This year, we’re back with more cool courses we hope might inspire you to explore your options further.
Why do extra courses?
There are loads of reasons why doing courses over and above your studies or in a gap year could benefit you.
- You get the freedom choose what you’d like to learn
- If you’re interested in a certain topic or hobby, it’s a chance to find out more
- You could get a taster of a career that might interest you
- Learn new skills
- Meet new people – network and make friends with similar interests
- Have some fun
Before you start
If you’re enthusiastic about starting a new course, that’s fantastic, but before you sign up maybe just double check a few things like:
- Start and end dates and times (will you be around over holidays, will it interfere with any school work, employment, or other commitments?).
- Length – some courses can be done in hours online, whereas others might take years to complete.
- Location – make sure you’ll be able to get there if required, or you have internet access and relevant technology if it’s online.
- Cost – how much will it cost and how will you pay for it?
- How to apply – will you need a USI, student number etc., do you have the specific paperwork for your application?
University and TAFE options
Thinking about Uni or TAFE but still haven’t made up your mind about what to do? Why not look at some of the more unusual courses on offer to see if they generate any ideas.
Learn all about history and culture from around the world, from the Egyptians to the Romans – a great idea for any budding historians or anthropologists.
Interested in starting up your own cider brewery? Learn all about the science of cider in this short course from UTAS.
Learn about Indigenous culture in relation to contemporary performance and the skills required to audition for roles in theatre, film and television.
In the only dedicated footwear course in Australia, you’ll develop the technical and practical skills to produce custom-made (bespoke) footwear. Who knows – you might create the next Air Jordans.
Build an in-depth understanding of geoscience with a focus on exploration and mining. You’ll also get to consolidate your theoretical learning with frequent field trips and on-site practice.
With an unprecedented number of displaced people across the world seeking life-saving relief, there is a growing need for skilled and trained humanitarian and development aid workers. This degree will give you the knowledge and skills to provide support for those affected by man-made and natural disasters, poverty and social injustice.
Visual effects artists, animators and compositors create the fantastic worlds, superhuman feats and spectacular imagery that you see on the big (and small) screen. You can do this too with this course from AIE.
Want to delve into the depths of our solar system? Explore the universe’s most distant galaxies? This could be the degree for you.
Develop, promote, manage and sell out the next big artist, label, festival or event.
Learn the fundamentals of French patisserie techniques and create some awesome sweet treats.
Other options
Universities and TAFEs offer a variety of courses from short courses to degrees and postgraduate qualifications.
But they’re not the only places to offer courses – there’s a wealth of information out there and courses that you can access all over Australia and from across the world.
Here’s a few other courses that we think could be pretty cool.
Want to sail the seven seas? The Yachmaster Sailing School has tons of courses, from beginner to expert, for those who want to channel their inner pirate.
Whether you’re a survival expert or want to brush up on your skills, this fun online course takes you through a hypothetical scenario and gives you tips to survive. Here’s hoping you’ll never really need to use those tips though!
Think philosophy is boring? Think again. This course will let you ponder some deep philosophical concepts through the lens of some of our favourite superheroes.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running off to join the circus, this course is for you. Learn how to make people laugh, and avoid becoming the creepy clown stereotype (eek!).
Fancy yourself a Trekkie, or just a huge fan of sci-fi in general? Take a look at how one of the most popular and successful sci-fi TV shows of all time has made its mark in our culture.
We’re constantly overwhelmed by information online these days. So how can you tell the fact from the fiction? This course will help you think critically about what you see online and in real life.
You don’t need to live on a farm to keep bees – in fact, you can even do it at home. Learn all about how with this Urban Beekeeping course.
If you’re looking for a course that’s both fun and delicious, look no further. What could be better than creating your own sweet treats to enjoy?
Don’t forget
Once you’ve completed your course, add it to your resume. Even if it was just for fun, it’s proof to employers that you’re willing and committed to continued learning, and you have the dedication to find and complete additional work.
Plus, it never hurts to have some talking points in an interview and show a bit of your personality. It could make you stand out from the crowd.