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Homeschooling has increasingly been on the rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families have had concerns about the pandemic and its impact on children’s access to quality education. 

This increase in homeschooling includes high school students, which are some of the most important years of a child’s education. High school is the first time in a student’s career when they really might start thinking about university or their future. 

Many children who are homeschooled may feel overwhelmed with options, unsure of how homeschooling will impact their future. 

If you or your child are in this situation right now, you’re not alone and we’re here to help. Keep reading to learn about what to expect and how homeschool can affect your university options.

Going to University: Homeschooling Benefits

Homeschool offers many unique benefits that children might not get otherwise. They have the opportunity to gain special skills and interests to set them up for a successful future. 

Especially during the high school years, your children will have the chance to truly find themselves and decide what they want their future to look like. Let’s break down some of the biggest homeschool benefits for high school students.

Individualised Learning

One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling at any age is one-on-one teaching. Every student has a unique learning style that works best for them. 

In a classroom full of students, it can be difficult to meet the diverse needs of each child. However, teaching your child individually can help them learn more and learn better. 

Although individualised learning and instruction is a common method in schools, it isn’t always easy. It’s common for the student/teacher ratio to be too high. 

Ability to Explore Personal Interests

When a child has more time to learn independently, they have more opportunities to explore their interests. 

If they find a strong passion or interest, they’ll be more motivated to learn and have a stronger sense of their future goals. These personal interests can also help guide instruction. Homeschooling allows the child to guide the learning experience and specialise in topics that interest them. Knowing personal interests can also help them choose a field of study when the time comes.

Flexibility

Just like homeschooling allows the child to explore their interests, there is also plenty of flexibility. 

This is an important factor in early education, but it might be even more important during high school. While there is still a certain curriculum to follow, the pace and exact subjects are flexible. 

If your child is struggling with a topic, you can spend some extra time on it. If they’re doing great with another topic, you might not have to spend as much time on it. 

This is much more difficult to manage in schools where each student is working and learning at a different pace. 

Considering Your Future

If you or your child is considering university after high school, there is quite a bit to consider. First, it’s important to note that you do not need to go to university to be successful, by any means.

It’s not always ideal to begin a new full-time job with tons of student debt anyways. Maybe your child first wants to get an internship or a job before getting a degree to get some more experience first. 

So, if your child doesn’t feel like university is the right path for them, they’re not alone. Euka offers a non-assessed Grade 11 and 12 program to provide the additional learning with the flexibility of time for part-time work or following your passion. 

But if your child is thinking about university, there are some general requirements to know about. The two most common are the minimum age requirement and some prerequisite courses. 

The minimum age for most universities is 16 – 18 years years old depending on the field of study. 

Some prerequisite courses might include foundational maths and English. Every university is different in what they are looking for and what they require. 

If your child has been homeschooling in Australia and is interested in university, there are a few different options you have. Many of these options actually allow your child to get a degree without the long years of traditional schooling. 

Technical and Further Education (TAFE)

TAFE allows students to learn a trade they’re interested in or other courses not offered at a university. TAFE is one of the most common services for job training and education in Australia. 

Students can begin TAFE during year 10 of high school and then start learning their trade. This is a good option if your child enjoys active, hands-on learning. 

University Bridging Courses

Many universities will offer courses to prepare for college-level courses. Many students who have not been in school for a while or never finished take advantage of these courses.

They can also be helpful for homeschooled students. The courses are usually general education-based, such as writing, math, and science and often require students to be over 18 years old. 

Open Universities Australia

Open Universities provides courses from universities across Australia.

It allows students to learn online and even get a full degree. Regardless of the end goal, it’s a good option for those with complete coverage of Senior school, who prefer to do their Tertiary study at home.  

Euka Future Learning University Pathway – Grade 11 and 12.

Here at Euka Future Learning, we have created a pathway program for high schoolers in years 11 and 12. There are two options for completing this Senior program. 

The first option is the University Preparation Course and it begins in year 11 with the Euka teachers marking the assessments. They continue through year 12 with Term assessments instead of final exams. During year 12, students complete an extra subject on university skills and not only receive their Senior Certificate but also their University Preparation Certificate. Students have the option to sit the SATS in Year 12. This equips them to apply, through various pathways into university programs. Euka partnerships with various universities to ensure the transition from High school to University is seamless. 

The second option is non-assessed by teachers. This option is for students not interested in entering university. With this option, students can enter a trade school, TAFE, or the workforce with confidence. 

Prepare for a Road to Success

Preparing the future at any time in someone’s life can be overwhelming and stressful. Whether you have a homeschooling child entering university or they’re starting to explore career paths, it can be a lot to handle. 

With Euka Future Learning, we have plenty of resources to make the process as simple as possible. If you or your child is beginning this chapter of life, we’re here to help. Contact us today to get started with your future learning journey and road to success.