Introduction and Deakin's graduate employment rankings

Rob: G'day, and welcome to the National Virtual Expo. I'm Rob Malicki on Garigal land in Sydney. Welcome to this session on Deakin University -- such a cracking institution. If you've got questions as we go, you can ask them in the chat, or in the comments if you're watching on social media. And of course, if you're watching on the recording, we have both the Geo Uni Discord as well as a Facebook community for parents. You'll find both of those details down in the description below. Without further ado, let's get into this session on Deakin University.

Guest: Hi everybody. Welcome to our presentation. My name is Millie. I'm from Deakin's future students team, and I'm here to talk to you about all things Deakin. I have one of our student ambassadors with us today, and this is Matilda. Matilda, if you want to just say hi and what you're studying, that would be amazing.

Guest: Hi everyone. My name is Matilda and I'm studying a Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery. I'm in my fourth and final year, studying at our Geelong Waterfront campus.

Guest: Amazing. So we are going to go through all things Deakin for you today and hopefully answer some of your questions, and let you know a little bit more about us -- what you can do at Deakin, and all the kinds of opportunities that are available to you.

Guest: We start here with some of our rankings in Victoria. We are currently the number one Victorian university for graduate employment. We're really proud of this because it means that our students are getting into jobs straight after they finish studying. It's really exciting because you get great experience while you're at Deakin. We have lots of placement opportunities and internships available, so you really know what you're getting into once you start your career. We're going to talk about this a little bit later, and Matilda is going to share some of her placement experiences with you.

Guest: The other stats here are voted on by students within Victoria. Students across the state were surveyed from all different types of universities, and we've come out on top for course satisfaction, teaching quality, and facilities and resources. So we're really proud of that. It comes from our students, and hopefully if you hear some things today and see some courses that you like, you might be a Deakin student in the future.

Why go to university, and what motivated Matilda

Guest: So we're going to start off with why you might go to university. You're probably thinking about your options and what's out there. Maybe you're hearing lots of different things, but there are lots of different reasons why you might come to uni. Matilda, why did you choose university?

Guest: I went to university for lots of different reasons. I wanted to meet new people and create some really long-lasting friendships, and I wanted to upskill straight out of high school. Those things have all happened, which has been terrific. But the true reason why I've stayed at university is because I have such a deep passion for what I'm studying. I thoroughly enjoy studying nursing and midwifery because it's so interesting and it's very rewarding for me, and I hope that you will experience the same passion if you choose to go to university.

Guest: Amazing. You've hit the nail on the head there, Matilda. If you're interested in something and you have a passion for a certain subject, that's a great reason to come to university. You can learn more about what you're interested in, and like Matilda said, you might not only grow your passion in that area, but you're learning about something you really want to do and where you'd like your career to go.

Guest: Also, you may need a degree for the career you want to get into. Certain jobs do require a university degree, so have a look at whether the area you're interested in needs one. And on average, people with a university degree do earn a little more, so that's something to consider too.

Key university terms: prerequisites, trimesters, and majors

Guest: Moving to university, there are a lot of new terms you may encounter that you haven't heard before coming from high school. These are some of the most common ones we see come up. A big one to look out for is prerequisites. If you are in Year 11 or Year 12, you'll want to make sure you meet the subject requirements, or prerequisites, for the course you're interested in. These differ from university to university, so make sure you've met all of those requirements.

Guest: For us at Deakin, it's a little unique as well -- we have a trimester system, so we have three trimesters instead of the two semesters that some universities have. The nice thing there is that it gives you a little bit more flexibility. While everybody studies in trimester one and two, you can also study in trimester three. This can help you spread out your study load -- you might do a couple fewer units in one trimester and then do them in your third trimester to even things out. It's also a really nice way to catch up. If you didn't meet all the requirements or you failed a unit, that's okay -- you could do it again in trimester three, so there's always a way around things.

Guest: You'll also probably see the term "majors." Within your bachelor degree, you'll have a main specialisation -- an area you're most interested in that you can focus on. So lots of terms here. Don't worry, we'll talk you all through them once you come to uni. You don't need to know them all straight away.

Deakin's four campuses and what each offers

Guest: You may have been to Deakin before, or maybe you haven't been to one of our campuses. We're going to show you a little video so you can see them all and get a highlight of the facilities, things that we have, and some of the courses you might be interested in.

