Considering uni? The basics

This is probably your first time at a university, or you're returning from a long time away from study. Whatever your situation, enrolling in university is a big decision.

What is undergraduate study?

At QUT, you can complete a bachelor degree, or a double bachelor, at your own pace, with full-time and part-time study options.If you start a course and decide that it's not for you, you can always change your degree. You may even be able to get academic credit for subjects you've already completed. Similarly, if you don't get into the course you want, you can choose another, and then upgrade.

Worried you won't get into the course you want?

Bachelor degree

A bachelor degree will broaden your knowledge in your field of interest. Most bachelors take three to four years to complete, studying full-time. In your degree, you might study subjects to fulfil one or more majors. Majors are detailed areas of study within your course (for example, a Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in Chemistry, or a Bachelor of Business with a major in Economics).

Double degree

As an undergraduate, you can also study a double degree. This is a combination of two bachelor degrees that you study at the same time (for example, a Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Health Science, or a Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Laws). Double degrees usually take between four and five years to complete, studying full-time, which means that you can graduate sooner than if you study two degrees separately.

Dual award

You can also combine your degree with a TAFE course. After you complete your TAFE studies you will automatically gain entry into your degree, and get academic credit. Dual awards are offered in:

• business
• health
• information technology
• engineering
• justice
• science.

Study modes

You might have the opportunity to complete your degree in different ways:

• Internal: attend your classes on campus
• External: lets you study from home, including distance education and online
• Full-time: you're enrolled in at least 3 units
• Part-time: you're enrolled in 2 units or less.

Flexible study options

Graduate entry

Some courses offer a graduate entry option. If you already have a relevant undergraduate degree, you can complete your new degree faster. Courses that have graduate entry include the Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Laws, and the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic). You can apply for graduate entry courses through QTAC.

What are classes like?

Studying at university will be very different from a school experience. With less time spent in class and more time studying independently, you'll be more responsible for your education.

Normally, you'll have around three contact hours per week for each subject, including lectures, tutorials and practical classes. This means that some full-time students might only attend classes for around 12 to 15 hours each week. Of course, this will vary with whichever course you are studying, and it doesn't include personal study time.

Whether you're studying full-time or part-time, there are heaps of ways to learn.

Lectures

• Lectures are large classes taught by lecturers or professors. Class sizes for lectures, especially in first year, can be very large. It isn't unusual for a several hundred people to attend a lecture.
• Your lecturers may often put lecture presentations online. If they do, you can print out the notes before class so you know what you'll be learning.
• Lectures are a time for listening and taking notes.

Tutorials

• Tutorials are much smaller than lectures, which gives you the chance to get to know people in your course.
• You can discuss what you're learning, and ask questions if you don't know something. Tutorials expand on the material in your lectures, and you can get help if you need it.
• Your tutor is the first person you should speak to if you don't understand something in the material, or if you have a question about assessment.

Practical units

• Practical units let you get real, hands-on experience.
• These units might be laboratory classes, practice times, or workshop classes, depending on your course. Not every course has practical units.

Online

• Complement your learning with Blackboard, which lets you download lecture slides, get assessment details, and discuss course material with other students.
• Some lectures are streamed on the web, which lets you learn even when you can't make it to class.

What are QUT people like?

Academics

At QUT you will be taught by world class academics, who are leaders in their fields of study.

You may find that the lecturer is not the staff member who takes your tutorials. Lecturers prepare the content and assessment, but often have a group of staff who run the tutorials. Tutors are the first point of contact if you're having trouble with a subject.

Students

It's not unusual to find yourself sharing a class with people who are 10 or 20 years older or younger than you, or have different cultures, customs and beliefs.

Our student population is very large and diverse. There are around 40,000 students attending the university.

While many first year students come straight from high school, a large number of students start studying after working or travelling for some time. There is also a growing number of students who have come to study at QUT from overseas.

What can I expect from assessment?

Most of your assessment at QUT will be written assignments, oral presentations or exams, although some subjects may have a practical element.

Assignments are normally essays or reports, or oral presentations given in tutorials. These tasks might be individual or group work.

You'll research your assignments using academic literature, and you'll need to research much more widely than just your class readings or textbook. Use the library to find books and journal articles to help your research.

Most units also have exams. Exams can be multiple choice, short answer, or essay form (or a combination of these).

All the information you need for assessment will be given to you in class at the start of semester and made available online.

Can I get help?

While you're preparing for your first semester of undergraduate study, we offer free workshops to help you get ready, including a skills workshop on how to survive your first semester at university. There are also workshops available to help you prepare for assignments and exams.

If you're really unsure about what to expect at university, you can email a current student for more information.

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