If You’re Still Unsure What To Study At Uni, These Exciting Courses Might Inspire Your Next Move

Take the pressure off your final exams by securing your early place in these epic courses!

The end of high school is a lot. It's simultaneously one of the most exciting times of your life and also potentially one of the most stressful — thanks to final exams, ATARs and the pressure of getting into that perfect uni course.

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And while you keep hearing "don't worry, your ATAR is only one measure and absolutely will not define the rest of your life", it can sometimes feel as if it might — especially since most degrees still seem to only judge you based on that very number.

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Worrying you won't get the marks for the course you really want to do? We feel you, we've been there too.

If you find yourself asking: "What about my life experiences, hobbies and passion projects? Shouldn't they count for something when it comes to getting into uni?" Well, you'll love RMIT University's answer.

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If you've been spending more time getting stuck into personal projects, exploring your creativity or being a leader, read on.

RMIT believe so strongly that an ATAR shouldn't be the sole measure of your ability to thrive at uni, that they've set up an Early Offer program.

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If successful, you'll get your conditional early offer in September, before your final Year 12 results have even come out. Just tell RMIT about your creativity and community involvement or your unique and diverse life experiences — or even show them a personal project, like a website you've built or a song you've written.

Alongside specific examples of your epic work, in your application you'll also need to attach some evidence to seal the deal. Some examples of evidence include: A reference letter from your employer, teacher, supervisor or coach; completion or participation certificates; awards or citations; or even hyperlinks to websites, apps, videos or blogs you've created.

To receive a full offer from RMIT, your Early Offer course must be the highest eligible preference in your VTAC application. But be sure to list your RMIT course in VTAC by September 30 to avoid any late fees!

And, because RMIT really, truly values actual hands-on experience, their courses are co-designed with industry leaders to equip you with practical skills even as you study.

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You won't just be sitting in a lecture theatre all day long.

Here are just some of the programs you could be studying next year, with your conditional early offer in September:

1. Bachelor of Environment and Society

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You already know that environmental issues — climate change, resource scarcity, biodiversity decline and so much more — are the most significant challenges the world is facing and you want to be part of the solution. 

Recognising that nothing happens in a vacuum, a Bachelor of Environment and Society will empower you with the skills and experience to launch straight into the environmental sector.

2. Bachelor of Arts (Music Industry)

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If your heart is set on working in a creative industry and your love of music knows no bounds, a Bachelor of Arts (Music Industry) just might be your perfect course.

As much as music is about the, well, music, it's also very much an industry that's a world unto itself — and this course will bring you up to speed on everything you need to know from key technologies to global cultures as well as the nitty gritty of the music business and more. 

With formal partnerships with the Mushroom Group and Creative Environment Enterprise, who knows where this course will take you — just look at where past alum have landed, such as soul, blues and electronica artist, Annika Schmarsel, AKA Alice Ivy!

3. Bachelor of Data Science

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Data is everywhere and increasingly, the backbone of all decision-making. But in order to truly realise the insights and potential of raw data, it needs to cleaned up, managed and made sense of — which is where data scientists come in. But what does data science involve? And which types of people become data scientists?

James Harland, Associate Dean of Student Experience and Professor in Computational Logic, says that "If you can think laterally and solve problems, and evidence-based decision making is your thing, study data science. Data science is an unwritten book, it’s flexible and it’s growing in the future." 

"You have to care about the data, as well as understand the data. A firefighter in the CFA who’s concerned about bushfires can look at the historic data on bushfires, temperatures and wind, and determine what a steady increase in summer temperatures over the last 15 years means for firefighters."

A Bachelor of Data Science sets you up for a future-proof career that can and will span industries and sectors. 

4. Bachelor of Space Science

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Were you seriously captivated by the recent billionaires' excursion into space? Do you dream of a future traversing these very same boundaries? And did you know that everyday habits like checking the weather, tracking your food delivery and tuning into live soccer matches on the other side of the world would not be possible without space technology?

For a serious foray into a career that's out of this world (literally), a Bachelor of Space Science is an essential first step. With its industry connections to companies such as Boeing, the Australian Department of Defence and even the Australian Space Agency and NASA, there's no telling how far this course can take you.

5. Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Covid has probably wreaked havoc on your last year of school, but has it also inspired you to delve deeper into the miracle of modern medicine? Perhaps you were enthralled by the speed of vaccine development, or maybe you're just passionate about how medicine can improve someone's quality of life. 

Whatever your motivation, a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences is the perfect starting point for a successful career in pharma.

6. Bachelor of Business

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Whether you plan to build the next disruptive tech unicorn, make a social impact or just plain old rule the boardroom, a Bachelor of Business is a limitless degree. It'll equip you with the hard and soft skills needed to forge a career in whatever you're most passionate about.

Plus, there are no more traditional exams or lectures (except where required by accrediting bodies), so you can focus on building the skills and experience you need to stand out in the real world.

7. And finally, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

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If you've never met a problem you couldn't solve — or at least wanted to solve — and love figuring out how things work, you've probably already worked out that engineering might be a good fit for you.

A Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) will set you up with essential foundational skills and even empower you to get a taste of different specialities in first year before you nominate your engineering specialisation in your second year.

If you think this sounds too good to be true, don't just take our word for it. RMIT is putting on a virtual festival of ideas, conversations and inspiration called RMIT Next Fest, where you can explore the full range of Early Offer courses and learn everything you need to know about the Early Offer program.