Choosing your tertiary course

Making the right decisions about tertiary courses can be hard. Even if you've decided what you want to do, there are so many options to choose from. How do you make sense of it all and find what's right for you? This page gives you some ideas to start with.

You need impartial information and advice

There's plenty of information out there, but a lot of it is designed to persuade you to follow a particular path. Career Services is one of your few sources of independent information and advice.

You need help

Talk to people who know you. Meet people who are already in the course or career you are thinking about. Get all the information you can find.

Your work is in your life

As you make decisions about study, training and work you need to think about what you want from life, where you want to live, what other interests you want to pursue. Your work is in your life, not separate from it.

Shop around

You've found a tertiary course that seems right, but it's highly likely that other tertiary providers will be offering something similar. Too many school leavers hear about a course and enrol without looking at the alternatives. In fact, the differences between what seem like similar programmes could help you clarify exactly what you want.

Why are you doing this?

Make sure the course actually will set you up for what comes next. Are you looking ahead to further study or work? Check out the prerequisites for other courses you have in mind. If you expect the course to lead to a job, do your research – look at job vacancies, talk to employers who are likely to employ you, and ask others who have completed the course how their job-hunting went.

Broaden your thinking

It's tempting (and easier) to take a tertiary course that follows on from a subject you were good at in school. But think about what other pathways your skills and knowledge might lead to. Investigate jobs beyond your own (and your friends' and family's) experience. There are all sorts of jobs and career pathways out there you've never heard of.

What qualification will you get?

Some courses (eg cooking) might give you two or three qualifications; others (eg most university papers) will give you credits toward a qualification. Be sure you know what qualification/s you'll finish with and how valuable they are in the job market or as preparation for further study. If a course is likely to lead directly to a job, check out the job before you enrol. Is that job really right for you? What are the job prospects?

Look at all the angles

Think through all the changes you are about to make in your life. How long is the course? What are the full costs of fees, books and materials, and ongoing costs like accommodation, living expenses, travel (from where you live now and getting to and from the campus)? Who will you be living with? How will you cope if you are away from family and current friends?

Think about your whole life

Do you want to travel overseas in the next few years, move to another town or stay in your home town? How will you keep on with an important sport or hobby? Are you actually tired of study and need a gap year? Will you miss your friends? Should you broaden your range of experiences, or keep on with what you know and enjoy?

Understand the tertiary setup

Some students don't understand the difference between a state-owned polytechnic and a privately owned training establishment. Some don't know that the fees they pay are subsidized by the government. You need to understand the titles, levels and ‘sizes' of qualifications. There's a system in NZ that makes it easy to spot the difference between a level 6 ‘certificate' with 60 credits, and a level 5 ‘diploma' with 120 credits. (Look at www.kiwiquals.govt.nz)

Always visit the campus

Many providers have an open day, but if they don't (or if you can't make it on the day), create your own. Meet the tutors and look at the facilities (for classes, student support, personal study and relaxation). Get the feel of the community that will be a big part of your life.

Everyone changes

There's a good chance that by the time you are 25 or 30 your career direction will be different from the path you took when you left school. Think about this. On the one hand, the decisions you make when you leave school are not the end of the journey. On the other hand, there's no point in burning up too many years and accumulating a student loan on something you might not stick with or come back to later. One way is to keep options open until you are sure. Will you be able to transfer credits to other programmes if you change your mind? Look at getting some sort of work in the industry before committing to full time study or training.

Is a course what you need?

Further information

You can find further information on moderation, examinations, quality assurance, qualifications evaluations, Records of Learning, National Certificates, National Diplomas and the National Qualifications Framework on this website.

To contact Career Services rapuara for free course and training information:

• Phone 0800 222 733
• Email careers@careers.govt.nz

Page updated: 14 September 2007