How to get back on course if you quit uni

Didn’t finish uni? You’re not the only one. Here’s how to get your studies back on track and earn your degree.

Tristan - Open Uni

Didn’t finish uni? You’re not the only one. Here’s how to get your studies back on track and earn your degree.

There are plenty of reasons students leave uni before completing their degree. Maybe the course wasn’t quite right, it was impossible to balance study and work, or it just wasn’t the right time in their life to be studying.

If this is your experience, you’re not alone. A survey of current students and recent graduates by Open Universities Australia (OUA) found 30 per cent of respondents had previously started, but not completed a course. Of those students, 44 per cent said they abandoned their course because they changed their mind about what they wanted to study, and almost 30 per cent said it was because the course content wasn’t what they expected.

Interestingly, many students also said despite it being among the biggest decisions of their life, they didn’t spend much time researching which course or university they wanted to apply to. Of all respondents, 38 per cent said they spent less than a month researching which course to enrol in. More than half said they spent less than a month deciding which university they wanted to go to, while 24 per cent said they spent less than a week making their choice.

Psychologist and career expert Suzie Plush says these figures could be a key contributor to the high number of university students dropping their studies.

“Young people can be influenced by friends or parents when they’re choosing their course, so the decision can be made quite fast and sometimes it’s not the right one,” she says. “It’s better to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of your personality type, values, interests and work preferences. This will give you a big-picture view, and you’ll be more inclined to make a better decision.

If you left your studies as a mature-age student, it was probably because you faced different difficulties. “Older students generally leave because of problems with their work-life-study balance,” Ms Plush says. “If you’re juggling a family, job, social life and more, it can become difficult to make time to study, so it’s important to look for a course that gives you the flexibility you need to be successful.”

Whatever your reasons for leaving, with the right plan in place, you can return to university and get your degree. Adelaide student Tristan first attempted a politics degree just after he finished high school, but decided he wanted to spend those years travelling rather than studying and dropped his course.

After years of putting off studying while globe-trotting, working and becoming a dad, he decided it was time to complete his qualification. Tristan enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts with Macquarie University, online through OUA because it offered him the flexibility he needed to become a stay-at-home dad while he studied, and he was able to tailor his course with units from multiple universities to suit his interests.

“I can also take on or off additional units to best suit my changing circumstances. I know this will come in handy again when I choose to go back to work,” he says.

SUZIE PLUSH’S THREE STEPS TO MAKING A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO UNI

Stop and reflect

Take the time to reflect on what has happened on your journey so far, what was working, and where you were doing well. Once you’ve got the whole picture in mind, it’s much easier to figure out what you really want, and what action you should take to go after it.

Reset your mindset

Don’t view the fact that you’ve left uni as a failure. To be successful, you have to continually fail, at many things, many times over. It’s just a natural part of the learning process. Instead, focus on the future and don’t get caught up in the past. The second time around at uni will be different because you’re older and more aware, and have more knowledge. It’s time to move forward to an exciting new future.

Find the right fit

Implement strategies to ensure you’re making the right decision this time. Talk to tutors and the head of department in subjects you’re interested in studying to find out exactly what your course will be like.

If you’re busy with family and work, make sure you choose a study option that offers lots of flexibility, and take on only what you can manage, even if it’s just one subject at a time. Another factor can be the time and distance involved in attending a university on-campus. If this is a problem for you, it’s a good idea to consider studying online so you can make your own schedule.

Lastly, if you left university last time because you didn’t enjoy some of the coursework, through OUA you can tailor your degree to your interests and choose subjects from multiple universities. That way, you’re much more likely to truly enjoy the course and succeed.

It’s never too late to go back to uni

At Open Universities Australia, we can help you get your studies back on track. Get credit for past study and finish your degree online with leading Australian unis. Explore all your options at open.edu.au or call a friendly student advisor on 13 OPEN.

There are plenty of reasons students leave uni before completing their degree. Maybe the course wasn’t quite right, it was impossible to balance study and work, or it just wasn’t the right time in their life to be studying.

If this is your experience, you’re not alone. A survey of current students and recent graduates by Open Universities Australia (OUA) found 30 per cent of respondents had previously started, but not completed a course. Of those students, 44 per cent said they abandoned their course because they changed their mind about what they wanted to study, and almost 30 per cent said it was because the course content wasn’t what they expected.

Interestingly, many students also said despite it being among the biggest decisions of their life, they didn’t spend much time researching which course or university they wanted to apply to. Of all respondents, 38 per cent said they spent less than a month researching which course to enrol in. More than half said they spent less than a month deciding which university they wanted to go to, while 24 per cent said they spent less than a week making their choice.

Psychologist and career expert Suzie Plush says these figures could be a key contributor to the high number of university students dropping their studies.

“Young people can be influenced by friends or parents when they’re choosing their course, so the decision can be made quite fast and sometimes it’s not the right one,” she says. “It’s better to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of your personality type, values, interests and work preferences. This will give you a big-picture view, and you’ll be more inclined to make a better decision.

If you left your studies as a mature-age student, it was probably because you faced different difficulties. “Older students generally leave because of problems with their work-life-study balance,” Ms Plush says. “If you’re juggling a family, job, social life and more, it can become difficult to make time to study, so it’s important to look for a course that gives you the flexibility you need to be successful.”

Whatever your reasons for leaving, with the right plan in place, you can return to university and get your degree. Adelaide student Tristan first attempted a politics degree just after he finished high school, but decided he wanted to spend those years travelling rather than studying and dropped his course.

After years of putting off studying while globe-trotting, working and becoming a dad, he decided it was time to complete his qualification. Tristan enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts with Macquarie University, online through OUA because it offered him the flexibility he needed to become a stay-at-home dad while he studied, and he was able to tailor his course with units from multiple universities to suit his interests.

“I can also take on or off additional units to best suit my changing circumstances. I know this will come in handy again when I choose to go back to work,” he says.

SUZIE PLUSH’S THREE STEPS TO MAKING A SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO UNI

Stop and reflect

Take the time to reflect on what has happened on your journey so far, what was working, and where you were doing well. Once you’ve got the whole picture in mind, it’s much easier to figure out what you really want, and what action you should take to go after it.

Reset your mindset

Don’t view the fact that you’ve left uni as a failure. To be successful, you have to continually fail, at many things, many times over. It’s just a natural part of the learning process. Instead, focus on the future and don’t get caught up in the past. The second time around at uni will be different because you’re older and more aware, and have more knowledge. It’s time to move forward to an exciting new future.

Find the right fit

Implement strategies to ensure you’re making the right decision this time. Talk to tutors and the head of department in subjects you’re interested in studying to find out exactly what your course will be like.

If you’re busy with family and work, make sure you choose a study option that offers lots of flexibility, and take on only what you can manage, even if it’s just one subject at a time. Another factor can be the time and distance involved in attending a university on-campus. If this is a problem for you, it’s a good idea to consider studying online so you can make your own schedule.

Lastly, if you left university last time because you didn’t enjoy some of the coursework, through OUA you can tailor your degree to your interests and choose subjects from multiple universities. That way, you’re much more likely to truly enjoy the course and succeed.

It’s never too late to go back to uni

At Open Universities Australia, we can help you get your studies back on track. Get credit for past study and finish your degree online with leading Australian unis. Explore all your options at open.edu.au or call a friendly student advisor on 13 OPEN.