Pathways

University Extension Program Experience at The University of Melbourne

What is the University Extension Program? 

To put it simply, during your Year 12 year, you study a subject at a university. As part of the extension program, you become a student at that University, and you will either complete the classes online or go to them in person. You will be required to view the lectures and participate in the classes each week. The extension program treats you as pretty much the same as any other student, meaning you are put in the same class as other university students, and you complete the same assessments/exams alongside them. The requirements to be eligible may vary across universities, but in my experience, it was an average “B+” grade alongside the requirements for the individual courses. Usually, this is having completed the subject at high school as an advanced placement and with a certain study score.  

What did I study and where did I do it?

I am currently studying Further Advanced Japanese at The University of Melbourne. This is considered the 7th part of the main course of Japanese. I was able to start at this level thanks to my results on a language placement test they sent to me during the enrolment period. I go to the Parkville campus for my classes, and it really is a massive campus. I got lost there when exploring. Luckily, I do not have to walk far from the tram stop to get to my classroom. It is also nice walking around and seeing all the buildings in the campus, including classrooms and various food stores.  

What do I like about the program?

Firstly, I am able to continue my studies of one of my favourite subjects, Japanese. If not for this program, I would not have any formal continuation of Japanese studies. Additionally, I enjoy the university environment, being surrounded by a variety of students and those interested in learning Japanese as well. My teacher is also very nice, and he made the learning even more enjoyable. Also partaking in this program gives me access to a lot of perks that a university student would usually get, such as borrowing books from the university library or free stuff they give out sometimes (they even gave all the extension program students a $100 voucher for the Queen Victoria market just for attending one of their lectures…)  

Were there any struggles?

The travel time is a bit of an issue. Since my class can only be done in person, I must leave school early to make it in time. The trip itself is around an hour – which is not too bad – but it can eat away at your time that you would be using for other things, such as completing work or one’s interests. Other than that, I did not really have any other problems with the program. My course had no homework, only self-study but it seems that the lower levels of Japanese have homework of some sort. The assignments were manageable, and since you know about them since the beginning of term through a subject guide the university releases, you could get started on them very early if you wished. 

Advice for students interested in this program

Firstly, gauge how much free time you have. I have no extracurricular commitments nor a job so time was not an issue for me. However, this program does have the potential to take up a lot of time, especially if you must go to in person classes. Furthermore, consider whether you want to go to university after high school. If you are unsure, this program can serve as a trial to see whether you like university and if it is the right choice for you. At least at where I am doing the program, there is no penalty to withdrawing from the program. Asking these questions before deciding whether you want to do the program might be a good starting point: 

1. Is the course that I want to study through this program going to benefit me in some way 
2. (in terms of the future or simply enjoyment)? 
3. Will I be able to handle doing both a university class and the rest of Year 12 (consider whether you are doing it online or not)? 
4. How much do I care (or how much does it matter) about my ATAR/end of year results? Consider whether the subject you would do at university is of greater importance to you. 
5. Do I want to go to university or am I still not sure? Either way, it can help give you an idea of what to expect at university and inform your decision as to whether you wish to go or not (luckily fees will not be part of the question this time around, but it is something that needs to be thought about if you decide to go there formally). 

I would also highly recommend reading up on the university’s website on the program details and specifics about the subject you wish to do through the program. Talking to pathways team can help with this. Even if you are not sure about everything, ultimately, I see this program as worth it for the experience alone. If this program is for you, I can see it as being of great value to you. 

Kian Aristidou 

Year 12 student  

Year 12 Pathways Counsellor Appointments

• All Year 12 VCE & VM students must book an appointment to see Ms. Dowling, the Pathways Counsellor to discuss their Career Action Plans and post-Brentwood pathways.
• Students can access the link to book appointments on Compass.

Brentwood Pathways Team

The Brentwood Pathways team aims to empower students and their families with all the latest information to explore a broad range of career opportunities, build skills and prepare them for the global marketplace, equipped with competitive 21st-century skills to pursue productive, sustainable careers.

The Brentwood Pathways team is located in the SLC building. We are open from 9 am to 3 pm on all working days. We appreciate students checking the availability of our team members via Teams and booking an appointment before seeing us in the Pathways Office.

Our team members:

Director of Pathways & VCE: Ms. Nicole Green

Pathways Managers: Mr. Venkata Kalva & Mr. Timothy Li

Pathways Counsellor: Ms. Bridget Dowling

VASS, VET & VM Administrator: Ms. Jennifer Chanter

VASS Administrator (VCE) and Attendance: Ms. Janelle Pentreath

Brentwood Pathways Website

Our team has launched a brand-new website: www.brentwoodpathways.com. This will be a one-stop shop for all year-levels for subject selections and future pathways queries, including Morrisby, Work Experience, VTAC etc.

Please email your feedback and suggestions to improve the website further to pathways@ms.brentwood.vic.edu.au

Brentwood Pathways Newsletter

Don't forget to check out our weekly Brentwood Pathways Newsletter. Click here to access the latest issue: https://www.brentwoodpathways.com/news-jobs/pathways-newsletter 

It is a great way for parents and students to keep up to date with Pathways-related programs, including subject selections, work experience and many more.