Parent guide 2025
Support your child’s journey
Get an insight into Charles Sturt
Our Insight blog will take you behind the
scenes and explore all sorts of topics – from
study options, to booming careers.
And there are plenty of tips on how you can
support your child on their uni journey - from
helping them to apply, to ways you can ease
their exam stress or help set them up for
career success.
You’ll also meet some of our past and present
students – and learn about their valuable and
interesting work.
insight.csu.edu.au
Good Universities Guide 2024/25
Charles Sturt University
Yindyamarra winhanganha
Our campuses
Live where they learn
Many ways to study
Jump online and get qualified
Taking a different path to success
10
Charles Sturt Advantage
early offer program
11
Support every step of the way
12
Where will your child make a difference? 13
How much will uni cost?
14
A HELP-ful loan
15
Scholarships
16
Ready to apply?
17
Keeping your child happy and healthy
18
Uni speak decoded
19
Contents
Parent Guide
The Charles Sturt difference
Yindyamarra
winhanganha
This is a Wiradjuri phrase
meaning ‘the wisdom of
respectfully knowing how to live
well in a world worth living in’.
It's at the heart of everything we
stand for here at Charles Sturt
University. It’s the reason we
strive to create a world worth
living in.
To us, a world worth living in is a
place that protects and values
society’s core needs. The security
of our land and food. The health
and education of our people.
The development of technology
to help us prosper. And clear
and honest communication with
ourselves – and each other.
Charles Sturt University was
founded on a quest to meet
these fundamental needs. Since
day one, we've empowered
people to make the world a
better place. Because we believe
in making a difference. When we
connect people to their purpose,
we make communities better.
And when we make communities
better, we create a world worth
living in.
Getting qualified
and getting the job!
Charles Sturt offers more than
100 undergraduate degrees.
From ag to arts, business
to border management,
communication to computing,
dentistry to a Doctor of
Medicine, engineering to
education (you get the idea),
we have a course that can get
your child where they want
to go.
And when your child studies
with Charles Sturt, they’ll learn
by doing. Our professional,
accredited courses will give
them the practical skills
needed to step into a career
and get the job done.
Charles Sturt University
Canberra
Melbourne
New South Wales
Victoria
Brisbane
Sydney
Queensland
Port Macquarie
Dubbo
Orange
Bathurst
Wagga Wagga
Albury-Wodonga
We have six regional and
two metro campuses, all
offering great adventures
Our other locations
• A Regional University Study
Centre in Wangaratta.
• Specialty study locations in
Canberra and Parramatta.
• Partner locations for selected
courses in St Leonards
and Chadstone.
Parent Guide
Your child can live
where they learn
Albury-Wodonga | Bathurst | Dubbo | Orange
Port Macquarie | Wagga Wagga
When your child lives on campus at Charles Sturt
University, they’ll meet others just like them.
Everyone is in the same boat, adapting to uni life for
the first time, and navigating a whole new world. Your
child will make lasting memories and lifelong friends.
We have accommodation on all six regional campuses,
offering the laid-back lifestyle of country living – with
urban convenience.
• Guaranteed room for all first-year students.*
• All-inclusive costs – no extra bills to worry about.
• No bond required.
• Fully furnished rooms.
• Wi-fi included at no extra cost.
• Choose a catering package for some or all of your
child’s meals.^
Plus, we have a dedicated team to make sure your
child’s experience living on campus is everything they
hope it will be. Our Residence Life team is there to
support your child whenever they need it. After all,
to us, they’re family.
*Make sure you check out the first-year student guarantee terms and
conditions.
^On select campuses.
csu.edu.au/accommodation
Charles Sturt University
Living on campus means your child
will have everything they need on their
doorstep – and be fully supported to
take the first steps on their uni journey.
We’ve got accommodation options to
suit all lifestyles.
Our accommodation options are
all-inclusive, which means everything
is covered in fees, including:
• cleaning
• dedicated residential support team
• dedicated study spaces
• fully furnished bedrooms,
living areas and common spaces
• internet access
• maintenance
• parking
• security
• utilities
• washing machines and dryers.
We can also take the stress out of
cooking, with food outlets and meal
plans available on most campuses.
And compared to a big city, the
cheaper cost of regional living means
more money stays in your pocket.
Communal living in an eco-friendly
setting.
Rooms from $215 per week
Modern and traditional options.
Rooms from $187 per week
Options to suit every lifestyle.
Rooms from $210 per week
Contemporary living in brand-new
rooms.
Rooms from $245 per week
Homely cottage-style
accommodation.
Rooms from $210 per week
Cottages, villages and traditional
residences.
Rooms from $198 per week
Albury-Wodonga
Bathurst
Dubbo
Wagga Wagga
Port Macquarie
Orange
Parent Guide
Many ways
to study
At Charles Sturt University, we know everyone is
different. Our students have different needs. Different
goals. Different ways of studying. That’s why we’ll help
your child study in a way that works best for them.
