Information For Parents

Whether you're a parent of a VCE student looking at doing further study or a parent of a student already studying this can be a very confusing time. Don't worry you're not alone.

PARENTS OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT

PARENTS OF VCE STUDENTS

The transition process from secondary school to tertiary education can be a challenging and trying time not only for students but also for parents.

Students often look to their parents for support and help during this time so that the most informed decisions about their future can be made.

To make the transition process a smooth and hopefully enjoyable process and assist you in helping your son or daughter make informed choices about their future you may find the following information helpful.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE
STARTING OUT
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
HOW TO APPLY
CHANGE OF PREFERENCE
SELECTION AND OFFER PROCESS
COSTS

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

The University of Ballarat is the largest provider of post secondary education in Western Victoria. A dual sector organisation offering both TAFE and Higher Education courses, the University now provides students with the opportunity to move easily between the two sectors through recognised pathways programs.

Degree programs can be studied in the areas of Human Movement & Sport Sciences, Behavioural & Social Sciences & Humanities, Education, Business, Science and Engineering, Nursing, Information Technology & Mathematical Sciences and Visual & Performing Arts.

TAFE programs are delivered from five campuses - SMB Ballarat, Camp Street Arts Precinct, Ararat, Stawell and Horsham - in areas which include Hospitality, Business, Computing, Vocational Arts, Applied Science, Manufacturing & Technology, Further Education, Rural Studies and Health, Social & Community Studies.

A personal and friendly study environment is offered at each campus, enabling students to have close contact with teaching staff and students.

SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE

The University has a wide range of support services available for students at each of its campuses. Staff are aware of the challenges students face moving from secondary study into tertiary education and are there to make the transition process as easy as possible.

Services available include:

• Financial, personal, welfare and vocational counselling
  
• Graduate Careers
  
• Part-time employment service
  
• Health services
  
• Accommodation and housing service
  
• Academic Support

STARTING OUT

Often just deciding what course they wish to do, let alone which institution or which campus, can be the hardest thing for students to do.

Many students struggle to narrow their options for post year 12 study due to the fact that there are now so many courses to choose from. Ultimately the decision has to be theirs but here are some useful tips that may assist them in making the right choice.

• Assess their interests and talents
  A person is more likely to do well in an area that genuinely interests them and that they enjoy, so look at what they have done at school, outside school - hobbies, sporting interests, and what they have achieved highly in throughout their life. This should identify areas that they are most suited to and indicate where their natural talents lie.
  
  
• Narrow down the possibilities
  Once their interest areas have been identified, the possible courses then need to be found and narrowed down. There will generally be more than one course that will cover the areas they are interested in unless it is a specialised field. Students should make a list of the courses and research them more thoroughly. Courses with similar names can vary considerably from institution to another and often a course name paints a vague picture of the courses content.
  
  The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) Guide is a great starting point to find out which courses are available, but students should also access specific institution course guides and handbooks to find out more in depth information on the courses they are interested in. Not all courses are listed in the VTAC guide, a large number of TAFE courses for example are applied for directly to the institution.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Most undergraduate and full-time TAFE courses in Victoria and some interstate courses, require students to apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Courses which don't fall into these categories ie. Part-time TAFE courses, require students to apply directly to the institution which is offering the course.

VTAC acts as a sorting and clearing house for tertiary institutions. It receives applications, sends information to selection officers at institutions and informs students of what offers they have been made. It also calculates students ENTER scores, based on their VCE results and informs students of their ranking.

VTAC does not decide who will be offered a place and who will not, this is done by each institution.

Each year VTAC produces a "A Guide to University and TAFE Courses" which lists all of the courses that must be applied for through VTAC. The guide also clearly outlines application and offer procedures. The VTAC Guide is usually handed out to students in school in late July however it can be purchased at newsagents, or accessed on-line via VTAC's homepage.

HOW TO APPLY

Students are required to lodge an initial list of up to 12 course preferences with VTAC by the advertised closing date in the VTAC Guide. Note students can only chose up to 8 of any 1 type of course (see the VTAC guide for a full explanation of course types) for example Government subsidised or Full fee paying. These preferences can be lodged using VTAC's Infonet (Internet).

Students should make sure when listing their preferences that they have ranked them in the order they wish to receive an offer ie. The course they wish to do the most first, then the next favoured etc.

It is also important that they only put down courses that they are willing to do as they may receive an offer for a course they placed at number eight.

It is not compulsory for students to fill all 12 preferences but it is advisable in order for them to maximise the chance of gaining an offer.

It is also important that students carefully check the extra requirements and pre-requisites required for the courses they are interested in. The VTAC Guide clearly states what these are for each course and students must ensure they are met. If they are not met then a student becomes ineligible for the course.

CHANGE OF PREFERENCE

Often students find it hard to list their course preferences in September because at that stage they don't know what their ENTER score is. In December during an allocated time, advised from VTAC, applicants are given the opportunity to reassess their preferences with their ENTER score in hand, allowing them to make more informed course choices. Although it is not compulsory for students to change or re-order their preferences, more than 50% of students do choose to make a change to their initial course choices.

Please click here for further information on Change of Preference.

SELECTION AND OFFER PROCESS

Once the Change of Preference Period is over, VTAC distributes the application material to each institution so that their selections can be made. Once an institution has selected the students they wish to make an offer to, they forward this information to VTAC who then advise each student which course they have been offered a place in. Students then have to accept, reject or defer (if the course allows deferment). If they accept, enrolment details will be forwarded to them. If they reject the offer the place will be given to another applicant. If the course allows deferment and they wish to defer then the institution will hold their place for up to one year.

COSTS

The costs to study a TAFE or Higher Education do vary considerably and this is largely due to the way the costs are administered. TAFE costs are administered by the state government and Higher Education costs are administered by the federal government.

• TAFE
  Students are required to pay a tuition fee at TAFE, to determine the latest rates please visit their website here
  
  
• HIGHER EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM
  The Higher Education Loan Program (HECS-HELP) is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth supported places. A HECS-HELP loan will cover all or part of the student contribution amount.Charges vary depending on the course being undertaken. If you receive a HECS-HELP loan, the Australian Government pays the loan amount directly to your higher education provider on your behalf. A HECS-HELP debt is recorded for you with the Tax Office against your Tax File Number. To find out the most up to date HELP information please go to the 'Going to Uni' website here
  
  The costs do not need to be payed up front, but can be deferred until the student is earning over approx $35,000 per year. Once this happens the government, through the taxation system, begins to take a small amount out of the students wage. If HELP fees are payed up front they attract a 20% discount, and payment methods can be altered throughout a students course.
  
  For information on HELP contact the Australian Taxation Office on
  132 861.
  
  
• AMENITIES FEES
  TAFE and Higher Education students must also pay a Student Amenities fee to help fund a range of student services and amenities. For TAFE students the fee depends on the number of hours the student is enrolled in.
  
  
• OTHER COSTS
  Other costs such as books, travelling to and from campus, accommodation, specific course materials, food and social activities, must also be taken into consideration when budgeting for tertiary study.