Guest: So you would have seen in that video our four campuses: Burwood, Waurn Ponds, Waterfront, and Warrnambool. If you're looking at certain courses, you might find they're only at select campuses, but a lot of our courses are at multiple campuses. Definitely check that out when you're looking online or in your course guide. Some courses may be exclusive to certain campuses -- for example, Geelong offers forensic science, optometry, and occupational therapy, and we don't have those anywhere else. You'll also find that the ATAR for certain courses varies from campus to campus, so that's something to consider too.

Guest: Matilda, which campus is yours?

Guest: I'm studying at the Geelong Waterfront campus and I love it. It's got a great location next to the beautiful waterfront, hence the name. But I also really love the Waurn Ponds campus, with all of its resources and its vast space. Deakin has made it really easy for me to go between the campuses with our free shuttle bus system, so that's just an added bonus.

Guest: You may also find that the campus you're interested in is close to you, or maybe it's a little further away. That's okay -- we have residences and accommodation available too, and we'll talk about those a little more later. You may be exploring a place you've never seen before, so there's lots of fun at university, not only at your campus but in the surrounding area too.

Study areas, and three types of degrees at Deakin

Guest: Now, you might be sitting there and not knowing exactly what you'd like to study. Maybe you're a little unsure and not exactly knowing which course or area you'd like. That's okay -- you've still got time. Here at Deakin, we have lots of different study areas you might be interested in. These are all of the different areas you could study at Deakin. If you see something here that you like the look of -- say, film, television, and animation -- you'll see in your course guide or online that there are a bunch of courses that fall under that study area. So have a look, and if there's something you like, definitely explore the courses that fall under it.

Guest: Matilda, did you know what you wanted to study while you were in high school?

Guest: No, I definitely didn't know that I would be studying nursing and midwifery or where I am now. I knew that I was interested in health -- maybe health science research, maybe working at a hospital -- but it definitely took me a little bit of time. I even started at another university and then transferred to Deakin, specifically because of all the specialties. They're amazing at looking really deeply into specific areas, but also really broadly into areas like science, health, and arts. So there's lots of possibilities for all of you coming to Deakin.

Guest: Amazing. That's such a good point -- there's always a way, there's always an option. You may not know it straight away, but you can definitely get there. Your families, your teachers, your friends -- everyone's here to help you out. So just ask some questions, find out information, and hopefully you'll find a course you're really interested in.

Guest: If you find a course you like, we have three degree options at Deakin you can look into. The first is a general degree. This is a really flexible degree where you may have a lot of different career outcomes, and it's a really good option if you're not completely sure what you'd like to do. For example, we have general degrees in areas like a general science degree, or a Bachelor of Arts, where there are lots of different specialisations, majors, and minors for you to choose from, so you can really build that degree to suit you.

Guest: Then we have a specialised degree. This is where you have a clear career outcome -- exactly what career you're getting into from this degree. The way I like to explain it is: if you studied a Bachelor of Laws, what would your career be? It would be a lawyer. So if you can see exactly what your career outcome is, you're probably looking at a specialised degree. If you wanted to become a teacher, for example, you would need a specialised degree like a Bachelor of Education or a Master of Teaching.

Guest: Finally, we have double degrees. This is where Deakin has combined two degrees together, and that's going to offer you more opportunities and more career pathways. Matilda, you're studying a double degree -- tell us a little bit more about what that looks like.

Guest: Deakin is fantastic at offering double degrees and there are lots of different options for students across all of our faculties. I am studying a double degree of nursing and midwifery. Normally that would take about five, six, or even seven years for some people to complete if they did them separately, but for me it only takes four years to get both qualifications. It means I can come out of university and be a nurse, or a midwife, or both -- which is incredible.

Guest: Definitely. If you're interested in two areas, a double degree is a really great option. At Deakin, you can't just pick two degrees and smush them together -- we've already done that for you. We've found degrees that are complementary and that are going to give you a really great skill set once you finish. So definitely look into our double degree options.

