Does Head Start ring a bell? If you are a high school student or perhaps a parent or a guardian of one, chances are, you are very familiar with or somehow have heard of it.
This is a program by the Victorian government that supports and encourages high school students to enrol and study first-year college or university subjects while they are still in their Year 10 to 12 of education. This gives would-be college freshmen to head start on their future careers by developing their academic skills and broadening their knowledge as they dip their toes in advanced learning while being able to interact with university students and personnel.
Depending on the university you target to enrol in, the name of the program may differ. Some schools call it differently and may cater to different high school year levels, but the objective is all the same.
Universities Offering Head Start Program
University of Queensland
Under this university, the program is called the Enhanced Studies Program or ESP. This offers Year 12 students an opportunity to extend their knowledge, abilities, and skills through the completion of one subject in the university.
This program prepares you for university life as you attend classes, complete assessments, and feel what it’s like to be on the college campus. What’s nice is that this requires no tuition fees.
Once you’ve completed the ESP, you’ll get a corresponding adjustment factor for your selection rank at the university. You will automatically receive credit for the subject completed when you eventually enrol in UQ for the degree for which it is relevant.
Queensland University of Technology
In the case of Queensland University of Technology, the program is called START QUT. This program specifically offers Year 11 and 12 students a chance to dip their toes into university life by trying out subjects from the course they have an interest in.
With this, you can try some potential areas of interest while enjoying university life, which can make you appreciate the difference between high school and university. Get full university experience by attending lectures, workshops, and tutorials, as well as being part of the community of fellow QUT students.
You are allowed to take two units maximum or one each semester. For Year 12, you can take one unit in the summer before the start of Year 12 and semester 1 of Year 12 proper.
Griffith University
When it comes to this university, it’s named GUESTS or Griffith University’s Early Start to Tertiary Studies, which targets the same thing. That is to motivate students under Year 11 and Year 12 to head start their university studies.
The good thing about this is that you have the option to learn whether on campus or online as both programs offer lectures, workshops, and tutorials besides your school study load. However, either way, you need to occasionally physically attend school for examinations and other on-campus events.
All of these lead you to a 10-credit point course that you can use later on. To complete these, attendance of around two to four hours of classes each week is a must.
University of the Sunshine Coast
University of the Sunshine Coast’s “Headstart” challenges students between Year 10 and 12 to advance their learnings and at the same time, eventually, gain university credits when they officially enrol in college after finishing high school.
With this, you can take up one university subject per semester at the start of semester 2 of Year 10 up to Year 12. Please note that the first subject you take will be free of charge and the rest of the succeeding subjects’ rates are reduced as they are subsidised by the UniSC.
“Undertaking several business and marketing subjects at USC while I was still in high school gave me a headstart towards my degree. This allowed me to complete the remainder of that degree as a part-time student while I built up my business. Having additional skills in business and marketing has really helped me run my Sunshine Coast pressure cleaning company.” – Peter, owner of House Washing Sunshine Coast and local resident of Noosaville.
University of Southern Queensland
For UniSQ’s version of Head Start, this is available for high-achieving students under Years 10 to 12. Similar to all Head Start courses offered by other universities, it lets you enrol in their subjects in advance which you can use once you start your degree later on. In other words, these will all be credited into any related UniSQ degree of choice, provided that you meet their prerequisites.
In addition to this, you will also earn two credit points for each completed course towards the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). The first course is free and the rest are discounted.
Central Queensland University
Get ahead with your future college degree with Central Queensland University’s Start Uni Now or SUN program. This is literally giving you the opportunity to complete high school and advance a bit of your future university studies that’s applicable when you’re completing your Year 10 or currently in your Year 11 and 12.
Apart from gaining an advantage in your learning and earning your future university course credits, you’ll have an early experience of what college life is early on. This gives you less stress fitting in when the actual time comes.
When you’re already in your senior school years, you are allowed to take 24 credit points at a maximum of four equivalent units. One of the eligibility requirements is to pass all your subjects with at least B grades.
Bond University
This university has this program a bit differently in the sense that it is done in a fast-paced style and that is through a two-day workshop. They call it the Bond Business School Year 12 Extension Program which offers under this curriculum to enrich experience in high school and at the same time, prepare them for their future university life.
Included in this two-day affair are access to industry-leading academics, unique learning opportunities, as well as to enhance final exam preparation. Successful completion of the program entitles the students to receive advanced offers into their chosen course or degree, provided that they are able to meet academic requirements.
Scholarships will also be awarded to part-fee scholarships ranging from 25% to 50% tuition fee discounts at the university, excluding Medical Program. Additional scholarships will also be given to schools that contribute at least four students to the program, which is valued at $5,000.