As a high school student, deciding to go to university (or diving into other forms of tertiary study) is both exciting and terrifying. You have enough questions to make your head spin. That’s why we’ve answered some burning questions from real high school students.
First up, accommodation.
The most intimidating element of uni life can often be attempting to find a place to live. Flicking through websites of residential colleges, student accommodation and properties available for rent will almost certainly make send you into a tizz, especially when you see the rental prices and the overall cost of living in Adelaide (heads up, it’s not good).
Plus, this is before mentioning the news of the rental vacancy rate in Adelaide being as low as 0.2%, in July of 2022. Which means that only 0.2% of all rentals are vacant at a time. This multiplies the struggle of moving as not only is there the question of where to live but also whether or not there will be any accommodation available when it’s time for you to move.
As a student considering a university pathway you are likely to find yourself tackling a multitude of difficult to answer questions.
Where will you live? What kind of accommodation would work best for you? Well let’s take a look through your options…
Are you willing to pay more if meals are provided for you and if you have more organised social opportunities? You may be better suited to a residential college.
Or do you want more independence and space for yourself? If so you may prefer a private rental, or purpose built student accommodation.
Can you afford to live on your own? Or will a share-house or apartment with friends or fellow students be a better option for you? Comparing the cost of different rentals and accommodation options will help you to determine what is best for your individual situation.
An overview of different student accommodation options available in Adelaide can be found here.
But don’t forget there is always the option to stay in regional areas, rather than moving to the city. You can either commute to the campuses when you need to, or study entirely online. Either way it will help you avoid the intense stress and cost that comes with moving to Adelaide.
That brings us to our next topic, transport.
Should you take a car or rely on public transport?
Owning a car in the city can be extremely expensive due to the cost of renting parking spaces. The cost of cars is another in a long line of considerations to make when contemplating moving to Adelaide.
That’s why you may plan on using public transport to get to the places that you need to be. Just cross your fingers and hope that there is regular transport available to your regional areas.
Especially if you are planning on commuting from out of the city to the university campuses regularly.
The worries associated with commuting are a great reason to consider studying online if you are planning on living at home or in regional areas.
So – what if you could study without the cost of fuel, car parking or public transport?
These are just some of the many options to weigh up and decisions to make, it is daunting to say the least. When it comes to on-campus learning, sometimes there are more questions than answers.
Many will be able to see the clear benefit of studying online as it will allow you to pursue your education while avoiding the stress and cost associated with moving to the city or regularly commuting.
Additionally, completing education externally and staying at home in regional areas allows you to stay closer to the important things and people in your life. This could be friends, family, community groups, sports clubs or a great paying job you care about. Studying online will allow you to pursue your education aims without having to sacrifice other valuable things in your life.
These are the benefits of studying online, and why not make the most of it and learn with the assistance of the Murray River Study Hub?
We provide students with excellent spaces for learning and chances to build social connections, which are generally the two main benefits of on campus learning, provided for free, close to home.
Plus, we’re committed to helping you build bridges to real career pathways and to develop skills that meet the demands of local career opportunities. To make the most of our fantastic resources, take a scroll through our available courses here.