Work-integrated learning, placements, and study abroad

Guest: At Deakin, we really want you to have incredible experiences while you study with us, and we do that through something called work-integrated learning. This is where you're gaining industry experience before you graduate -- getting lots of different connections and practical experience while you study. This is a big reason why we're the number one Victorian university for graduate employment. We also have something called Deakin Talent, which gives you lifelong access to career services to help you both during your studies and afterwards.

Guest: Matilda, what have your placements been like? Can you talk us through what some of these opportunities look like for you?

Guest: Absolutely. I have done a lot of placement through my degree, and it's easily my favourite part. With nursing, you generally do about 800 hours of placement. If you're doing nursing and midwifery, it ends up being about 1,600 hours of placement, so you definitely want to make sure you're enjoying what you're doing -- and I'm very lucky that's the case for me. There are so many options across lots of different places, not just across the health faculties but lots of other faculties as well. I've been to lots of different hospitals all across the state and I've thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of my placements. There are lots of other degrees that have substantial placement too, such as occupational therapy and optometry. Definitely look into your degree and what placement options are available. And if there aren't specific placement requirements, there's lots of availability through internships and other work-integrated learning opportunities.

Guest: When did you start your placements? Did you have any in your first year?

Guest: Yes, we have ours right at the end of our very first trimester in first year, and I really value that. Placement really simulates what you're going to be getting into right after you graduate. At the end of first year I knew that I was loving placement and I knew I was in the right area. If you don't enjoy a placement, that's totally okay -- it's always good to know earlier on so you can make those adjustments.

Guest: We also have a lot of different experiences overseas. You may have heard about study abroad opportunities, and Deakin definitely has those. You're able to study overseas with one of our partner universities in more than 20 countries, or you can take your studies overseas through a short-term partner program, which usually lasts between 2 and 6 weeks. Matilda, are there any overseas opportunities within the nursing degree?

Guest: Absolutely. While I haven't undertaken any study abroad myself, I would love to. We've got lots of opportunities in nursing specifically, in places like India and Thailand. They generally tend to be options of about 2 to 3 weeks duration, because we do have a lot of placement with our nursing and midwifery studies, so there isn't as much time -- but they make sure there's still time for students to undertake opportunities like this. I've heard nothing but amazing reviews from these opportunities, so I really encourage you to look into this.

Guest: I would say as well that online you can look at all of the different study abroad opportunities. If you just Google "Deakin study abroad," you can look at not only the opportunities for a course you're interested in, but also countries you'd like to travel to.

Student life: clubs, societies, sport, and wellbeing support

Guest: University is about studying, but it's also about this next step in your life. There are a lot of different things to look forward to at uni. A big one is definitely the clubs and societies you can join. Matilda, what is that like at university?

Guest: It's fantastic. I've been part of clubs and societies ever since my first year -- specific sports societies, faculty societies -- and I'm even currently the president of what we call the Deakin Teddy Bear Hospital. There are lots of different types of societies you can join, and you are actually able to create your own societies too. We've had in the past a potato cake eating society where students went around eating potato cakes all around the Geelong and Melbourne areas. So really, the world is your oyster at university.

Guest: There are lots of different opportunities for students to really engage in student life, specifically sports and recreation. There are opportunities for students to compete at even the national level -- we've had students travel interstate for that and have had a fantastic time. In general, there's always an activity or event going on around our campuses, and specifically during orientation week there are so many opportunities to engage, meet other students, and really create those lifelong friendships right from the get-go.

Guest: In terms of health and wellbeing, there are so many different supports available at Deakin. We have specific health and wellbeing hubs at all of our different campuses, with opportunities for students to engage with nurses, doctors, and health and wellbeing support systems. We also have disability support centres across all of our campuses, academic support, indigenous student support, and specifically on campus we have an Ooranga campus -- we definitely encourage any First Nations students to check that one out, it's an amazing space. We also have LGBTQIA+ student support services and lots of fun activities and events surrounding that as well. We really encourage you to search all of those out once you come to Deakin -- they're always available and they're always here to help, and they want to put all of our students first.

