How class of 2020 can pursue alternative pathways to University

But Southern Cross University psychology student, and 2019 Year 12 graduate Belinda Morris knows what it’s like when your final year of high school doesn’t go as planned.

“I didn’t have the easiest two senior years of high school. At age 16, partway through Year 11 I had to move out of home,” she said.

“I’d previously been a straight-A student, but living out of home meant I had to work a lot to support myself which meant my grades dropped and I knew I might not have received the final result I needed to study psychology.”

Belinda completed a university transition program at Southern Cross University in January, giving her the opportunity to prove herself and qualify to study for a university degree.

“For those who feel as though they may not meet course requirements, it’s always good to have something to back you up to make sure you can start University on time, rather than having all your eggs in one basket and missing the start date.”

Southern Cross University is among tertiary institutions offering students a free alternative pathway to study and a second chance at career opportunities they may have otherwise missed. These include Transition to Uni and Early Offer for Year 12 students.

The newly-modified Transition to Uni program now enables current year 12 students to study a free six-week full-time or 12-week part-time course online to guarantee their place at Southern Cross and has intakes this August and in early January ahead of Session 1, 2021.

The regional University has campuses in Coffs Harbour and Lismore in NSW and the Gold Coast in QLD as well as online, and offers other pathway programs including the award-winning Preparing for Success Program (PSP) for mature age students, and the SCU Diplomas in business, tourism, science, engineering or health which can transition into a degree.

For Belinda, Transition to Uni was the ticket she needed to study at Australia’s top university for psychology.

The Grafton local, now 18, attended Transition to Uni on campus at Coffs Harbour before deciding to study her Bachelor degree online.

“You meet other people and the Transition to Uni program really prepares you for what it takes to be successful at University, including how to reference properly and how assessments should be presented,” she said.

“I couldn’t have gone into the psychology course without it and I wouldn’t be as successful in the degree I’m in now without everything I learned.”

Successful completion of the Transition to Uni program guarantees entry into all Southern Cross University undergraduate degrees in 2020 and 2021 – however, the Bachelor of Midwifery involves an additional interview and selection process.

Southern Cross University is Australia's leading university for Psychology, ranked number one in the latest federal government QILT data and the 2020 Good Universities Guide.