The Ultimate Guide : Studying After School (Year 12 HSC)
Thinking about studying after school? Why not study at the beautiful ‘Castle on the Hill’!
ICMS is one of the leading career-focused higher education institutions in Australia, with campuses in Sydney’s Manly Beach on the Northern Beaches and in Sydney’s Central Business District. Like other higher education institutions, ICMS offers its students diplomas, bachelors and masters level degrees.
ICMS has a strong focus on ensuring students are ready for the real-world working environment by preparing them through interactive classes and the opportunity to complete Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as a part of every degree – so you get that critical ‘work experience’ demanded by bosses, prior to entering the workforce!
The ICMS experience is like no other, making the decision to continue studying after school a great one!
If you are considering studying after school then this Ultimate Guide to Studying After School (Year 12 HSC) can answer all your questions.
Read more about what studying after school could look like for you with answers to the questions like:
- what courses are on offer?
- where do find application and admission information?
- what are ‘entry pathways’ and are you eligible?
- what are the times of the year that people start?
- what scholarships are open to you?
- what it’s like to live in student accommodation on-campus?
…and more!
How to Study at ICMS
Direct Entry Scheme (February Applicants)
By applying directly through the ICMS Direct Entry Scheme (DES) you may be eligible to receive Conditional Acceptance before Christmas! How?
Earn a Conditional Acceptance by attending an Application Interview.
ICMS are offering all Australian and New Zealand students applying to study at ICMS in February 2024 the chance to receive a conditional acceptance before Christmas by attending a personal Application Interview as part of the Direct Entry Scheme (DES).
This year, the ICMS personal approach to the Admissions process is more important than ever.
We pride ourselves on our personal approach to the admissions process. At ICMS you are always more than your ATAR. This is why we want to take the time to get to know you, and discover what makes you unique – even before your results come out. This is only possible at a smaller institution, where you are more than a number.
Your interview allows us to get to know you as a person, ask you about your career goals, and find out why you’ve chosen your study path. It also provides an opportunity for you to ask questions and get to know us.
Then, when your results come out – towards the end of January – your acceptance could simply be a matter of ticking a box to confirm.
And by achieving an offer this side of Christmas you can relax and enjoy your holidays before you start your tertiary studies, knowing that you are on your way!
How to Apply for the Direct Entry Scheme
Applying for the ICMS Direct Entry Scheme is easy. Simply click here and fill out the application form.
Admissions Information
Direct Application
Early Entry
Leadership Entry Program
Elite Athlete/Performers
Schools Recommendation Scheme
Scholarships
Interviews
7 Mistakes We (Nearly) Made
Applying for your tertiary studies can be daunting. For students choosing to continue studying after school, it’s easy to make mistakes. You’re maybe only seventeen – how do you know what career to pick for the rest of your life! Plus, aren’t you supposed to be focusing on your final-year exams right now?
Knowing the common pitfalls to avoid when applying to Uni or College and how to avoid them – could literally alter your future. If you’re in this situation and in the process of applying, don’t worry – we’ve all been where you are – and we can help. We asked a group of current students, from a range of colleges and uni’s, to confess the biggest mistakes they made when they were applying for their tertiary education
“It’s super important to get advice from other students who have been in your position before. Whether it’s just to ask questions like ‘What do you like most about where you study?’ or ‘What’s something you wish you knew before applying?’,” advises Michaela Mayes, second Year Bachelor of Business (Marketing) student at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS).
“We often only look for advice from parents and our schools, but usually it’s the advice from other students who chose to continue studying after school that makes all the difference,”says Michaela.
11 Questions Parents Need to Ask
What questions do parents need to ask when helping to weigh up tertiary education options?
As a parent, you play a vital role in helping your child as he or she leaves school and transitions to higher education. You and your school-leaver need to have all the information required to make a positive decision regarding the next step on the path to a fulfilling career.
It’s a daunting task! Information overload is real, with multiple options available to any student entering the Australian higher education landscape.
The Right Choice Now Will Pay Off in the Future
You want your child to choose a tertiary qualification that suits their interests and talents, and that will put them ahead of other graduates when they enter the job market. But most importantly, you want them to be happy. To be fulfilled in their career, and to be able to live the kind of lifestyle they wish for themselves. This is getting harder and harder in Australia today, ranked in 2022 as the 11th most expensive country to live in. Soaring house prices, high inflation and wage stagnation are putting pressure on our school-leavers to choose a career that not only matches their interests – but also enables them to continue to live in an expensive cities like Sydney.
Competition for high paying professional roles is highlighting the need for tertiary qualifications, causing a surge in bachelor’s, diploma and master’s applications for February 2023.
A solid and reputable higher education institute is an absolute must when it comes to choosing where to study after school, or students risk pouring money into a qualification that isn’t worth as much as they hoped after years of studying.
Now more than ever, students will be focused on career and employability outcomes when choosing their degree. What can parents do to guide their child as they navigate the daunting higher education selection process?
