THE WEST AUSTRALIAN TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 • 63

Mid-year entry is a great option for students studying for the fi rst time or transferring to a diff erent course and is available across most universities and state training providers.

By enrolling in a mid-year course intake, new students are able to commence their course in the middle of the year. To make sure students can still graduate on time some education providers off er catch-up options such as summer semesters, trimester models, intensive subjects (which take place over a short timeframe rather than being taught regularly over a semester) or overloading (enrolling in more subjects than is typical per semester or study period).It is important to check individual institutions as application processes and deadlines may vary.As well as the fl exibility enrolling in a mid-year intake off ers, there are a few other advantages of undertaking mid-year enrolment:

Time-out from studying After graduating from high school, some school leavers want to take some time off from studying. Taking a six-month break off ers students the chance to travel, work and earn some money or

simply just to relax, before commencing their studies in the second half of the year.

Missed out on a placeIf prospective students missed out on a place in their preferred course for semester one, mid-year entry gives them another opportunity to gain entry into their course of choice.

Wrong choiceSometimes students begin a course and realise it is not a right fi t for them. Mid-year entry allows students to transfer to a diff erent course more suited to their liking and, depending on the educational institution, may even allow them to carry over credits from their fi rst semester.

Study when it suits Mid-year entry is a popular option for mature-age students who need a fl exible start option due to commitments with children and work in the fi rst half of the year. Commencing study in the middle of the year gives prospective students extra time to research and prepare for their course.

Competitive employment advantageHaving a degree or any other type of education award can help individuals climb the corporate ladder and potentially reap other workplace benefi ts such as promotions and salary improvements. Individuals who seek out education opportunities may be viewed as more valuable assets by their employers, potentially making them more secure in their employment prospects than others in their organisations.

Mid-Year Entry

It is important toremember that mid-year

enrolment is not available for all courses. Prospective students should check with individual institutions to

fi nd out which programs are eligible and if there are certain prerequisites for

mid-year entry.

Don’t wait until 2015 to start studying for your future

UNIVERSITIES AND STATE TRAINING PROVIDERS

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64 • TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Jobs of the futureMany of the jobs that will be commonplace in the future haven’t been invented yet. So how do today’s university students know what they should study?Rather than turning to fortune-tellers to answer this question, thankfully there are researchers working at the cutting edge of their fi elds who can off er a glimpse of the growth industries in decades to come.

Mid-Year EntryADVERTISING FEATURE UNIVERSITIES AND STATE TRAINING PROVIDERS

Cyber SecurityAs more internet-enabled devices become part of our everyday lives, the demand for professionals educated in the science of cyber security is set to increase and Edith Cowan University (ECU) is at the forefront of research in Australia.“More than fi ve million Australians are aff ected by cyber crime each year at a cost of more than $1.6 billion and those fi gures are only likely to increase as our lives increasingly move online,” ECU computer security expert Associate Professor Andrew Woodward said. “Australians have always been obsessed with new technology and that means we’re particularly vulnerable to new cyber threats. “It’s the job of cyber security professionals to guard against those threats.”

Sports ScienceAs Australia’s population continues to age and the costs of health care increase, providing cost-eff ective treatments will be vital. ECU Professor of Exercise and Sports Science Rob Newton believes sports scientists have an increased role to play.“Physical exercise is currently the most eff ective medicine available for preventing all chronic diseases simultaneously,” Professor Newton said.“For people with cancer, exercise reduces mortality by 30 to 60 per cent which is of similar magnitude of benefi t to other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.”

GamingThe computer game industry is also expected to continue growing. Video game releases now often outperform Hollywood blockbusters in terms of revenue. But increasingly, games will also be used for education, workplace training and public health. “If you think about what people do during screen time, they can be writing, creating images or videos, communicating, looking up information and so on,” ECU gaming expert Associate Professor Mark McMahon said. “Simulation games, in particular, can produce learning that has relevance beyond the game world and can be much more interesting and authentic than sitting in a classroom.”

SustainabilityOne person excited about new kinds of jobs in the future is Professor Pierre Horwitz, the course coordinator for ECU’s sustainability program. “The opportunities are endless for technological innovation for renewable energy or water use, better systems of government, new types of organisations, a meaningful role for local communities, rethinking the ways people eat, work, exercise and recreate,” he said.Profession Horwitz said sustainability graduates were already beginning to make their mark.“Sustainability practitioners are recognised by local government councils and large corporations alike as having a contribution to make to sustainable businesses, sustainable environments and sustainable communities,” he said.

Start studying nowThe best time to begin studying for these jobs of the future is today. With ECU’s mid-year entry option there is no need to wait until next year to get started.