Deakin Accelerate: studying university units in Year 12

Guest: We also have something called Deakin Accelerate. This is an extension program that you study in Year 12, and you apply for it if you're currently in Year 11. So only look at this if you're in Year 11 -- unfortunately, if you're in Year 12 now, it's not something you're able to do. But for anyone who isn't, this is definitely something to look at. You're able to study two units of a university degree in Year 12, and this counts towards your ATAR, so it's going to boost that score for you. It's a really great opportunity because not only is it giving you a head start and a glimpse into what life at uni will look like, you're choosing from a range of different courses -- there are 17 study areas to choose from, and they will all count towards different degrees. Applications open on the 3rd of August, and if you're interested, talk to your career advisor at school. They can reach out to us and we can answer any questions about this. And it's all free while you're studying, so definitely check this out.

Entry pathways into Deakin beyond a direct ATAR offer

Guest: Now, you may be a little unsure about how to actually get into university. Maybe you're unsure if you'll get the ATAR you need, or maybe you'd like a gap year. There are lots of different things that might happen after Year 12, and that's okay. There's always a way to get into your dream course.

Guest: There are lots of different options to do that through Deakin. You may start at a different campus -- if the campus you'd like to study at has a higher ATAR and you don't quite meet it, you may look at studying at a different campus with a slightly lower ATAR. You would then study for about a year at Deakin and then transfer to your chosen campus later on. You may also start in a related course -- for example, a Bachelor of Commerce is a little higher, but maybe you start in a Bachelor of Business and then transfer into that chosen course afterwards.

Guest: We also have associate degrees -- one in Arts and one in Education. They give you an option where, if you successfully complete Year 12, you can get into that degree without us looking at your ATAR at all. You just need to complete Year 12 and then start the associate degree, which is two years, and then you can pathway into either a Bachelor of Education or a Bachelor of Arts. This is a really good option if you're doing a vocational major.

Guest: We're also lucky to have Deakin College, where you can study a diploma that gives you a guaranteed entry into the bachelor degree at Deakin. We offer this in VTAC as a packaged option as well. You would complete your diploma and then transition directly into the second year of the relevant bachelor degree. This is a great option if you don't meet the prerequisites for the bachelor degree you were hoping to get into. You don't have to go through Deakin College though -- there are a number of different partner providers where you could do a diploma and then come through to Deakin. You'll see on our pathways website that you can search for your chosen degree and it'll show you every single option available to you. The biggest thing to remember is that there is always a way to get into your chosen course -- it may not be a straight line, but we're here to help you with that.

Guest: Matilda, you were saying before that you didn't start studying at Deakin. What was it like transferring from another university?

Guest: I thought it was going to be quite a difficult process, almost exactly the same as the one at the end of Year 12. But it was very simple. There are lots of options to get credit points as well -- if the degree you were previously studying overlaps with the degree you choose to go into, you can get some credit points, which means there are certain units you don't have to undertake in your new degree. That could mean you go straight into second year, or partway through first year. So definitely look into those options if you choose to take that sort of pathway.

Applying through VTAC, the Deakin Guarantee, and equity schemes

Guest: So how do you actually apply to Deakin? Because we are a Victorian university, you do have to go through VTAC. Hopefully you've all heard about that, but don't worry if you haven't -- you will definitely get to know more about VTAC during Year 11 and Year 12. This is the place where you put in all of your preferences, the courses you'd like to study, and VTAC will then sort through all of that and liaise with the universities for you. It's also how you'll apply for equity schemes and scholarships. Their portal opens in August and closes in October. If there are any reasons you might have special considerations for your study, definitely look at our equity schemes and make sure you're getting all of that information in before the closing date, as you may need to supply documentation.

Guest: A big thing to look at for VTAC is that there are timely applications. They open in August and close at a certain date in December. You need to make sure that you've paid for your application beforehand because the price does increase the later you get in during the year. So definitely get these in nice and early.

Guest: Here at Deakin, we also have something really exciting called the Deakin Guarantee. This is where we have lots of different courses with a guaranteed ATAR that is lower for students who meet certain eligibility requirements. If you attend a Deakin-underrepresented school, you live or study in a regional or remote location, or you're of Indigenous Australian descent, you are eligible for this lower ATAR. Once you hit that number, you are guaranteed entry into the course. To apply for this, there's nothing extra you have to do -- it all comes through VTAC automatically via the Equity Schemes Category 1, which is based on location. So definitely look at any courses you're interested in to see if there's a guaranteed ATAR you could apply for, and check if you meet these requirements.

