Summer School is just around the corner

It's not summer yet, but interest in the University of Adelaide's Summer School for 2011 is already heating up.

Summer School offers a wide range of courses to current students who want to "fast-track" their degrees, as well as to members of the community who just want to "dip their toe in the water".

"In recent years the University of Adelaide has made a focused effort to increase the take-up of our Summer and Winter School courses, offering greater flexibility to students and giving them a wider range of study options," said Professor Fred McDougall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic).

"The response has been outstanding. In 2009 we saw significant growth in student numbers, with our Summer School enrolments up by 26%, and enrolments in 2010 were up again by a further 20%. There are now thousands of students who take advantage of this flexible study opportunity each year.

"Being able to meet students' desire for these courses means we have given them yet another reason to value their learning experience at the University of Adelaide," Professor McDougall said.

For the 2011 Summer School, a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are being offered in the areas of: business, computer science, economics, education, entrepreneurship, commercialisation and innovation, engineering, humanities and social sciences, international trade, law, mathematics, psychology, public health, and sciences.

Professor McDougall said there were different reasons for students to take one or more of these courses.

"For current University of Adelaide students, Summer School is an ideal opportunity to accelerate their study, catch up on missed courses, and spread their study load over the whole year," he said.

"Students from other universities may also want to do a course with us over the summer, which will give them extra credit towards the programs they're studying at their own institutions.

"There are also non-award courses, which any member of the community is able to do. These courses provide people of all ages with the opportunity to broaden their educational experiences, learn for personal interest, or build upon their own practical experience."
Professor McDougall said Summer School 2011 enrolments would open on Monday 6 December.

"We encourage potential students to apply as soon as possible because in our experience these classes fill very quickly," he said.

For more information about the range of courses offered during Summer School 2011 and the enrolment process, go to: www.adelaide.edu.au/summerschool

Story by David Ellis