News & Events

Careers: Focus on Open Days

For students considering studying at TAFE or university after school, it is crucial to attend Open Days.

Throughout the year, vocational and tertiary institutions open their doors to the public and showcase the courses, accommodation, scholarships, pathway courses, student services on offer, as well as their ‘point of difference’. Attending Open Days gives students the opportunity to experience campus life as well as find answers to relevant questions.

At an Open Day, you will be able to:

  • Get a feel for the culture of the campus
  • Learn about courses and career options
  • Undertake campus and accommodation tours led by current students
  • Speak directly to students and lecturers about the courses or careers you are interested in
  • Compare the course area you are interested in at different institutions
  • Learn about student sports and societies you can join and be active in
  • Get course counselling and guidance
  • Attend information sessions and workshops
  • Watch live demonstrations
  • Listen to bands, eat lots of food, participate in activities and have fun!

Points to keep in mind:

  • Don’t just pick a course at an institution without visiting the campus – you potentially will be spending several years studying there and spending tens of thousands of dollars on your course and accommodation. It is worth making the effort to find out what it’s like.
  • By now you should have identified institutions you would like to visit, found out their open day dates and downloaded their open day programs.
  • Once you have the programs, make a list of the information sessions you would like to attend.
  • If you have time, try to attend information sessions on topics like pathways, scholarships, accommodation and overseas exchange programs.

Typical Questions to ask:

  • Are there any prerequisite subjects I need to study for this course?
  • What study scores/ATAR do I need to achieve to get into this course?
  • Do I need to attend an audition, have an interview or present a folio as part of the selection process?
  • Are there any other ways into this course other than through a VTAC application?
  • What is the difference between TAFE and university study?
  • Can I do a vocational course first which might then lead into a university course?
  • If I can’t get into this course, is there a similar course at this institution I can apply for?
  • What are the core subjects for this course and are there any electives?
  • How many hours per week are spent in class and can I study part time?
  • Can I defer the course?
  • What kind of jobs do graduates of this course generally get?
  • Are there any scholarships available?

Upcoming Open Days:

Swinburne University, www.swinburne.edu.au/openday

  • 29 July – Hawthorn

La Trobe University, www.latrobe.edu.au/openday

  • 3 August – Shepparton
  • 5 August – Melbourne
  • 12 August – Albury-Wodonga
  • 15 August – Mildura
  • 26 August – Bendigo

Monash University, http://bit.ly/1pmUEzv

  • 4 August – Peninsula
  • 5 August – Clayton & Caulfield
  • 19 August – Parkville

RMIT, http://openday.rmit.edu.au/

  • 5 August – Bundoora
  • 12 August – City

University of Tasmania, http://info.utas.edu.au/openday

  • 5 August – Hobart
  • 12 August – Inveresk & Newnham

CQUniversity, https://bit.ly/2rP34Cc

  • 15 August – Online
  • 16 August – Melbourne

Australian Catholic University, www.openday.acu.edu.au/

  • 12 August – Melbourne
  • 26 August – Ballarat

University of Melbourne, https://openday.unimelb.edu.au/

  • 19 August – Parkville & Southbank

Deakin University, http://openday.deakin.edu.au/

  • 5 August – Warrnambool
  • 19 August – Geelong
  • 26 August – Melbourne

Victoria University, https://openday.vu.edu.au/

  • 19 August – Footscray

Federation University, https://bit.ly/2uwYPgX

  • 26 August – all campuses

List of Victorian Open Day dates for private providers and TAFE institutes: https://bit.ly/2NQdoEY
For Open Days at all other states and territories go to https://bit.ly/2mh7bFu

University Accommodation
Colleges ‘Open for Inspection’ on Open Day.
For students considering living at the residential colleges when they study away from Bendigo, such as in Melbourne, sometimes making a decision about which residential college or type of accommodation to live in is difficult – with so many options, it can seem overwhelming.
However, by visiting the colleges on Open Days during August, students can get a feel for them, as they will all be open for tours. Many current students made their choices by visiting on Open Days. It is also possible to have tours at some residences by making prior appointments outside of Open Days as well.
For more information, please visit the Careers Page on Schoolbox – https://schoolbox.cmc.vic.edu.au/homepage/1747