10 steps to choosing a course you are truly interested in

Are you still struggling to decide whether to further your studies or continue working?

This guide aims to help you identify whether studying is the right step you should take in order to achieve your objectives. Furthermore, by the end of these 10 steps, you should be able to decide on 2-3 courses that you would like to study eventually.

1) Identify which category you fall under

• High School Leaver
• Seeking Career Change
• Wants to get Promoted
• Need a break from your career

2) Ask yourself why you want to study

3) Decide on what career you want

If you want to get promoted or need a break from your career, it is likely that you are clear about your aim in the future. Steps you should take:

• Think about the knowledge gaps between where you are now and where you want to be
• Talk to your employer about which courses are relevant and may improve your career
• Does the career you want to pursue require specific qualifications?

If you want to start a new career or gain a qualification, you may not know what you want to study yet.

Steps you should take:

• Identify the skill sets and experience you currently have
• List down 5-6 subject areas that you are interested in

Tip: Explore the AUG Course Search function to see what courses you are interested in

4) Study Destination

There are many countries in the world that have great qualifications. Depending on your subject area, you can choose to study within the country you are from or perhaps explore other countries.

What to think about

Finances/Scholarships
Overseas or Local Study
Work Part-Time
Job Prospects

SEE ALSO: 10 Steps to Choosing a University

5) Mode of study

Every University has different modes of delivering content to students, whether it is on a project basis or through theoretical knowledge. You should consider if the industry you would like to enter requires you to have a strong foundation in theoretical knowledge or needs Industry experience in order to be well regarded in the industry. For example, if you want to become a Dentist, practical experience is so important as you will be able to face different medical conditions in the clinic compared to what you will see in school.

6) Identify the most important factors you are considering

Now that you have decided on what subject area you may be interested in, it is time to identify the key factors you would like to see as part of your course.

Duration – How much time do you want to spend studying?
Credit – Do you already have some experience and want to shorten the course duration?
Subject – Which skills do you want to learn?
Work Experience – Is this important for you?

Tip: Check out the Graduate Diploma in Australia, which are 1 year programs for students to enhance their knowledge in a specialised area or meet the entry requirements into Masters!

7) Research

Now that you have identified your objectives and the most important factors you would like to consider, it is time to begin researching about courses! These are the easiest ways to do so:

• Attend open days
• Talk to People (Eg. School teachers, Industry Professionals, AUG Staff)
• Google!

8) Narrow down your options

Once you have gathered all the information, it is time to narrow down your options to 4 or 5 courses. You should list down the pros and cons of each course, based on the research you have done as well as opinions from your parents and peers.

9) Assess if you are eligible

Once you have identified around 5 courses that you would like to study in, the most important thing would be to assess your eligibility to enter into the course. Some courses may have higher entry requirement such as Health Science courses or MBA.

SEE ALSO: Do not meet entry requirements?

10) Apply!

Once you have decided what course you want to study, simply let us know in the Live Chat and we will help you to submit the applications and apply for VISAs (if applicable).