Start your uni education - before you finish school!

Want to get a head start on uni, even though you're still at school?

A unique scholarship program offered by the University of Adelaide gives secondary students a chance to begin their learning at university while completing Year 12.

Called Headstart, the program gives young people the opportunity to experience university life and even earn early credits towards
their degree.

To be accepted into Headstart, students must have completed at least one Year 12 subject prior to officially starting Year 12. This will give them the time and flexibility in their study schedule to undertake first-year subjects at the University of Adelaide.

The scholarship pays university tuition fees for up to half a year's workload, and while Headstart participation doesn't mean automatic entry into their chosen degree, students can count Headstart study towards their degree if they get in.

Seven students are undertaking the Headstart program this year: Paul Avina (studying Year 12 at Eynesbury College, and studying Physics and Maths at uni); Kassondra Favaro (St Michael's College, Japanese); Louise Hutchinson (Marryatville High School, German); Katie Keene (Walford, Maths); Matthew Lorenzon (Brighton Secondary School, English); Cassie Ostle (Scotch College, Economics); and Meng Wang (doing the IB at Glenunga International High School; Biology and History).

For Kassondra, studying at the University of Adelaide through Headstart has a dual purpose: not only is it helping prepare her for life after Year 12, but it is helping her now!

"I'm doing Japanese both at university and for Year 12, so it's obviously beneficial to be exposed to the higher level," she said. "It's a bit daunting doing two workloads for the same subject, but at the same time, by being immersed in it I find it easier to understand and keep up with things."

Headstart has already proven successful for past scholars such as Cadence Hart, who took Accounting subjects while doing Year 12 at Woodville High School last year.

She is now studying for her Bachelor of Commerce at Adelaide, and said her Headstart experience has been invaluable.

"I'm going really well - going to uni full-time is a lot different to doing Year 12, but doing Headstart helps," she said.

Story by Ben Osborne

To find out more about Headstart, visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/headstart or attend Open Day on Sunday, August 15.