Wide Bay secondary school students and their parents can have all their university questions answered when UQ representatives visit next week.
UQ Student Recruitment Manager Jessica Gallagher said the annual trip was organised to ensure regional students were kept up to date with the many program, scholarship and residential options available to them.
"At UQ, we have students from a wide range of regional areas, many of whom are moving away from home for the first time," Ms Gallagher said.
"The facilities, services and support available to these students mean that the transition from high school to university is made much easier, and we want to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible."
UQ offers the second largest number of Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (CAS) in the country, which are open to all students from regional areas who may be experiencing financial hardship and are worth over $4000 each year.
"From 2009, the University will also offer 275 new academic scholarships to be awarded to current year 12 students commencing study at UQ," Ms Gallagher said.
Former St Luke's Anglican College student Ayrial Mammino, a first year veterinary science student who lives at St John's College at UQ St Lucia, said attending last year's sessions had made the choice of what to study easier.
"I did quite a lot of research during year 11 and 12 and attended the Bundaberg Careers Market which was extremely helpful because it enabled me to compare different universities," she said.
"I also attended FEAST (Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology), a residential school held at UQ Gatton for students interested in pursuing a career within the fields of agriculture, animal and plant science, agribusiness, food technology and veterinary science."
Ms Mammino said FEAST was a hands on way to test drive university study which made her aware of the flexible study pathways available.
The UQ Student Recruitment Team will visit schools in Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay next week and will also attend the Bundaberg Careers Market on June 10 and the Maryborough Careers Market on June 12.
Those interested in finding out more can contact Ms Gallagher on (07) 3346 9649 or j.gallagher@uq.edu.au
Media: Kim Emery (07 3346 9746, kim.emery@uq.edu.au) or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)
** High resolution images of Ms Mammino are available by contacting Diana Lilley (07 3365 2753, d.lilley@uq.edu.au)
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