18 May 2020

Throughout our childhood we tend to get fed a few different fibs. You’ll only get Christmas presents if you behave; the ice cream truck only plays its song when it’s out of ice cream; it’s illegal for your car light to be on while driving.

Most of the time we get told these things with our best interests in mind. But sometimes we get told things based on misinformation… and this is when it can get a bit dicey.

One of these times is when teachers and parents make it seem like university is the only viable pathway for success after high school. Truth is, there are a bunch of different options available to you and each have their own set of advantages.

If you’re not sold on the idea of uni after school or not well-suited to the uni life of lecture halls, essays and awkward ice-breakers, TAFE Queensland offer a variety of courses to help you find something better suited to you and your lifestyle. And it’s never too late to get started if you’re not vibing with your uni course.

Here’s some of your options.

Short courses

Short courses are a great way to learn about stuff you’re actually interested in but don’t have a heap of time to spend doing. You can gain a qualification for a job, fill up some time between commitments, explore a passion on the side, or have a go at something new.

They can take anywhere between one day, a few weeks or a few months to complete so you don’t have to commit a whole bunch of time in one sweep like with uni. And the beauty of short courses is that they are extremely flexible and easy to fit around your other commitments with a bunch offered online.

Some ideas to get you started include:

  • Photography
  • First Aid
  • Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA)
  • Barista Course
  • Hair and Beauty
  • Computer Design
  • Floristry
  • Working in Early Childhood
  • Plus heeeeeaps more… jump over here to suss your options.

Certificates and Diplomas

With smaller class sizes, more specialised and practical course content and expert teachers who have industry experience, certificates and diplomas provide a different learning approach to the more theoretical, en masse style at uni.

Certificates and diplomas are really neat for a number of reasons:

  • They vary in length from around six months to four years, so you have the opportunity to get a taste of something before committing to studying it further
  • They can be a pathway into university
  • You can become qualified in under a year

Imagine the bragging rights you have over your mates when you become qualified and find a job while they’re still at uni. Head over to TAFE Queensland and see what’s on the table.

Degrees

Uni’s aren’t the only place you can earn yourself a degree.

Most people know that TAFE offers a huge range of courses, but you might not know that TAFE Queensland is also a great place to study specialist degrees in Business, Fashion Design, Adult Education, Information Technology, Applied Commerce, plus heaps more.

Their degrees will give you more practical experience than a uni course and set you up ahead with all the experience knowledge and industry connections you need to get your career started.

Plus, you have the option of completing a one-year diploma course, at the end of which you’re able to head straight into the second year of a degree if you’re keen. It’s a great way of getting a taste for the kind of degree you might want to do without committing three years straight off the bat.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Apprenticeships and traineeships are an ideal option if you don’t want to be confined to a classroom but still want to gain skills that’ll set you up for a great career. Apprenticeships and traineeships are essentially on-the-job training (where you’ll learn practical skills from real-life work situations AND earn a wage), combined with a Certificate course, so you’ll finish up with a qualification under your belt.

TAFE Queensland offer Certificate courses for apprentices in trades like roof tiling, plumbing, and electrical work, but also trainees in vocational areas that you might not suspect, like conservation, beauty services, sport and recreation, and bank services.

The major benefit is that apprentices and trainees get paid while they learn so they end up financially ahead of students that put themselves in debt to study a degree.

The pathway to your dream doesn’t lay solely in going to uni. TAFE Queensland’s approach suits you if you’re not afraid to forge a different path for yourself. Suss out more info about them over here.