Philip Watson, Associate Vice President of Domestic Development at ICMS, speaks to parents and prospective students every day.
“Sometimes parents aren’t sure about how best to help their child with their decisions about what to do after school. They want to offer helpful advice but they also want to tread lightly as it’s important that students take ownership of their own decisions. Knowing the right questions to ask can help students to communicate and also consider things they might not have thought about before,” he said.
We asked for his top 11 questions parents need to ask their child about their study plans.
Student Life At ICMS
Student Accommodation
Want to continue studying after school and need accommodation? Staying in ICMS student accommodation is the ideal way to immerse yourself in student life, make friends and stay connected with all that the College has to offer.
ICMS students have exclusive access to a range of convenient and fully-furnished accommodation options in one of Sydney’s most desirable neighbourhoods.
Whether you are looking to stay in Manly’s iconic ‘castle on the hill’ or prefer the independence of a self-catered off-campus residence, the ICMS accommodation team can guide you on your options.
On-Campus Accommodation
Campus living in either Moran House or Kelly House is the ideal way to make the most of our spectacular campus location.
ICMS and Aspire Institute students who live on campus enjoy a fantastic lifestyle with all meals provided, wireless internet, 24 hour access to computer labs, as well as the luxury of being in close proximity to classes, and the world-famous Manly beach. Rooms are equipped with a desk, wardrobe, heating and wireless internet. All linen is provided and rooms are serviced once a week. Each floor is equipped with a kitchenette, common showers, toilets and ironing facilities. You will also receive residential support from the residential assistants, senior ICMS student leaders who live on campus.
You will have the choice of a single, double, twin share bunk, triple or quad dormitory room, depending on your budget, residential preference and availability. Shared rooms are single sex but are allocated randomly for cultural experience.
Explore On-Campus Student Accommodation
Off-Campus Accommodation
For students seeking independent self-catered accommodation off -campus there’s Claremount Beach House in the heart of Manly Village, or Wanganella House in the nearby suburb of Balgowlah.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
Wellness and Support
Social and Cultural Diversity
Disability Support
Academic Life
Academic Support
The ICMS community prides itself on being more personal than what students would experience if they attended a university with large classes and impersonal learning. We want you to succeed in your decision to continue studying after school – so we support you with an extensive range of support services.
ICMS has programs in place to support not only your academic learning but also to assist your English language development.
Academic Support
-Opening hours: 8am -4pm, Monday – Friday
-Phone 94661026 to book an appointment
-We welcome online (Zoom), phone calls and face-to-face appointments
Our Student Success Centre (SSC) has Academic Learning Advisors on all our campuses who will help you to develop your academic skills and prepare you for the cultural change to tertiary student life, therefore making your decision to continue studying after one surrounded by support and assistance. The Centre is open from Monday to Friday every week of the ICMS trimester. Advisors will also attend sessions at the City Campus to support students. Appointments can be online or face-to-face, this is your choice.
Take advantage of learning support available so you can achieve the best academic results possible. This could be in the areas of:
- Effective study techniques
- Note-taking skills
- Report and essay writing skills
- Referencing and citing information
- Exam preparation techniques
- Time and stress management
- Academic writing
- Oral presentations
- Learning support for students with a disability
- Studiosity: 24/7 online academic support and Numeracy support
- One-on-one and group advice
Library - Pollard Resource Centre
English Language Assistance
Peer Assisted Learning (PALs)
Exams? ICMS Prefers Authentic Assessments
At ICMS, students may never have to write exams, this makes studying after school align directly with the real life working environment. With authentic assessment methods, this new generation of ICMS students may never experience the nightmares of having forgotten to study an exam that their parents will remember. Instead, they will be actively engaged in productive learning where activities have been designed to build skills and knowledge in a coherent and structured way that is relevant to their future careers.
Imagine going into work one day and your boss says, ‘Please sit down for three hours and write down everything you know about this topic – from memory alone. And don’t ask your colleagues for input.’ This scenario just doesn’t happen in the real world. And because of that, it is not the preferred way to assess student knowledge and skill at ICMS.
Jonathan Hvaal, ICMS Senior Learning Designer and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), sums it up, “At the tertiary level, exams are not really authentic forms of assessment.”
ICMS is career-focused and works closely with industry to develop an industry-relevant curriculum. As well as the compulsory Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subjects that all degree students must complete, assessments give students an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that would be used in their everyday lives. They have the chance to develop graduate capabilities that will be useful throughout their career. And of course, authentic real-world assessments also reduce the exam stress that memorising, and then relaying, large amounts of information creates.
Want to continue studying after school?
ICMS Contact Details:
Future Student Enquiries
Phone: 1800 110 490
Student Advisors: +61 (2) 9466 1240
Australian & New Zealand Citizens, Aus Permanent Residents email: [email protected]
International Students email: [email protected]
Northern Beaches Campus
Physical and Postal Address: 151 Darley Road, Manly, Sydney, NSW, 2095, Australia
You are very welcome to visit us in person. Please book here.