Fees, HECS-HELP, and scholarships at Deakin

Guest: Now you may be concerned about how much university might cost. That's okay. We're really lucky that here in Australia the government does have Commonwealth Supported Places, where they pay for a portion of your degree and you just pay for the rest. This doesn't mean you have to pay it upfront -- we have HECS-HELP loans made available to you, where you don't pay anything upfront. The debt sits there until you finish your degree, you start earning above a certain threshold, and then you pay it off incrementally over time. As Matilda is still studying, she doesn't have to pay anything right now. And myself, I still have my HECS loan sitting there -- it just comes out of my pay so I don't even have to think about it; I'm just paying it off over time.

Guest: A big thing I would definitely say is to apply for scholarships. There are so many scholarships available -- definitely over 100 that we have here at Deakin -- and they're based on all different sorts of things. They're not just based on merit or academic achievements; they're also equity-based. It could be about your community contributions, maybe leadership skills, or something you've done in your extracurricular activities. We have a scholarships page where you can put in your information and it will show you all of the scholarships you may be eligible for. You just make one application and then you'll be considered for all of those scholarships, so it's really easy. You can also apply for scholarships through the VTAC portal. We cannot stress enough that you should definitely apply for scholarships. The worst thing that can happen is you don't get one. The best thing that can happen is that you do, so please apply for those.

On-campus accommodation and residential life

Guest: Some of our campuses can be near or far from your home, but you can definitely live on campus. We have incredible accommodation, and we've been lucky enough to receive the Gold Accreditation for Residential Experience Standards in 2024 and 2025. I lived on campus for my first year of study, and I found it really exciting and really helpful. Not only did it mean I could sleep in a little bit longer because I was living on campus, but I made a lot of friends and there were lots of different exciting activities I could be a part of. Matilda, I know you haven't lived on campus, but are there any cool or exciting things you can share with us about our accommodation?

Guest: Absolutely. There are lots and lots of fun events for all of our students who live in res. All of my friends who do live on Deakin res love it. There's lots of opportunities to get groceries, lots of free food available, which is really amazing. They have tons of events during their own residential orientation week, which happens before the full Deakin orientation week, so there are lots of opportunities for students to really get to know each other, and lots of people create their lifelong bonds there. There are also different ways you can live in res -- you can choose to share with about 4 or 5 other people, or you can even have your own independent studio apartment with a kitchenette and en suite. There are different options and costs for all of those. But in general, Deakin Res is quite affordable living. All payments come under one singular payment -- your utilities, Wi-Fi, and rent are all included, and students tend to find that really great. It also gives a lot of autonomy and independence, and it's such a good option if you have to travel far to get to one of Deakin's campuses.

Guest: I would also say to check out the accommodation website. If you're getting closer to the middle or end of the year and you're definitely considering living on campus, make an application via their website -- it's really easy to do, and it doesn't cost anything. You definitely want to make sure you're on that list, because it can be quite competitive and there are only a certain number of rooms available.

Open days, and how to get in touch with Deakin

Guest: If you've never been to Deakin before, I would definitely consider coming along to our open days in August. They're an incredible day where you get to meet students, talk with academics, learn about all the different degrees and study options. You can attend information sessions, go on campus tours, and get a real feel for university life. You'll see me, you'll see Matilda -- we'll all be there to show you around on the day. You can visit our Warrnambool campus on the 2nd of August, both of our Geelong campuses on the 16th of August, and our Burwood campus on the 23rd of August.

Guest: Hopefully we've answered a lot of your questions today, but there are still different ways you can reach out to us if you have extra questions. You can call us at any time if you'd like. You can also go to the Help Hub on our website, where there are lots of different resources and answers to frequently asked questions. We also have a great live chat on our website, available in the right-hand corner in a yellow box, where you can speak with a student advisor. A bot does talk to you at the start, but I promise after that it is a real person answering all your questions, and we can transfer you to someone in a certain area if you have a particularly specific question. And if you'd like to follow us on social media, you can find us at Deakin University. That is it from us today. We hope you've had a really good time, and we hope that you'll consider looking more into Deakin and your options to study with us. Thank you.

Rob: Hope you got something out of this session, and if you have any questions at all, drop them below.