Starting at UOW College can be really exciting, but also a little intimidating when there is so much information coming your way.
For now, don’t stress. Here is some advice from past students that that will help set you up to succeed as a UOW College student.
Don’t be disappointed
It may be a little disheartening to receive an offer for a diploma or pathways program when you hoped for a bachelor offer. Maybe this is the first time you’ve heard of UOW College, or maybe you are new to what we do, but it’s important to remember that this doesn’t mean you’ve missed the mark. In fact, you may have landed right where you need to be.
At UOW College, you are practically are a uni student, just with some extra support on offer to help you succeed.
Here, you’ll take classes which will give you knowledge and skills you might not have known you needed. UOW College gives you time to assess what you really want to do with your future, what your academic capabilities are right now, or what they could be. If you are looking at your UOW College offer and wondering what’s to come, take a deep breath. You’re at the beginning of your journey, and if you’re willing to take advantage, great things are waiting for you.
Where is UOW College located?
UOW College is in Building 30 at the UOW Wollongong campus. This is the UOW College headquarters, where you’ll find our front office and friendly reception staff. You will have some classes here and others across the campus, like Building 19, 20, or 40. Plus, it’s conveniently located right near Hemingway Café , The Ugly Duckling Café, and a small food court, so you can duck down between classes for lunch or a coffee.
What do I have access to?
As a UOW College student, you don’t have to miss out on the facilities offered to university students. You will have full access to the academic support, accommodation services, sports, culture and entertainment facilities across the UOW campus.
We encourage you to take advantage of the library and other study spaces across campus where you can study, print and borrow books
But it’s not just the academic side of things we encourage you to take part in. The campus has a wide variety of places to eat, whether you need a coffee fix or a snack, a grocery store, and plenty of entertainment.
There’s also a constant stream of events throughout the year where food stalls will be covered by Pulse, so don’t miss the opportunity to score a free lunch.
Speaking of events, UOW’s Orientation week activities exhibit a diverse array of stalls where clubs compete for your attention. From hobbies to sports to religion, you can find your people as a UOW College student.
Plus, UOW has helpfully created an interactive map which uses your device’s GPS to centre your position on the campus, and lets you search exactly where you need to go. Just type your destination and press go!
So, don’t feel limited to Building 30, because you have the whole campus to explore.
Lots of support on offer
Balancing student life with personal circumstances shouldn’t feel impossible. As a UOW College student, you’ll have access to a wide variety of support options, both within and outside the classroom, so that you can get where you need to be.
Peer Learning Program
Our Peer Learning Leaders are here to help you with your studies. Their personal experience as past UOW College student makes them an invaluable source of information and support.
Sometimes, you might have a Peer Learning Leader in your classes. This is often a past student now employed by UOW College to give you one-on-one support during class time. Our friendly Peer Learning Leaders are always happy to assist you with classwork and assessments.
Collaborative Study Sessions are often run by your Peer Learning Leaders but work a little differently. Allocated times of the week will be reserved for students to visit a dedicated room, whether in campus or online, to receive help with assignments. They typically start after week 3 and change each session depending on availability, so speak to your tutor or Peer Learning Leader about when they’ll be available.
Find out more about our Peer Learning Program.
Peer Coaches
Finally, Peer Coaches are a great resource for when you just need some help with student life in general. Peer Coaches can be found in the Learning Hub at Building 30. Your Peer Coaches can read assignment drafts, fix IT issues, or help you navigate SOLS, but seek out your Peer Learning Leader if you need help with a particular subject.
Find out more about Peer Coaches.
Access Plan
If your physical and/or mental health are having an impact on your ability to participate in student life, know first that you are not alone, and your wellbeing comes first.
UOW College offers the ability for students to create an Access Plan. Your Access Plan contains the details of your personal circumstances and will be sent to all relevant parties to ensure that you receive the accommodations and support you need
If you think you’ll need an Access Plan, talk to a Student Advisor as soon as possible, as it may take some time before your plan is approved.
Am I the only one lost in Building 19?
No, and while we wish we could tell you why it is like that, for now all we can say is that you’re not alone.
The entrance to Building 19 is marked by a flight of rainbow steps near the UOW library. Upon entering, you’ll see another staircase, and to the right of that, an elevator. Near the elevator, you’ll see a map of each level of the building.
Building 19 has three levels – the ground level (marked ‘G’), Level 1 (first flight of steps), and Level 2 (second flight).
If you have classes or lectures in Building 19, make sure you check your timetable in SOLS and find out which room you are in before session starts. That way, you can locate it on the map as soon as you enter and avoid getting lost.
You don’t have to have it all figured out yet
Often when you receive an offer for UOW College, it may come as a “packaged offer”, with the completion of your diploma as a prerequisite to beginning your bachelor.
Don’t worry – just because it’s on your offer, doesn’t mean you’re locked in to that degree. You can speak to a Student Advisor about other course options if you are interested in changing your UOW College or progressive UOW bachelor offer.
No matter what your aspirations may be, don’t feel you’ve got to decide now. Having a diploma will open a wide variety of career and learning opportunities for you in future.
Knowing what the College has to offer before you begin can have a big impact on your experience going forward. Whether its access to academic support, on-campus facilities, or student life in general, your time as a student at UOW College is packed with opportunities for success – and fun!