Still wondering what you want to be when you ‘grow up’? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. In the fast-paced workplaces of today, a job is no longer for life and many people will change their career – and continue learning – throughout their lives.
But it makes sense to work out what you want to do after your studies, before you decide what you actually want to study. You’re investing a great deal of time, and money, into your education, so make sure you get the right skills for your future career. Our guide to making that all important career decision will help you. And it may also guide you towards the best university and subject choices for your future. Imagine your future Close your eyes, and try to picture yourself in ten years time. What are you doing for work? Hold onto that vision. Maybe it sounds like a dream, but you can make it a reality if it is what you truly want.
For example, you may imagine yourself travelling around the world. So a career in travel and tourism, management consulting or even retail buying may be right for you. Or you may have imagined yourself in a busy hospital, helping people who are ill or unhappy. Would you like to be a doctor, nurse, social worker or psychiatrist? Even if you imagine yourself driving a red sports car, there will be a career that will get you to there. Back to reality Now, think about what you are actually interested in. What do you enjoy doing? What is important to you? If your career is also your hobby, it will never feel like work. And that’s the best way to achieve happiness in life.
Then it’s time to think about what you are actually good at. What subjects do you excel in? If your dream is to be a computer scientist, but you don’t like math, you may need to broaden your options. And think about how you like to work. Are you outgoing, a team player, or do you prefer to work on your own? You can take an online personality test to narrow down the types of work you would be suited to.
Real-life research
Now that you have your list of preferred career options, you need to talk with people in that field. Try to get some work experience if you can, to see if it is something you would really enjoy.
Ask them what courses or qualifications they look for when they hire a new employee. You might be surprised – even if your interest lies in the fashion industry, you could be better off getting a business qualification.
Still not sure?
If you really aren’t sure what your career future holds, choose a general undergraduate degree program, such as Arts, Social Science or Humanities. You’ll still learn important job skills, such as analysis and research, presenting your argument verbally or in a report, working as part of a team. And you’ll have the chance to explore a broad range of subject options to see what really interests you.
Post-grad expertise
Many students are choosing to study their post-graduate qualifications overseas, to give them that extra edge in their career. Post-graduate study gives you a chance to really specialise in your chosen field, and get the exact qualifications you need to succeed in your career.
It also lets you expand your career options by adding different skills to your CV, such as business management skills through an MBA, or teaching skills through a graduate diploma in education.
And if your career vision includes working overseas, make sure you include English language (or another second language) as part of your study plan.
What will you do? Take our fun career quiz to find out!
There are thousands of different career options out there for you – so we’re not going to pretend that this quiz will give you the exact answer. But you may learn something along the way that will help you make your decision. And remember, you can always chat with our student counsellors for more guidance on the right course option for you.
Choose the answer that is closest to describing you.
- In my spare time, I would prefer to:
draw, paint or write stories
earn some extra money in a part-time job
volunteer with a local charity
- At school, my favourite subject was:
art or design
economics or maths
social studies or language studies - People say that I am:
creative
a good negotiator
always trying to help other people - I prefer to work:
on my own, or independently
for an employer that keeps me motivated (financially or through promotion)
as part of a team, where I feel I can make a difference - In ten years time, I’d love to be:
creating something tangible, unique and exciting
working from a corner office with a great view of the city
winning a Nobel prize for research that changed the world - I am motivated by:
visual stimulation and ideas
money and success
the satisfaction of changing one life at a time
Now add up the number of times you scored each letter.
If you answered mostly a’s, you may be more suited to a creative career. This could include graphic design, writing, journalism, architecture or even engineering.
If you answered mostly b’s, you may be interested in a business or legal career. This could include work as an accountant, financial analyst, IT developer, lawyer or economics policy advisor.
If you answered mostly c’s, you are seeking a career where you can help others. This could include medicine, teaching, social work, international aid, biotech research or even environmental work.
For more information on how you can make the best international study choices, talk with one of our StudyLink Student Counsellors.
Charles Darwin University, located in Australia’s Top End, the Northern Territory, offers more than a great education with individual student attention. The Northern Territory government will also sponsor all international students at Charles Darwin University by giving them an additional 10 points towards their General Skilled Migration points test (plus the 5 bonus points for studying at a regional university). This means you can apply for a skilled provisional or permanent visa when you graduate.
To qualify, you need to study at a CDU campus for at least two years, and finish a degree, diploma or trade certificate course. You will also need to agree to live and work in the Territory for at least two years once you get your visa.
Charles Darwin University is highly regarded for its excellent teaching and research. In a unique location, surrounded by the tropics and the desert, it is geographically close to Asia and yet so different, with rich Aboriginal culture and exotic wildlife.
The University has won many awards, including equal top Australian University for accounting and the humanities subjects (Good Universities Guide, 2006). In addition to the visa sponsorship opportunity, you could also be eligible for one of the many international scholarships they offer each year.
To find out more about the wide range of courses available at Charles Darwin University, contact our StudyLink Student Counsellortoday.
The 2008 Shanghai Jiao Tong university rankings were released last month. Although there was little change in the position of most universities, these are a reliable measure of the research excellence at universities around the world.
But what do they really mean for you, when you’re deciding on the right university for your international studies?
When you are weighing up your choices and the way they are ranked, find out how those rankings are determined. The Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings look mainly at the research output – and with a 30% weighting on alumni and staff who win a Nobel Prize or Field Medal, this research could be quite old.
However, it remains a prestigious ranking system because it does truly measure global performance. It also reflects a nation’s economic health and competitiveness. And this year, one of the biggest changes was the increase in the number of Chinese universities in the top 500. This reflects the growing investment in research and development in Asia.
