How to decide if study is right for you

If you've been wondering if you should study at TAFE this year, chances are you've been chatting with your friends and family and weighing up the pros and cons. You might find yourself asking questions like, “can I afford it?”, “will I have the time to fit study in with my life?” or “can I actually do it?” Taking the leap to follow your passion and chase your dream career can be a hard decision to make. If you're struggling, then check out our answers to some of the most common questions you may be asking yourself.

Can I afford it?

While the idea of opening up a world of opportunities with a new qualification is exciting, one of the questions you've likely been asking yourself is if you can actually afford to study. We all have financial commitments we need to consider, but there are a number of payment options that could make your study at TAFE Queensland more affordable than you think.

There are a range of independent and government subsidies available that can reduce the cost of your course. School leavers completing their first post-school certificate III level qualification may be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee (C3G); apprentices in the building and construction industry may be eligible for Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding; Year 12 graduates in high-priority qualifications may be eligible for fee-free training; students studying high-priority skill sets may be eligible for the Higher Level Skills (HLS) subsidy; and eligible apprentices and trainees may be able to receive funding through the User Choice program.

Whether or not you're eligible for a subsidy, you may also be able to receive a VET Student Loan to help you pay your course fees (students studying a bachelor degree through TAFE Queensland may be eligible for a HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan). These are interest-free loans from the government which you can pay off gradually once your income reaches the repayment threshold, meaning there is no need to pay your course fees upfront.

If you're not eligible for a VET Student Loan, or your course costs more than the VET Student Loan Cap, you may be eligible for a payment plan from TAFE Queensland. You will need to pay a deposit before your course starts with the remainder of your fees paid in installments throughout the duration of your course.

In life, you rarely get something for nothing. But no matter what your financial situation, we have a range of payment options available to help you reach your study goals.

Do I have the time?

As well as financial commitments, most of us have a number of other family, personal, or work commitments that may impact on your ability to complete your studies. Luckily, we offer a range of flexible study options so you can choose the study mode that best fits in with your lifestyle.

If you choose to study at one of our 50 campus locations around Queensland, the amount of hours you'll need to physically be on campus may be less than you think, allowing you to work around your other commitments. Or if studying at home is more your thing, a number of our courses are also available online, giving you the option to study when and where it suits you.

You could also choose to study an apprenticeship or traineeship, where you'll earn while you learn, which could eliminate the need for that part-time job to support you while you're studying. Some of our courses are also available via work-based learning where you'll train on the job, and mixed mode learning which can include a combination of classroom, online, and workplace training.

Whether you've got three kids, work, or footy practice three times a week, we have a study option to suit your needs and get you qualified sooner.

Can I do it?

While money and time might seem like easy fixes, the last problem on your mind might seem like the biggest. Can you actually do it? Maybe you weren't that great at school. Maybe you haven't studied in 10 years. Or maybe you've never done anything like this for yourself before.

We help over 120,000 people each year, from all walks of life, achieve their educational goals. Whether you left high school early,  are a single parent, want to get back into the workforce, or completely change careers, we've got the support services you need to succeed.

Our learning support services are available to help students with assignments, referencing, exam preparation, and time management. Studiosity is an additional learning resource available online 24/7 where you can be paired with a subject specialist in writing, referencing, accounting, statistics, economics, maths, science or business. Our libraries network also provide learning support with qualified librarians available to help you access resources and use the library catalogue, research your assignment, and reference correctly.

If during your studies you feel stressed or overwhelmed, or if personal or family issues are impacting on your studies, we have free counselling services available to get you back on track. We also have additional dedicated student support services for international students, Indigenous students, and students with a disability.

What are you waiting for?

If you're ready to stop the excuses and get started, then check out our courses or contact us today.