The university off ers mid-year entry for more than 80 bachelor courses and a host of postgraduate and other courses so students have the option of starting a new phase of their life when it suits. Flexible study options, such as part-time and online study modes, make it easy to fi t study around your life.

If you needed any more reasons to begin studying now to be job-ready for the future, then ECU’s decision to allow all Commonwealth-supported students starting in 2014 to remain under the current fee structure should help.

It means students who commence in semester two 2014 and fi nish by 2020 will pay the same tuition fees as those students already studying, therefore avoiding any future changes to tuition fees.

For more information on studying at Edith Cowan University visit reachyourpotential.com.au.

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THE WEST AUSTRALIAN TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 • 65

When you choose Law at Murdoch, you choose a dynamic and progressive legal education with Western Australia’s premier undergraduateLaw School.

You also choose to work on real global issues from human rights and big business to the treatment of criminals. You might debate these issues in our award winning mooting program or encounter them while advising real clients and managing real case fi les at our unique community legal clinic.

Murdoch Law also offers the opportunity to study units in Italy, Geneva and China and if you already have an undergraduate degree, you can complete a Bachelor of Laws in three years instead of four.

At Murdoch we believe everyone should have access to a globally connected education right herein Perth.

Apply for mid-year entry before July 18 and we’ll remove university fee uncertainty. You will be guaranteedidentical fee conditions as students already studying at Murdoch.

Visit murdoch.edu.au

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INCARCERATE OR REHABILITATE?

Murdoch University believes everyone should have access to a globally connected education right here in Perth.

That is why its students explore the big questions and focus on solving universal issues across its range of undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Business; Bachelor of Education; Bachelor of Engineering; Bachelor of Laws; Bachelor of Nursing or a Bachelor of Science.

Murdoch’s degrees have a streamlined structure that place a greater emphasis on research skills and interdisciplinary studies, while providing clear pathways for its students after graduation.

If you are thinking about applying for mid-year

entry to Murdoch, you might be wondering how the budget cuts to universities will aff ect the cost of your degree.

Murdoch believes students from all walks of life should be able to aff ord a university education.

Apply for 2014 mid-year entry at Murdoch and it will remove the fee uncertainty and protect you from increases.

You will be guaranteed identical fee conditions as students already studying at Murdoch.

Semester two commences on July 21 so now is the time to apply for 2014 mid-year entry. Go to murdoch.edu.au or call 1300 MURDOCH (1300 6873624).

Excel in the best legal education

Murdoch Law School is Western Australia’s premier undergraduate law school, with a world-class learning environment and an outstanding commitment to excellence in legal education for over 20 years.

Its Law School is recognised nationally and internationally as a dynamic, progressive and intellectually challenging leader in the fi eld of legal education.

Murdoch off ers degrees in Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Certifi cate in Australian Migration Law and Practice, Graduate Certifi cate in Chinese Law or Master of Laws by Research as well as Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Legal Studies and the Bachelor of Business with a major in Business Law.

The university has the only Law School in WA to off er practical legal experience through its legal clinic, the Southern Communities Advocacy Legal Education Service, where students advise real clients and manage real case fi les.

Its award-winning mooting program off ers the opportunity to travel and compete globally and students can study law units in Italy, Geneva or China.

Murdoch Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts student Najette Alaraibi (pictured above) said the practical experience off ered at Murdoch University was invaluable for students as they entered the law profession.

“Going to Geneva on the International Human Rights Program was by far the most memorable time in my degree,” she said.

Discover a future in engineering

Engineering at Murdoch provides a stimulating learning environment with world-class facilities.

Murdoch produces highly-skilled graduates who are well prepared to pursue careers in challenging and dynamic sectors.

Its courses have expanded to include Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Electrical Engineering (with four majors in Electrical Power Engineering, Industrial Computer Systems Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering) and Environmental Engineering.

Murdoch’s Engineering School has received a rating of fi ve in the area of Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy in the Excellence in Research for Australia Assessment of Research Quality.

This is the highest rating possible and is defi ned as being ‘well above world standard’ in that fi eld.

When you choose Engineering at Murdoch, you not only choose facilities identical to what you would fi nd in the real world, you also choose to work towards solutions on global issues.

Mid-Year Entry ADVERTISING FEATUREUNIVERSITIES AND STATE TRAINING PROVIDERS

from the rest Stand out

66 • TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

Having started out at university, Michael Snook (pictured left) soon realised he wasn’t following the pathway he wanted.

He was doing holiday work as a trade’s assistant and enjoyed the hands-on nature of the job. After asking his boss about career pathways, he decided to enrol in training at Polytechnic West.

Now in his fi nal year of studies, Mr Snook said he was enjoying his work more than ever.