Your child can have the best of both worlds when they
combine online and on-campus study; it puts them
firmly in the driver’s seat.
They might prefer to take some subjects in person, but
other subjects would be better to take online. They
might need to select some online subjects so they can
pick up an extra shift at work.
Charles Sturt University
Jumping online
and getting qualified
Charles Sturt is Australia’s most experienced online
university - more than 24,000 people are studying
online with us right now! So if your child prefers the
freedom that comes with online study, we can help.
We put everything in place to enable your child to
access high-quality education that will get them
qualified for the job they want – all from the comfort
of… wherever they like.
All they need is ready and waiting
Everything your child will need is online, at the click of a
mouse, and ready to use when it suits. Lectures, tutorials,
assessments, resources, community spaces. Plus, our
extensive digital library is available 24/7, with plenty of
online resources and how-to guides to help them find what
they need. We’ve even got a dedicated library YouTube
channel for all their library learning know-how. If they need
any books sent to them, we’ll post them out free of charge.
And don’t worry, we also provide help over the phone and
in person. They won’t need to worry about tech issues. IT
support is available – and it’s just a phone call away.
Many ways to stay connected
Just because your child is studying online doesn’t
mean they’re studying alone. Far from it. At Charles
Sturt University, they can join dedicated course forums
and Facebook groups to connect with classmates and
academics. They can jump into an online hangout to ask
questions, collaborate or just shoot the breeze.
They can attend get-togethers and come on campus to
use any of the facilities – library, gym, childcare - if they’re
nearby. We’ll give them plenty of opportunities to build
the deep connections that are central to their study.
Connections with tutors, lecturers, fellow students and
industry that will last a lifetime.
Parent Guide
Taking a different
path to success
Access schemes
Get special consideration for entry
if finance, family, illness, cultural
or legal issues have affected your
chances of study success.
Early Offer Schools
Recommendation
Scheme
Apply through UAC. We look at your
Year 11 results and your school’s
rating of your abilities. If you’re
successful, you could receive an
offer before you sit your exams.
Enabling courses
Brush up on your academic skills
with a university preparation course.
You could get guaranteed entry
into a range of degrees – or even
subject credits.
Recognition of
Prior Learning
Get recognition for the skills,
knowledge and experiences you’ve
acquired through work, life, training
or self-directed study.
TAFE to uni
pathways
Have a TAFE or VET qualification?
Get recognition for the experience
you’ve gained. You could get credit
or guaranteed entry into lots of
our courses.
Connections –
First Nations Direct
Entry Program
Join other First Nations people in
a five-day intensive program, with
educational and cultural activities.
You could walk away with an offer
into a degree or preparation
course
If things don’t quite go
to plan and your child
doesn’t get into the
course they were after,
there’s no need to stress.
We’ve got a range of
options that can prepare
them for uni study and
help them move into
the degree they’re
interested in.
Charles Sturt University
10
The Charles Sturt Advantage
early offer program
We’re changing the game – and the way school leavers apply for an early offer.
We get that Year 12 is a big year. There’s so much pressure placed on students
to study hard, do well in their exams, achieve a sky-high ATAR, go to uni and land
their dream job.
The thing is… we know that some people have strengths that sit outside the world
of academia. So we’re looking for those special soft skills – qualities that might not
always be reflected in your child’s academic or exam results.
Soft skills are the skills
of the future
But what exactly are soft skills?
They’re skills like emotional
intelligence, collaboration and
communication, resilience and a
commitment to creating a world
worth living in. They’re valued by
employers and help your child
excel – because they’re important
for any job, in any industry.
We value these skills and want to
reward your child for having these
special qualities. That’s why we’re
changing the way people can
apply for an early offer to Charles
Sturt University.
Take advantage of our
early offer program
If your child is successful, they’ll
unlock a world of possibilities.
Not only will they receive a study
offer before they sit exams,
they’ll also become part of
an exclusive program that will
support them as they transition
to become an official Charles
Sturt University student.
“It was such a relief knowing
where I would be studying
next year and what I will
be doing. I loved that the
program helped me focus on
the tasks I had at hand rather
than worrying about my future
as well as finishing year 12 in
such a hard time.”
Javana Ballinger
Charles Sturt Advantage student
csu.edu.au/advantage
Find out more about the Charles Sturt Advantage,
including application dates.
11
Parent Guide
Study support
Our support team is dedicated to
helping them succeed, and can
provide help in person, online or over
the phone. We’re available seven days
a week, and it’s free. We’ll help when
it suits your child, including in the
evenings and on the weekends.
