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Should I study, work or travel before commencing my studies at Curtin?
UPDATED 01 OCT 2024
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3:29AM
It’s entirely up to you!
Some people take time off before starting university to travel, pursue a hobby, gain skills and life experience, or to earn money. There are benefits to this as students with life experience often do very well at university, however some find it challenging to adjust both financially and academically to study after working. There are also advantages to continuing on with study. You can increase your employment prospects and the transition from school to uni may be smoother as you are mentally still in study mode.
Deferral
If you have made the decision to come to university but would really like to take some time off, you can choose to take a gap semester or year. We would recommend that you apply for your undergraduate course first. Once you have your offer, you can choose to defer for up to 12 months, allowing you to secure your place at university and not have to worry about future application deadlines. Postgraduate study cannot be deferred, so keep an eye on the application deadlines for information on when you should apply for the upcoming study period.
Study Abroad
There is another option - starting your degree and then looking at studying overseas. This allows you to gain experience internationally without losing time and allowing you to finish your degree on time. To find out more check out our Study Abroad webpage.
Study Part-Time
Did you know you can work while you study? Many of our courses are available on a part-time basis so you can complete them while juggling work, family, and any other commitments you may have. Work experience components of many of our courses also increase your employment prospects while you study, as many of our students are invited back for paid vacation work or graduate employment with their placement company.
International Students
If you are an international student, your student visa requires you to study full-time. If you are considering working while on a student visa, you should check your visa requirements before applying for a job.