Want to study but not sure what to do?

Think about your interest in tertiary study. Is it the only way to get into the career you’re interested in? If you’ve got a particular career in mind, check our jobs database to find out if there are alternative ways to enter the job.

• Jobs database - look up jobs that interest you and find out about entry requirements

If you like the idea of doing tertiary study, it’s probably not just the qualification that appeals. Are you interested because you:

• want to experience student life
• enjoy the academic challenge
• want to gain a broad range of knowledge (e.g. Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts) and specialise later on?

These are all valid considerations. However, research the costs and then decide if what you'll gain from study is worth the price.

• What are the costs? - learn more about all the costs involved in tertiary study

Are you considering tertiary study only because you think it's expected of you by others?

If yes, remember that tertiary study isn’t the only way to get a qualification. New Zealand Apprenticeships and industry training are good ways to get a qualification while earning money at the same time.

If you want a particular type of job, find out if there’s an industry training organisation (ITO) covering that work. You can then contact the ITO or employers to ask about apprenticeship opportunities.

• What are your study and training options?
• Industry training - find out what industry training involves
• Tertiary Education Commission website - find out more about New Zealand Apprenticeships
• Workplace and industry training organisation (ITO) contacts - get contact details for the different ITOs in New Zealand

Tertiary study may take up a lot of your time and involve moving towns or changing your lifestyle. Are you prepared to make these changes?

Ask yourself:

• What changes or compromises will you have to make in your life to study successfully? Think about the activities that you enjoy doing and whether you will still have the time and money to do them.
• What is your financial situation, and how much of a financial commitment are you prepared to make toward your study?
• Are you comfortable with moving away from home if you have to? Do you have the money you'll need to do this?

You may have found several courses that interest you and are unable do them all at once. Which one can you do and can you do others later?

Remember, most people have several careers in a lifetime. The decision you make now is not for life.

If you're still unsure about which course to choose, find out what else you should consider:

• Choosing a course - what you need to think about when deciding on tertiary study
• Going into tertiary study or training action plan (PDF - 161KB) (Word - 228KB)