Mother and daughter sharing a moment together.
This is like trying to summarise the history of the world in 500 words, but here are 20 things parents of new university students need to know.
1. It's not like high school – they’ll be expected to manage their time and priorities, including meeting assignment deadlines. University is a life-changing experience where they'll learn as much about themselves as any subject they study.
2. Having said that, if they choose a university that genuinely supports students with study challenges, there will be lots of help available. Not all universities are made equal so this should be part of the decision.
3. There will be lots of assignments. Students generally need to spend a lot of time at home studying, so make sure they have a suitable and quiet space.
4. University courses usually run for two semesters per year. That's six semesters over a typical 3-year degree if they're studying full-time.
5. Each semester runs for approximately 15 weeks, including a 2-week break in the middle and a 2-week exam period at the end.
6. Students usually start new courses from Semester 1 in late February but have the option to start in Semester 2 in late July.
7. Universities offer loads of courses, and the titles can be confusing. It's worth researching courses and the possible career/s they can lead to via uni websites.
8. If your child doesn't have a career in mind, but enjoyed some subjects in high school, they should talk to the university about suitable courses. This can be at an Open Day, a 'future student' event or by visiting a campus. You should go with them to see if it's the right 'fit' for your child.
9. Many courses can be studied part-time or online. This can be useful if your child has a part-time job or other commitments to juggle with study.
10. Applying for a course is relatively straightforward, but for popular courses they may need to have one or two alternative courses in mind in case places run out.
11. Universities offer many scholarships to new students. These are awarded to students from all backgrounds, not just to academically gifted kids.
12. Once your child applies for a course and is accepted, they'll receive a letter of offer from the university. Don't let them lose this, as it contains important information about getting started!
13. Getting started means things like setting up their student email account. This is really important as everyone at the university, including their lecturers, will use this email to tell them about assignments, results, exams and much more.
14. Once they've accepted their offer for a course, the next step is to enrol in the units for that course. Courses have core units that all students have to complete, as well as elective units.
15. Enrolling in units is as important as applying for a course. It needs to be done as soon as possible so they can get into classes on the days and times that suit them best. Especially if they have part-time work!
16. Students can change the units they originally enrolled in but need to do this before what's called the Census Date to avoid paying the unit fee. This date is one month after the start of each semester.
17. If your child has a qualification like a diploma or work experience or other training, they may be eligible for a credit towards their degree. Worth looking into.
18. Before your child starts their course, they should attend orientation (O Week) at the university. It helps them find out more about their courses, where to find classes, how to use the library and plenty more to make Day 1 less stressful.
19. There will be ups and downs over the next 3 or more years, but first year is often the hardest to adjust to. Hang in there with them!
20. Finally, if your child is still undecided about where to go, you might like to read this article about what to look for when choosing a university.
