It feels good when you're accepted by a university or TAFE* establishment, right? You should. It’s quite an achievement! However, it's only the start of your learning journey, meaning you have a lot of work ahead of you in terms of academic and personal development. Success is not guaranteed either, so you must get into a study routine that works for you.
What Percentage Of Australian University Students Drop Out?
Well, in terms of universities, the figures are pretty sobering, as around ⅕th of 1st-year Australian students drop out, with only around 52% completing their courses. So, as you can see, getting onto your university and TAFE* courses is just one step on the journey. Another important step - as we cover in this article - is knowing how to study effectively. The good news is there's a methodology for practical study.
How Can I Study Effectively At University?
So, how do you go about studying when engaged in further education? We can tell you that the experience is a world away from high school, as you have much more control over your personal study. There's not nearly as much hands-on work from your lecturer as you'd get from a high school teacher, so it's up to you to get organised.
Here are some measures to get you started…
Tip #1 - Get Good At Taking Notes
When attending university lectures or TAFE* learning, you will be presented with a lot of information, be it via whiteboard or a PowerPoint presentation. As such, taking notes is essential, which is an art in itself, as you can't physically write down everything they say. Your notes should also include an overall summary and conclusion so that they make sense to you later when they've gone cold.
Tip #2 - Your Teachers Are A Valuable Resource
While your teachers are there to deliver the content of your university and TAFE* courses, they're also human beings with a lot of helpful information to impart to you. As such, you shouldn't be afraid to ask them lots of questions about the material you're learning. This extra information can provide helpful context for your course learning, and you’ll often find that teachers will welcome your curiosity.
Tip #3 - Don't Neglect Your Need For Sleep
One of the benefits of going on to residential-based education is the enhanced social side of a student's life. However, it's something that can affect your studying. Studies show that 48% of students in Australia binge drink on a fairly regular basis - perhaps giving some indication of why a high number end up dropping out. No one's saying you shouldn't be sociable, but you should get your 8 hours a night, or your learning will surely suffer otherwise.
Tip #4 - Limit Your Social Media Use
One thing that can hold back your academic and personal development in further education is too much distraction - and there's nothing quite as distracting as social media. As such, you should limit the time you spend using it - as difficult as that may be. The good news is that apps like TikTok allow you to set an automatic limit on how much time you're allowed each day to guide you.
Tip #5 - Find or Create a Good Study Environment
Depending on your student accommodation, you may or may not have enough privacy to get good regular study. If you're lucky enough to have your own room, then great, but if not, you need to find a space - be it the library or down at the park - that's yours. No rules determine what makes a good spot, but if it’s quiet and peaceful, that's a very good start!
Improve Your Academic Progress With OCA Online Training
You need all the help you can get when you're taking both UNI degrees and TAFE* courses, and a great way to get ahead is by supplementing your learning with a CPD-Endorsed short course online. Providing a great foundation for further study, our learning is video-based for easy digestion and modular, meaning you can fit it in around all your other obligations.
We offer a next-level learning experience that you can find out more about by watching our great Student Study Demo. In it, you can clearly see why our students regularly tell us that we offer the most comprehensive online education Australia can offer. To see our full course library covering over 20 different industries, check us out at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au.
Alternatively, if you'd like to speak to us directly about your learning needs, call 1300 611 404, where our friendly team is waiting to assist. Alternatively, email support@onlinecourses.com.au, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we possibly can.
*What is a TAFE?
TAFE stands for “Technical and Further Education”. TAFE institutes are government-funded Registered Training Organisations (RTO's) that offer Vocational Education and Training relating to a specific industry or occupation.
TAFE Alternatives
There are other private (non-government funded RTOs) that offer accredited courses (just like TAFE).
Although Online Courses Australia is NOT an RTO, OCA has formed partnerships with a small number of RTOs to offer RPL or CREDIT from selective Micro-Credentials towards RTO (accredited) courses. Look out for Accelerated Learning Pathway on our website.