Careers advice
From researching career options and
finding job opportunities, to help
working on résumés, application letters
and interview techniques – our Careers
and Skills Hub team will help your child
land their dream job.
Equity support
Our Student Equity Office provides
advice and support to ensure all our
students have the same opportunities
to succeed, no matter what their
circumstances.
Spiritual support
We can connect your child with
religious and spiritual support and
access to community resources and
services, both on and off campus.
Support every step
of the way
As soon as your child
accepts an offer to
study with Charles Sturt
University, we’ll be there
to support them – every
step of the way.
Student Central
This is your child’s first point of
contact as an enrolled Charles Sturt
University student. If they need a hand
with subject enrolment, study skills,
accommodation or finances, or are
just not sure who to ask about
something – this is the place to go.
Student wellbeing
Healthy students are happy students.
We have a great range of services
and information available to keep
them in top physical, mental and
emotional shape.
Health support
Your child’s physical and mental
health can impact their study. We’re
here to help. Disability, illness, injury
or temporary medical conditions
(pregnancy or broken bones) -
whether their condition is permanent
or temporary, we’ll provide advice,
support and adjustments if needed.
That way your child can participate
100 per cent in their studies.
study.csu.edu.au/support
Charles Sturt University
12
Where will your child
make a difference?
Our study areas
Charles Sturt University courses may be subject to change. Course information is correct at
the time of publishing. For up-to-date information, please visit study.csu.edu.au
Agriculture and environment
Animal and veterinary sciences
Arts and communication
Business
Education and teaching
IT and computing
Information and library studies
Medicine and health
Policing, law and security
Psychology and social work
Science and engineering
Theology and Islamic studies
study.csu.edu.au/courses
13
Parent Guide
Course fees
$4,608 to $16,992 per year*
Accommodation
$198 to $347 per week
Text books
$400 to $1,000 per year (approx.)
Groceries
$80 to $120 per week (approx.)
Transport, clothes, social life, entertainment and other incidentals not included.
*2025 pricing, subject to change. Based on your child getting a Commonwealth supported place.
We know money matters
Is your child eligible for a student income payment such as ABSTUDY, Austudy or Youth Allowance?
Check their eligibility up to 13 weeks before they start uni.
How much will uni cost?
14
Charles Sturt University
A HELP-ful loan
Fees will be calculated for each study session your child enrols in. There are
three study sessions in a year: usually February to June, July to October, and November
to February.
For each study session, your child’s course fees will be determined by the type
of course they are studying and the number of subjects they enrol in.
The good news? If your child is an Australian citizen or a New Zealand Special
Category Visa holder, they’ll likely be given a Commonwealth supported place,
and benefit from the HECS-HELP scheme.
How HECS-HELP works
1.
When your child enrols, they’ll need to indicate that they want to pay all or
part of the fees via HECS-HELP (they’ll need a tax file number, but that’s
easy to get).
2.
The government pays your child’s fees and registers them against their
tax file number.
3.
The balance is paid back through pay deductions when your child starts
working. They can choose to do so at any time, but it is only required
once they earn above a certain amount. In 2023 the threshold is $48,361.
study.csu.edu.au/fees
Did you know?
We have a financial
support team that can
help with budgeting,
planning and applying
for loans, and programs
to help your child find
a part-time job if they
want one.
15
Parent Guide
study.csu.edu.au/scholarships
Did you know we offer
more than $11 million
in scholarships at
Charles Sturt University?
Scholarships have all sorts of criteria and there are
many that your child may qualify for. All they need to do
is apply. For as many as they like.
Trust us, it’s worth their while.
Our advice
Make sure your child is in the
running. Lots of scholarships get
left on the table simply because
people assume they won’t
get one.
Don’t think the application
process will be too hard. It’s
really not. Hop online and see
what’s available.
Scholarships: grab a
helping hand
Charles Sturt University
16
How will they apply?
Don’t forget...
At Charles Sturt, we believe everyone can make a difference,
that’s why we’ll look at adjusting your child’s selection rank if they:
• live in the regions
• aced relevant school subjects
• had to deal with setbacks during their school studies.
Important dates*
There are many important dates for
your child to remember – from the
ATAR release date to deadlines for
changing their preferences.
Always check the UAC or VTAC
websites for these confirmed dates.
Does your child have their
Unique Student Identifier
(USI)? They’ll need it to
secure a Commonwealth
supported place at uni.
Find out more
usi.gov.au
There are a few different ways your child can apply to study with us.
Are they keen for an early offer?
Apply to Charles Sturt Advantage. Your child could get an offer to
study with us before they even sit their final exams.
csu.edu.au/advantage
Apply for the School Recommendation Scheme on UAC
study.csu.edu.au/srs
Do they know what ATAR they’re aiming for?
