Further study

Further study is a popular option for school leavers, but you should think carefully about the course or degree you want to take, and where it might lead you in the future.

Most year 12 school leavers choose to go on to tertiary education, which involves studying at a university, a TAFE college or institute of technology, or a private training organisation.

Some of the options

While you are still at school, you can get a taste of an occupation or an industry through Career Advice Australia’s Structured Workplace Learning or Adopt a School Program. These also offer great ways for you to learn more about your work-related likes and dislikes.

Year 12 - what next? has a whole section on post-school education and training that can help you understand the differences between university and vocational education and training.

Be sure to think about where further study can take you. The Job Guide describes the qualifications needed for more than 1500 jobs, which can help you to choose the right courses to study. The website also includes lots of contact details for each occupation so you can find out more information.

TAFEs are a major provider of post-secondary vocational education and training. Across the country there are about 500 campuses offering more than 5000 courses. While many courses involve hands-on vocational education and training, some TAFEs offer graduate certificates and diplomas that were previously only offered at universities. To find out more about what TAFE can offer you, talk to a career adviser or teacher, or visit the TAFE website for your state or territory.

Australian Apprenticeships are a great way to achieve a nationally recognised qualification while training and studying. Australian Apprenticeships are available to anyone of working age and do not require any entry qualifications. You can be a school-leaver, re-entering the workforce or simply wanting to change careers.

University is also an option for further study. The Going to uni website is an excellent online resource. Use the course finder to see what’s on offer and where, and to compare providers, fees and cut-off dates. It has other useful information on topics such as qualification types, entrance requirements and how to apply.