Six things you need to know when choosing your degree
Choosing what degree to study at university is easy for some and hard for others. When I considered coming to university, I was certain that I wanted to study a Bachelor of Music at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. I had played trumpet for many years, and wanted to learn from the best before I pursued a career in teaching music.
For many other people, their paths aren’t so clear cut, and that is OK. Choosing a degree can be difficult if you don’t have a vision of your future career. If that’s the case, this article will help you. But it will also help those who do know what they want to study. There’s essential knowledge for everyone.
A final piece of advice for those students wrestling with their study choices: Many Griffith University degrees include a ‘foundation year’ in which students from a variety of different degrees do the same core first-year subjects. If you choose a degree with a foundation year, you can wait to choose your final specialisation. It’s also an opportunity to get good marks to gain access to the degree of your dreams!
Here’s my list of six things you need to know when choosing your degree:
#1 Griffith’s Degree Finder is an invaluable tool
Use our Degree Finder to browse any of Griffith’s 200+ degrees. Here, you can peruse each degree’s overview, fees, how to apply, course list and requirements. Now that you’ve searched for a degree, you can see the list of courses and requirements for it. Invest time to compare similar degrees and their course lists to broaden your options and preferences. Also, make sure to check out Griffith’s double degrees where you can stand out by graduating with two degrees.
#2 Can you can study at a local campus (and what facilities does it offer)?
Griffith University has five physical campuses and an online campus. In the degree finder, you’ll see if the degree is offered at South Bank, Mt Gravatt, Nathan, Logan, Gold Coast or online.
Each campus offers a unique experience, so you may like to think about: What facilities do I have access to in my studies? Are there other facilities such as childcare, medical clinics or recreational facilities which I need access to? Do I want to study online?
#3 How the trimester system works and how to defer
Would you like to take some time away from study if you’ve just completed year 12? Some degrees have Trimester 2 (July) and Trimester 3 (October) intakes in addition to Trimester 1 (February) intakes. Most undergraduate programs allow you to defer. However, some cannot be deferred such as Bachelor of Dental Health Science, Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art, Bachelor of Midwifery, Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Queensland Conservatorium degrees. Make sure to check if your chosen degree allows for deferrals in the Degree and Career Finder. If you do defer, it is possible to use the third trimester to make up time.
#4 The process for applying for scholarships
Did you know that Griffith awards more than 600 scholarships? One application form allows you to apply for multiple scholarships as your eligibility will be assessed for our wide variety of scholarships. Griffith offers five main types of scholarships for academic achievement, accommodation, equity, First Peoples and sporting achievement.
#5 How to Go Global
Many of Griffith’s degrees allow you to engage in short-term trips such as a Global Community Internship or longer Study Abroad and Exchange opportunities. Travel overseas to study and immerse yourself in culture to enrich your university experience. However, some degrees may be more rigid in their structure, for instance, accelerated degrees may not accommodate time to study abroad. Check out the Go Global website to find out more about studying abroad while contributing to your Griffith degree.
#6 Griffith University terminology
You can access over 2,300 frequently asked questions about terminology and more using Ask Us. Here are a few commonly used phrases:
Bachelor’s degree/undergraduate degree a tertiary qualification awarded for the first level of study undertaken at university.
Domestic student Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residency visa holders, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders.
Course a course is a unit of study within a degree.
If you have any further questions, visit our Study at Griffith website, where you’ll find information on our degrees, and contact details for future student enquiries.
By Charlotte Fung