Affording university: know your options

3 Tips to getting started and getting a Scholarship!

Making sense of the financial side of studying after school can be multi layered. It might be the beginning of a realisation of how expensive life can be. Scholarships are something to consider when you study to get as much financial assistance possible. Here are some helpful points to working out your scholarship eligibility and how to be smart about the other expenses that all students encounter.

Tip 1: Apply for Scholarships at Avondale
Don’t forget about applying for Scholarships. Avondale offers a whole range of scholarships and applications are still open until the end of January 2017 for most scholarships. The amounts and criteria vary, so it really is worth investigating your scholarship options to see if you are eligible for any.

I never thought I would be eligible for any scholarships as I wasn’t dux of the year, so I didn’t apply for any. To be honest it was a silly mentality to have as not all scholarships are awarded on academic merit and as the old saying goes, “you have to be in it to win it”. The worst that can happen is an institution will say you aren’t eligible or didn’t meet the criteria, so there’s nothing to lose in applying for scholarships.

Tip 2: Be smart about upfront costs
Accommodation is something usually paid for up front when living on campus. Some scholarships can go towards the cost of your accommodation at Avondale but mostly this is money out of your own pocket. At Avondale the accommodation package also includes all meals for the semester, prepared and cooked for you each day.

Text books are another one of those expensive ‘must haves’ at uni and sometimes there is no other way but to buy new text books each semester. However, for some subjects and courses you might find second hand text books available a lot cheaper. Just be diligent in purchasing the correct and up to date version. The library also has copies of every textbook used during semester for all students to use.

Tip 3: Know what ‘Census Date’ is and when it happens
Census Date is the official government date a few weeks into semester when all higher education institutions finalise your enrolment. This is the point of no turning back without financial and academic penalties. If you decide to withdraw from study after this date you will have to pay your fees or incur a HELP loan debt. You can sometimes be penalised academically by receiving a withdraw fail which can affect your Grade Point Average (GPA).

Don’t let this date scare you. If you are happy with what you are studying and where you are studying, you have nothing to worry about. Just be sure to keep your personal details up to date.

Don’t let a few forms, applications and uni lingo overwhelm you about what you are entitled to while you study. The benefits are there to help you succeed and make life easier while you study, to give you the opportunity to get educated and start your career.

The team in Admissions at Avondale are happy to talk to you about your options and eligibility. If you need help and would like someone to guide you through the process contact them now.