University or TAFE? You decide ...................................................

University and TAFE are both tertiary education facilities, but which one should you chose to learn with and why? In days gone by, university was the place to go if you wanted a profession: think doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, etc, and TAFE or college was the home of trades; so builders, plumbers, mechanics, hairdressers.

Although this is still true to some degree, there are a lot more opportunities for students wanting to study, with TAFE offering diplomas and advanced diplomas and more study paths available through university.

There are several career paths that don’t have a definitive tertiary education facility – careers such as nursing, IT and business can be gained at either institution.

TAFE offers more practical experience, classroom-based, active and involved.

University is less personalised, and often self-managed, so students are expected to complete more independent study.

The few things you need to consider before starting tertiary study are finances, study lengths and prerequisites or assumed knowledge.

Studying at a uni can cost from $20,000 to more than $100,000, which can really determine whether university is the way to go.

TAFE, on the other hand, can cost between $100 and $10,000.

Although this might seem like the affordable option TAFES don’t often offer scholarships and reduced fees, which universities tend to have available. Fortunately, in Australia, students have the option of HECS-HELP (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) which is a government loan which is to be repaid once the student earns more than around $45,000 or more in a financial year.

The length a course might take at TAFE and university is also vastly different.

TAFE can sit anywhere from a few days or weeks to three years. University courses are often three-plus years, some taking up to six to complete.

Lastly, it can be tedious to be accepted into a university course, as they often require a specific high-school result or prior learning. Sometimes TAFE is a good starting point for future acceptance into a university, but it ultimately depends on the study path you want to take.

The benefit of tertiary education is endless – be it better career opportunities, employment rate or a chance to broaden your skills and knowledge, tertiary education should always be considered.