Senior high school students in the Fraser Coast region wanting an early start to their local university journey can get face-to-face advice from USC Fraser Coast staff and students on Thursday 19 March.

The University will host an information evening about its Headstart program for Year 11 and 12 students on campus at 161-179 Old Maryborough Road, Hervey Bay from 4.30pm to 6pm.

USC Schools Relationship Officer Kristy Jarrett said the free event would include a tour of the Hervey Bay campus and talks for school students and their parents.

“High school students can choose from almost 30 first-year subjects at USC Fraser Coast, which will give them credit towards their Queensland Certificate of Education while working towards a degree,” she said. “There is no tuition fee for the first subject.”

Nineteen-year-old Liam Bland said the program gave him a great start to his USC studies when he was school captain of Fraser Coast Anglican College in 2017.

“I studied USC’s Communication and Thought subject at the Fraser Coast campus while I was in Year 12, and it taught me new academic skills and gave me access to extra study resources, which definitely improved the quality of my schoolwork,” he said.

“During the first few weeks of my Journalism degree at USC’s Sunshine Coast campus in 2018, I felt much more confident. Knowing how to write and reference tertiary-level assessments was a great advantage.”

The Kawungan resident, who will be speaking at the information evening on Thursday 19 March, said he was now interning “with an awesome and talented group of journalists” at ABC Sunshine Coast Radio.

“I’m in the third and final year of my degree and it’s been amazing so far,” he said.

“Being able to put the skills I have learned over the past two years into action in the real world has been so beneficial and helped me grow as a journalist. USC’s work experience program is part of the reason I chose it as opposed to another university.

“I have a passion for sports broadcasting, and my interests in current affairs have grown significantly. I’ve written several sports articles for the Sunshine Coast Daily and my tutors have been supportive in helping me get work published.”

The USC Fraser Coast Headstart Information Evening will provide details on the application process, eligibility, costs, scholarships, available courses and university entry options. Register here.