Many students and their parents are concerned about the cost of going to university, but it is important to consider the long-term benefits that a university education can provide.
There is also a wide variety of financial support systems available, from Government subsidised initiatives through to scholarships and bursaries. For example, the Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) is a loan scheme offered by the Government to help pay for university courses. The student repays the loan once they are earning a certain amount of money, usually after university.
For more information, see the Federal government’s Going To Uni site.
A variety of scholarships is also available, with a range of benefits including tuition payments and living expenses. Most universities have specific scholarships for students who come from rural or other backgrounds which may have affected their education, and scholarships are often connected to access programs.
Students can also choose to join their student union or student association, which is run by an elected group of students and provides services such as student welfare and representation, social activities, clubs and societies, publications, theatre and more. There is a monthly or annual joining fee which will give students free or discounted access to these services. Information about joining will be available during enrolment and orientation.