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Considering Tafe Or Uni?

Now that you have finished your formal schooling, the world is your oyster. If you choose to engage in further education or training, the options are limitless and can be a little bit confusing at times. There are a few options for you to take but generally, most young people finishing school who want to study further will go to either TAFE or University. TAFE and Universities, whilst both are learning institutions function differently to each other and it is important to pick which learning and content delivery style will suit you best.

What Is TAFE Like?

The biggest difference between TAFE and university is that TAFE is more of a hands on approach than university which is made up of lecturers and tutorials. For example, a design course at a university will have more theory attached to its coursework whilst the same course at a TAFE level will have you doing more practical work to obtain your competencies.

What Is University Like?

The biggest difference between TAFE and university is that in university, the responsibility to learn is placed on YOU the individual. This means that you are responsible for turning up for lectures, tutorials and that you are completing all the assessments you have been tasked with. Whilst there will be supports in place to help students through their course, there is very little handholding.

Which One Should I choose?

That will depend entirely on how you like to learn and your personal circumstances. Do you like getting your hands dirty rather than reading up on pages of theoretical framework? Do you love sitting in a lecture hall and soaking in every word the lecturer is saying? There is no right or wrong in this decision but you will need to consider which choice best suits your circumstances. The best course of action is to make a list of universities or TAFE courses you are thinking of enrolling in and going to their respective open days to get a taste of what it’s like.

What About An Apprenticeship?

Want to get into a trade? Want to get paid whilst you are learning? Than taking up an apprenticeship would be a good choice for you. You will learn & gain skills whilst on and/or off the job and at the same time be paid for the time you are on the worksite. The completion of an apprenticeship could lead to potential pathways and qualifications.

What Are Registered Training Organisations?

Registered training organisations (RTO) are registered by the Victorian Goverment to deliver nationally recognised training. The kinds of qualifications you can gain by studying through an RTO are:

• Certificates I,II,III,IV
• Diploma
• Advanced Diplomas
• Vocational Graduate Certificate
• Vocational Graduate Diploma

Applying For University Or TAFE

• Paying For Your Course

When you apply for a course, you will be required to pay the tuition fee. The exception to this rule are the free TAFE courses as detailed by Victorian Government website. There are a few ways to pay for the courses you wish to study and the payment types will depend on your eligibility and if the learning institution is able to offer them.

FEE-HELP

FEE-Help is a government loan which can help to pay all or some of your tuition fees. You will need to check if the course you wish to study offers FEE-HELP loans. There is a limit to how much you are able to borrow from the government. The amount you are able to borrow is $104,440. If you are studying medicine, dental or veterinary science your amount is $150,000. Bear in mind that this amount is not PER COURSE but a life time amount you can borrow. Once your income reaches above $45,881 a year you will be required to pay back your student loan. The amount you will need to payback increases as you earn more and you can see how much you will need to pay back here.

Commonwealth Supported Place

A Commonwealth supported place (CSP) is a course which is partially paid by the government. Unlike FEE-HELP, you won't have to pay this amount back as this is considered a subsidy (or a contribution) and is not a loan. You will however, still be required to pay for the remaining amount via out of your own pocket or by applying for HECS-HELP which is similiar to FEE-HELP but is only available to you if you are enrolled in a CSP. Just like FEE-HELP, you will need to pay back the amount you have borrowed once your income has reached above $45,881 a year.

VET Student Loans

If you are studying a VET course then you are able to apply for a VET Student Loan (VSL). This loan is only available to courses which are at a diploma level or above. This means that you will have to find another way in which to pay for any certificate level courses you wish to study. You will need to check if the course you are wanting to study is approved to be paid via a VSL. You can check if the course is approved for a VSL by checking the MySkills website. Unlike the FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP, there is a limit you can borrow and the amount you can borrow will vary from course to course. If the course you wish to study is above the amount you are allowed to borrow than you will have to pay the difference.

• Scholarships

You should check to see if the university or TAFE provider you are wanting to study at offers scholarships. If you meet the requirements and eligibility then scholarships are a great way to pay for some or all of you tuition fees.

• How Do I Apply For University Or Tafe?

Whether it be an undergraduate course or an advanced diploma, you must check to see if you have the required prerequisites before you can apply for the course. Once you have checked to see if you have the required ATAR score and prerequisites then you can apply for the courses you would like via VTAC.

• What Is VTAC?

When you finish your schooling and want to start applying for courses, whether it be university, TAFE or a private institution, you will need to go through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). VTAC is the central office which processes and administers all the application and offers for the whole of Victoria. You will need to head over to the VTAC website here and create a VTAC ID and pin in order to register yourself on the website so that you can start applying for the courses you wish to apply for. You are able to apply directly without having to go through VTAC but you will need to be considered a mature aged student which is someone who is 20 years or older, has been out of school for more than a year and can prove that they are able to study at a tertiary level.

• When Can I Apply For University Or TAFE Courses?

Applications are usually open in July for intake the following year. If you wish to apply mid year then you will need to wait around April - May in order to start semester 2.

Applying For Apprenticeships

The best place to go to look for employers willing to take on apprentices would be the Australian Apprenticeship Centre. The Australian Apprenticeship Centre can:

• Provide information on apprenticeships in your chosen industry.
• Help you find the right type of training and the right training provider.
• Assist you with the paperwork involved in starting and Australian Apprenticeship.
• Help you find a job agency or other organisation that specialises in finding a suitable Australian Apprenticeship.
• Assist with information on allowances and entitlements.
• Help you organise your training and register your training agreement.

Need To Do Some Further Research?

Head over to the careers section if you need help deciding on a career pathway, or head to the website directory.

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