Please help: questions re: part-time load etc.

[ninwa]

I'm considering making a considerable change in my uni life soon and would really appreciate it if someone could answer these questions / direct me to where I can find the answers.

What is classified as a part-time load? Can I only do one subject per semester and that counts as part-time?

I heard the government will only pay for 7 years of tertiary study or something like that. If I were to only do one subject in a year, does that count as one year? Half a year? A quarter of a year? (Since I think two subjects are also part-time?) What are the rules around this? I wouldn't have a clue what to even put into Google to find this out.

To those who have deferred a year: do you feel that you are disadvantaged in any way by graduating later than those of a similar age?

If anyone has legal experience / knows anyone working in the legal industry: how large of a role does age play in recruitment? Do they generally prefer younger/older students or is it more a question of work/life experience etc.?

Thanks

[ninwa]

Also: is it possible to defer for more than one year?

[mark_alec]

Anything less than 3 subjects/semester is considered part time.

The government will fund 7 years of full-time load, so if you choose to only take two subjects in a year (one a semester), that will only cost 0.25 years of HECS funding.

[Fyrefly]

No I don't feel disadvantaged.

Yes, one unit per semester is still counted as part-time.

Regarding the HECS thing, yes it's a maximum of the equivalent of 7 years full-time. This means that if you study at... say... 50% study load, then you've got 14 years up your sleeve. What you want to be googling is "student learning entitlement".

Sorry to be short and sweet... all I really wanted was to see your new profile picture

[Fyrefly]

Also: is it possible to defer for more than one year?

No: 12 months total.

It can be taken all at once, or in two separate 6 month periods.

http://www.monash.edu.au/enrolments/change/intermission.html

[Gloamglozer]

You should have received a similar booklet from Monash when you received your offer letter in the mail a few years back, but this is the most updated booklet and I swear, it is like the enrolment bible for ALL Australian students - because unis generally have no clue themselves about this, especially when it comes to personal matters.

[jimmy999]

Some courses have a time limit of 10 years regardless if you used up all your HECs or not. If you were going to move into part-time study, I would suggest doing 2 subjects a semester. That should be okay to handle whilst also doing some form of work (not sure what exactly you'll do)

[ninwa]

You should have received a similar booklet from Monash when you received your offer letter in the mail a few years back, but this is the most updated booklet and I swear, it is like the enrolment bible for ALL Australian students - because unis generally have no clue themselves about this, especially when it comes to personal matters.

68 pages

Thank you so much everyone

@jimmy - I don't think I would have the time to do more than 1 subject next year, if any. I don't think it'll stretch out to 10 years though if I go back to normal full-time study in 2012.
If I defer a year, that doesn't count in the 10 years does it?

[Fyrefly]

You should have received a similar booklet from Monash when you received your offer letter in the mail a few years back, but this is the most updated booklet and I swear, it is like the enrolment bible for ALL Australian students - because unis generally have no clue themselves about this, especially when it comes to personal matters.

68 pages

Thank you so much everyone

@jimmy - I don't think I would have the time to do more than 1 subject next year, if any. I don't think it'll stretch out to 10 years though if I go back to normal full-time study in 2012.
If I defer a year, that doesn't count in the 10 years does it?

I think it does, actually... not 100% though.

[gemgem49]

I deferred for a year, I feel disadvantaged only in that If I hadn't of deferred I would be getting ready to go on exchange and I also kind of feel like I wasted a year of my life... but I'm sure you'll be doing something meaningful during your time so I wouldn't worry about that.

[Tina]

Nina, in terms of graduate jobs. Alot of companies actually prefer mature students. So changing to part time will probably work in your favour

[ninwa]

Thank you Tina (and congratulations on graduating!!)