“I’m so happy I had the courage to follow the career pathway I wanted to follow, rather than doing what everyone expected of me. It defi nitely paid dividends; I now have a rewarding career ahead of me,” he said.

“When I was at school vocational training was hardly mentioned; it barely registered as an option.”

Polytechnic West provides training for a huge range of students. There are hundreds of courses on off er aimed at giving students the qualities they need to be ready for the workplace.

At Polytechnic West, the emphasis is on teaching ‘real skills’. This means teaching students theoretical

knowledge, but also providing practical training so they understand how their skills apply to the workplace.

Mr Snook said he relished the opportunities to apply the skills he learnt in the classroom in practical situations.

“When I was at uni it was all bookwork. It felt like I was back at school, learning things because I had to, rather than because I chose to,” he said. “A lot of the time it was diffi cult to see how what I was learning would apply to a job I might have one day.”

Polytechnic West Managing Director Jill Jamieson said course off erings were designed to cater to a wide range of students.

“We recognise that not all students want to go to university; many do, and others simply want to leave that option open for the future,” she said. “Whatever a student chooses, regardless of what stage their career is at, we’re committed to providing life-long learning opportunities.”

Explore Polytechnic West’s full portfolio of courses by visiting polytechnic.wa.edu.au.

Ms Williams (pictured above) had been employed in the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth for a number of years in various roles but recognised that acquiring a higher-level tertiary qualifi cation was essential for the development of her career.

“The decision to study at university came about as a result of my end-of-year annual performance review when my employer encouraged me to study for a post-graduate degree in business,” she said.

Having secured her employer’s support to study part-time while continuing her full-time work commitments, Ms Williams examined a range of post graduate courses being off ered by various universities.

She determined The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Master of Business Leadership course provided the range of units which would best enhance her skills, knowledge and career opportunities.

“Signifi cantly, I recognised that Notre Dame’s culture, ethos and values were closely aligned to my own personal values and professional workplace culture,” Ms Williams said.

Ms Williams decided to embark on her studies in the middle of 2011 rather than waiting six months until the following year.

“Having a mid-year intake allowed me to take the time to make the best decisions for my learning needs, as it

removed the pressure to make a hasty decision, with the additional benefi t of not having to wait until the next year to start,” she said.

Ms Williams said she reaped many benefi ts from enrolling mid-year, including a more personalised orientation and greater access to university staff and services resulting from a smaller intake.

Additionally, Ms Williams said the start-of-year students in her classes off ered crucial advice and guidance to mid-year intake students.

“As a mid-year intake student it proved benefi cial to be exposed to students who were further ahead in their studies as they were a helpful resource to access mentoring, guidance and networking within the university environment,” she said.

Since graduating from the Master of Business Leadership program in December 2013, Ms Williams has been promoted to the role of Manager of Corporate Services for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.

“[My degree] has proven to be directly benefi cial to my career,” Ms Williams said.

To fi nd out how Notre Dame’s mid-year entry options can help you make a special contribution to society,visit notredame.edu.au, call (08) 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.

Photo by WorldSkills Australia. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Readying students for the workforce with ‘real skills’ through practical training

Mid-Year EntryADVERTISING FEATURE UNIVERSITIES AND STATE TRAINING PROVIDERS

Helping to develop rewarding careers

Thanks to mid-year enrolment at The University of Notre Dame, Julie Williams realised her long-held ambition of achieving a tertiary qualifi cation.

Whether you’re just starting out, looking for a change in direction, or need new skills toprogress your career, Polytechnic West canhelp you secure your future.

9267 7500 polytechnic.wa.edu.au

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DRAW ON OUR EXPERIENCEGOVERNMENT OF

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Classes start soon.

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THE WEST AUSTRALIAN TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014 • 67

reachyourpotential.com.auE: futurestudy@ecu.edu.au Tel: 134 ECU (134 328)

TEACHING QUALITYGRADUATE SATISFACTIONGRADUATE STARTING SALARY

The Good Universities Guide 2015

APPLY FOR MID-YEAR ENTRY NOW TO LOCK IN OUR

CURRENT FEE STRUCTURE.In response to the Government’s recent Budget proposals, ECU is providing certainty for students

enrolling in semester 2, 2014 by ensuring that our current tuition fee structure will be unchanged.

This guarantee applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate Commonwealth supported students

who commence in semester 2, 2014 and complete their course by the end of 2020.

Our strong commitment to our students is refl ected in the University having being awarded

a fi ve-star rating for teaching quality and graduate satisfaction by the Good Universities Guide

for the past six years. There’s never been a better time to commence study with ECU.

Apply now for mid-year entry. For more information visit reachyourpotential.com.au/midyear

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