OUA FAQs

• Are there any pre-requisites to take a course through OUA?
• Are qualifications identical to those received on-campus?
• What kind of support will I have?
• I am outside Australia, am I eligible to study through OUA?
• What are the fees for OUA?
• Is there any financial assistance I can apply for?
• What kind of resources do I need to study online?

Are there any pre-requisites to take a course through OUA?

There are no age limits or other entry requirements for undergraduates. You can study at postgraduate level if you have already completed an undergraduate degree or have extensive working experience.

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Are qualifications identical to those received on-campus?

Yes, your qualification will be identical to a qualification received on-campus.

What kind of support will I have?

OUA students have access to a range of student support services such as online forums, study groups and the Open Universities Australia Students Association (OUSA). As an OUSA member, you'll enjoy extensive support services including free-call telephone advocacy, web based discussion forums, newsletters and monthly e-news, and helpful student representatives.

You'll also have library support from the university providing your unit, giving you access to relevant electronic databases and a digital reserve containing the readings for your unit.

OUA has also set up learning centres to provide tuitional and technical support for distance education students as well as venues for exams. There are learning centres in capital cities as well as regional hubs across Australia. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you need more information.

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I am outside Australia, am I eligible to study through OUA?

Because OUA offers courses through distance education, you can study from anywhere in the world. If there are exams, you must find a suitable invigilator in your own country - Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you need more information regarding this requirement.

What are the fees for OUA?

OUA's fees are among the lowest university distance education fees in Australia. OUA course fees are more reasonable than on-campus equivalents and cheaper than many private training providers.

Contact a SEEK Learning consultant for more information on OUA fees.

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Is there any financial assistance I can apply for?

Australian citizens may be able to defer costs using the FEE- Higher Education Loans Program (FEE-HELP), which means you do not need to pay unit costs upfront. Instead, the total cost of your unit fees can be repaid through the taxation system.

Under current legislation, you don't make repayments until your income reaches a minimum threshold of A$39,825 per annum. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you need more information about FEE-HELP.

What kind of resources do I need to study online?

You'll need regular access to the Internet and an email address which will be used for correspondence. For a smooth learning experience, we recommend the following computer specifications:

For a smooth learning experience, we recommend that you have an IBM compatible computer with:

• Pentium 3 or greater
• At least 128MB RAM
• At least 1GB hard drive
• 56K modem or better
• 12x CD ROM drive or better
• Windows 2000 or later
• Microsoft Office 2000 or later
• MS Internet Explorer 5 or later (recommended browser)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free from the Adobe website)
• WinZip or similar file compression software
• A printer
• Macintosh G3 or better
• At least 128 MB RAM
• At least 1GB hard drive
• 56K modem or better
• OS 9.2 or later
• Firefox (recommended browser)

Contact a SEEK Learning consultant if you have any other inquiries.