The Times Higher Education Supplement’s ‘World University Ranking’ is based largely on peer review. The positions of the universities tend to fluctuate yearly, as the criteria changes to reflect the current issues in higher education around the world. By combining a survey of academics and employers with quantitative data, such as number of citations and research excellence, it aims to give a more rounded view of the university’s excellence.
And the winners are…
According to the Shanghai Jiao Tong 2008 rankings, the top ten universities in the world are:
- Harvard
- Stanford
- Berkeley
- Cambridge
- MIT
- Caltech
- Columbia
- Princeton
- Chicago
- Oxford
Once again it is dominated by American universities, with Oxford and Cambridge the only non-US institutions.
And according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the top ten for 2007 (announced last November) were:
- 1 Harvard
- 2= Cambridge
- 2= Oxford
- 2= Yale (up from 4)
- 5 Imperial College London (up from 9)
- 6 Princeton (up from 10)
- 7= Caltech
- 7= Chicago
- 9 University College London (up from 25)
- 10 MIT (down from 4)
The most important thing is to work out what matters most to you. Is it research? Is it the amount of money and resources the university has? Or is it the quality of teaching, the location, your future career options and the student support services? You can also look at rankings by subject area for a clearer picture.
Whatever you decide, make sure you discuss your plans with a StudyLink Student Counsellor. They can help you weigh up all your options and make the best choice for your future.
You don’t have to travel overseas to get a world-class education. Many leading universities around the world also offer distance education – which means you can study the same course that students receive on-campus, but from your own home.
It’s an ideal solution if you have work or family commitments, and it does save on travel expenses. But you need to think first about whether distance education is right for you.
Distance learning has come a long way from the old correspondence courses – thanks to the internet. But it also has some unique challenges for students. To do well in your studies, you need to be self-motivated. You will need to make time every day, and every week, for your coursework and assignments – which can be hard when you’re balancing it with all those other commitments.
You will also need to make an extra effort to connect with your fellow students and teachers. Technology makes this much easier – most courses will encourage discussions through online forums and learning groups.
How does it work?
The University of New England, in Armidale, Australia, has had extensive experience in teaching by distance. If you choose to study there from your home, you’ll receive a range of course materials to support your study, such as textbooks, CD-ROMS, DVDs and access to online materials. Each unit requires a 15 hour per week commitment, and you would usually take 2 units per semester. You have email and online contact with your lecturers, tutors and fellow students, and the online university can even mail your library books to you.
Making friends
The University of Southern Queensland, in Australia, has been at the forefront of distance learning for many years. Now, 17,000 students study off-campus in 80 countries – that’s 75% of their total students! USQ encourages students to form ‘learning circles’. These are an informal group of three to ten students from the same region, who can keep in touch by phone and email, or even meet in person.
This way, you can still form friendships with other students, and also share books and resources.
Designed for independent learning
The University of London also offers distance education through its External Program. You can choose from over 100 undergraduate and postgraduate internationally recognised diplomas and degrees. 34,000 students are studying this way, from over 190 countries – which makes London one of the largest universities in the UK.
Your study materials have been designed specifically for distance learning, and you will also pay a lower fee than students studying on-campus. You can take your exams in a centre near your home, but all papers are returned to London for marking.
Anusha Lewis studied a BSc Banking and Finance with the University of London’s External Program. She says; “I could study when it suited me, and I really enjoyed the flexibility. Options in Sri Lanka were limited… I wanted a degree from a recognised and high quality university.” During her study, she moved to Ottawa – but could keep studying independently. “It just requires self-discipline, perseverance and good time management,” she says.
Flexible entry
Although most distance courses require you to meet the same entry standards as an on-campus student, there are no entry requirements for studying with Open Universities Australia. Specialising in online education, this service is owned by seven leading Australian universities: Curtin University of Technology, Griffith, Monash, Swinburne, University of South Australia, RMIT and Macquarie University.
IELTS preparation is just one the 100 subject areas available at Open Universities Australia – is a flexible way to improve your IELTS score and gain confidence without leaving home. You can study individual units from any of the universities, or combine units towards a degree. If you do complete a degree, you graduate from the university offering the program – the same diploma as any on-campus student.
It makes sense to consider all your options when you are choosing a university or course overseas. But make sure you have the motivation to complete your studies – it’s easy to be distracted when you’re still at home!
For more information on distance education, talk with one of our StudyLink Student Counsellors today.
Are you looking for a prestigious university that teaches in English, but you want to study in Asia? Hong Kong is the obvious choice – known as the Manhattan of Asia, it is the gateway to mainland China and offers excellent teaching, a cosmopolitan lifestyle and great career opportunities.
And City University in Hong Kong also offers several generous scholarships for international students. If you have an excellent academic record, you could study a full-time government funded bachelor degree program, with a full scholarship covering all tuition fees, on-campus accommodation and daily expenses. Partial scholarships, covering all or half of the tuition fees are also available.
There are also more than 120 other scholarships, prizes and academic awards available for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
City University is ranked in the top 10 universities in Greater China by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings. It is also amongst the top 150 universities worldwide, according to the Times Higher Education Supplement rankings. With a highly qualified international faculty and students from over 30 different countries, it is a great place to learn and make friends with students from all over the world.
Located centrally in Kowloon, City University offers the highest ratio computers per student in Hong Kong and technologically advanced classrooms, as well as excellent student support and great international exchange opportunities.
There are over 180 different programs on offer, so you are bound to find the right course for you. If you are interested in studying there next year, now is the time to find out more. Talk with one of our StudyLink Student Counsellors today.
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