Apply through UAC from April
Your child can register with UAC to:
1.
apply for their top courses
2. list their backup course preferences.
uac.edu.au
Apply on our website from August
Apply to Charles Sturt Advantage. Your child could get an offer to
study with us before they even sit their final exams.
csu.edu.au/advantage
What if they don’t get the ATAR they need?
Apply to a pathway
Good news! We have lots of ways to help your child get into their
dream course.
study.csu.edu.au/pathways
17
Parent Guide
Helping your child to stay
happy and healthy
Every parent wants
their child to be happy
and healthy, but that can
be challenging during
times of stress and
uncertainty. Here are
important ways to help
them be their best!
Move
Being active supercharges their
body and brain, and every little bit
helps. Encourage them to get up
from their desk and walk around
the house or the block. Exercise,
do yoga, walk the dog, dance like
nobody’s watching – as long as
they move.
Eat properly
It’s essential they understand how
important it is to eat properly.
Without the right fuel they aren’t
going anywhere. And while we’re
on the topic – drink lots and lots of
water. That’s important, too.
Speak
High school can be very stressful
and it’s vital that your child
learn how to keep those stress
levels in check. If they can’t
concentrate, feel too overwhelmed
to take in new information, or
their performance at school is
impacted – that may be a sign that
not-so-helpful stress is in play.
Speaking with friends with similar
experiences, family members
who are supportive, a trusted
teacher, school counsellor, doctor
or professionals like those at
headspace may be helpful.
headspace.org.au
Sleep
Your child will tell you there’s only
so many hours in the day and so
much study to cram in! We get
it. But, if their eyes are hanging
out of their head and they’re
only catching one z instead of
many, they won’t be at their best.
Encourage your child to set a
reasonable bedtime (and, no,
anything past midnight is not
reasonable). Make sure they
include some down time before
they hit the sack to help their mind
switch off.
Socialise
Always burying their head in
books, notes and syllabus dot
points may seem like the right
thing to do, but it’s not. Making time
to stay connected with family and
friends is important. Have dinner
together, have a laugh, watch a
movie, or just chat. It all adds up to
a mental break – and who doesn’t
love a break?
Escape
Studying zaps lots of time and
energy. We know every minute is
valuable learning time. But, having
something else to focus on is
also super important. Encourage
them to watch the Netflix series
everyone is talking about, read a
book, or load the latest game.
18
Charles Sturt University
Uni speak decoded
University education comes with its own language. At least, that’s how it can seem sometimes.
Most people haven’t heard half of the acronyms and phrases before. But don’t worry, this guide
will get you and your child up to speed with ‘uni speak’.
ATAR
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.
Indicates a student’s position
relative to all the students who
started high school with them
in Year 7. One – but not the
only – criteria for entry to an
undergraduate degree.
Commonwealth
supported place (CSP)
A place at university for domestic
students subsidised by the
Australian Government. Most
undergraduate students are
enrolled in a CSP, and can benefit
from HECS-HELP schemes. To
secure a CSP your child will need a
Unique Student Identifier.
Core subjects
The subjects in a course that all
students are required to complete.
Course
The degree or qualification being
studied. This may also be known as
a program.
Elective
An optional subject selected in
addition to the core subjects of
the course.
Faculty
A department within a university
devoted to a particular area.
Charles Sturt has three faculties.
• Arts and Education
• Business, Justice and
Behavioural Sciences
• Science and Health
GPA
A student’s grade point average,
calculated from the results in each
subject completed.
Lecture
A regular teaching session for a
large group of students.
Major study
An area within a course that allows
in-depth study in a particular field.
A major usually consists of eight
related subjects.
Minor study
A grouping of between four and
seven subjects within a course,
allowing students to focus on a
particular field.
Residential school
A short period of study, usually
three to five days, where online
students come on campus to
complete units or assessment tasks
for a subject.
School
A division of the university that
administers the courses in a
particular area of study.
Session
A period of time during which
classes are held.
Subject
A unit of study, with a number of
subjects making up a course.
Subject points
A value assigned to a subject.
At Charles Sturt, a standard
one-session subject is 8 points.
Tutorial
A regular teaching session for a
small group of students, involving
participation.
Undergraduate
A student in a university or college
who has not completed a first
degree.
Unique Student
Identifier (USI)
A USI is your child’s lifelong
education number required by the
Australian Government for anyone
studying in a CSP. A person’s USI
only needs to be created once.
Without one, your child can’t
get Commonwealth financial
assistance. Visit usi.gov.au to get
a USI.
Workplace-integrated
learning
Time spent in hands-on learning.
This may be in actual workplaces
in the community, in Charles
Sturt’s clinics and enterprises, or in
specialist facilities on campus.
19
Parent Guide
1800 275 278 (free call within Australia)
+61 1800 275 278 (callers outside Australia)
study.csu.edu.au
insight.csu.edu.au
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