• Charles Sturt Advantage program focusses on students’ Year 11 results and recognises their ‘soft skills’
• Successful applicants will become part of the Charles Sturt community from day one
• In 2021 the University received more than 4,500 applications to study via the Charles Sturt Advantage program and made almost 4,000 offers to students to begin studying in 2022

Charles Sturt University will again provide Year 12 school leavers from across Australia with a firm offer to study at the University in 2023 with applications now open for the Charles Sturt Advantage early offer program.

The Charles Sturt Advantage early offer program focuses on students’ Year 11 results as well as recognising their ‘soft skills’.

These special qualities include emotional intelligence, empathy and communication skills, teamwork, resilience, and a commitment to creating a world worth living in.

Associate Director of Admissions in the Charles Sturt Division of Students Mr Peter Greening said, “Employers have told us that soft skills are often just as important as the technical skills students learn as part of their university qualification, so the program recognises this”.

Last year, the University received more than 4,500 applications to study via the Charles Sturt Advantage program and made almost 4,000 offers for students to begin studying in 2022.

“We experienced massive growth in the program last year, more than double the previous year in terms of applications, offers and acceptances,” Mr Greening said.

“Across the University’s courses offering the most applications were received for paramedicine, nursing, physiotherapy and education (K-12), which are all very popular.

“This year, applications are open now through to Wednesday 31 August to align with much of our student recruitment activity, and we will have special activities at our Explore Days and our Open Days to help Year 12 students apply.”

Ms Ebonee Van Burgel from McKail in Western Australia commenced studying a Bachelor of Education (Technology and Applied Studies) online in the Charles Sturt School of Education in 2022, having received a Charles Sturt Advantage early offer in 2021 before she completed her final year of high school.

“I loved that it was an early offer and I knew earlier in the year whether I was accepted or not,” Ms Van Burgel said.

“I thrive off being organised and after receiving the offer I was able to make work and other plans for first-year uni.

“Receiving the offer early reduced the stress and allowed me to enjoy my last year of schooling and focus on enjoying my study without the pressure I was putting on myself.

“This allowed me to be in a better mental state and also allowed me to strengthen my friendships before leaving school.”

There will be three application rounds in 2022 to commence study in 2023:

• Round One - apply by Thursday 31 March
• Round Two – apply by Friday 24 June
• Round Three – apply by Wednesday 31 August.

Offers for each round will be made respectively in early May, late July and late September.

Mr Greening said successful applicants will become part of the Charles Sturt community from day one.

“The University will support them to develop their soft skills, prepare them for university, and connect them with a community of like-minded people, and they will receive special benefits like access to additional support, early access to accommodation, special scholarships, and merchandise,” he said.

Find more information and apply at the Charles Sturt Advantage web page.

Ms Van Burgel’s advice to current final-year school students contemplating applying for the Charles Sturt Advantage program is, “Just apply!”.

“There are multiple rounds of offers which allows you to have multiple chances at receiving an offer, and you can even apply for multiple courses if you have not yet decided what you want to study,” she said.