Differences between school and university
University is a very different experience to high school. Below you will find an explanation of some of those differences.
Differences between high school and uni
| Term/topic | High School | University |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment | Usually, your parents enrol you at the beginning of year 7 and that's all that needs to happen until you graduate. | You must complete the online enrolment process yourself at the beginning of your first teaching session. You then need to re-enrol at the beginning of every teaching session with new units (the equivalent of 'subjects' at school). |
| Personal freedom/ responsibilities | Generally, you have to stay on school premises between the set school times. The work you do is managed and prioritised by your teachers. Your teachers will chase you up for work and your parents are responsible for providing your materials and any absence notes. |
You have more freedoms and more responsibilities. You are free to come and go from campus at anytime. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the right materials and are prepared for each class. Lecturers and tutors will not chase you for work, it is your responsibility to manage and prioritise your work and get things done on time. Absences will not be followed up and your parents cannot give you a note. However absences may affect your eligibility to complete a unit. |
| Class structure | Each subject takes place in a classroom with 25 students or less. For the most part, classes consist of only the teacher talking (except for questions). |
There are a number of different types of classes. These include lectures, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, field work or online work. A lecture is similar in style to a highschool class, with the lecturer doing most of the talking. However, there may be up to 200 or 300 students in one lecture. Other class types are a lot smaller and are interactive. They require you to prepare by reading certain materials and then participating in discussions or practicals. |
| Timetable | You are given a set timetable of classes usually between 9:00am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday with recess and lunch in between. |
You have to create your own personalised timetable, which will be set by the units you choose to study, along with the times of classes you choose. Classes are generally run Monday to Friday during the day, but some classes may run at night and on weekends. |
| Teacher | Teachers generally follow a set textbook to help students learn. There is usually one teacher per subject and they provide guidance and support in your study. |
Teaching staff include lecturers and tutors. They use a range of textbooks and other texts to teach. There are often multiple academics running each unit and they expect students to be responsible for their work. You generally refer to your lecturers and tutors by their first names. |
| Learning style | You learn by absorbing and understanding the information given to you by your teachers. Most of your study occurs inside the classroom. | You are required to think critically, generate new ideas and learn independently. You are also required to find a large amount of materials on your own for assessments. A significant amount of study takes place outside the lecture theatres/tutorial rooms. |
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