one here: https://www.usi.gov.au/students/get-a-usi. You will need contact details and proof of identity to do this.
- Make an account with VTAC. Then log in using your account name and pin.
- Open "Course Application" and list your courses from the "Course seek" website in order from 1 - 8, with 1 being the course you want to study the most
- Pay your application fee of $62.00
More Information & Services
Are you in care and want to know more? Have you left care, made it through uni, and want to share your story? Are you just somebody passionate about the power of education to transform lives, and keen to get involved? Whoever you are - if you'd like to be a part of this project or have any questions please get in touch with us here or email aglushko@whynotyouproject.com
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