Moreton Bay students going into Year 11 and 12 next year will have the chance to make history as part of the first cohort to study at Australia’s newest university campus.

USC Moreton Bay will offer close to 50 degree programs when it opens in 2020 – and give local high school students the opportunity to get an early start to university through its Headstart program.

The students can choose from more than 40 first-year subjects to gain credit towards their Queensland Certificate of Education and work towards a degree at the same time.

On Wednesday 18 September, USC will host an Information evening at Murrumba Downs Tavern from 4.30pm to 6pm.

Interested students from Year 10 to 12 and parents can talk with staff about the application process, eligibility, costs and available courses and hear current students share their Headstart experiences.

With no tuition fees for the first subject and a reduced fee for a second, Headstart saves on the overall cost of a USC degree. USC scholarships are also available.

The information session will also cover university entry options for students, including Early Offer Guarantee which offers Year 12 students who meet certain criteria an early and guaranteed place at USC in November.

Other topics include advice on how to choose the right study program and apply, help with completing QTAC applications and insights from current students on how to succeed at university.

Among the speakers will be Year 12 Mueller College house captain Noah Vickery, who completed two USC subjects last year and received distinctions for both.

“Honestly, my Headstart experience was priceless,” said Noah, who is captain of the school’s debating team and competes at state level in cross country and triathlon.

“As a teenager you have so many preconceptions about uni life, so Headstart answers a lot of questions that you have about your future.”

He said the most enjoyable aspect was gaining access to high-level learning and knowledge while still in school.

“I chose Headstart because I didn’t want to go into university blind. I was weighing up a number of degrees at the time and was unsure where my passion lay,” Noah said.

“I didn’t want to wait until I was at university and had paid for a semester’s worth of studies to realise that I didn’t enjoy the degree program I thought I wanted to do.”

Noah initially intended to study law but, after completing Headstart, now plans to enrol in Criminology and specialise in Psychology. “My ultimate goal is to conduct research into juvenile drug crime; specifically, prevention strategies and rehabilitation,” he said.

Noah’s mother Wendy Vickery said, as a parent, she found Headstart to be a valuable opportunity.

“It really helped Noah clarify what he wanted to do which is a very hard decision to make while at high school as there are so many options,” she said.

“He was so taken with what he was studying he would never stop talking about it and because he was so interested, he immersed himself more in his studies.”

To register for USC’s Information Evening go to www.usc.edu.au/headstart