University Drop Out Rates Reach Crisis Point in Australia
Let’s face it, university can be stressful! After 12 years of schooling, your child is about to study a uni degree for another three or four years. This means balancing study with part-time work and the social and personal commitments of everyday adult life. Worryingly, dropout rates are at their highest since 2005, with 25% of Australian students dropping out of uni before the completion of their course.
Why Are Students Dropping Out of Uni?
Finances
The cost-of-living crisis has probably hit students the hardest. Balancing university with the need to work more can take a physical and mental toll. With the added cost of transport fees, university textbooks and materials, laptops, lunch and other study necessities, the financial toll keeps rising.
Eventually, the stress becomes too much, and it feels like the only option is to drop out.
With a 7% increase in student debts due to inflation, it’s no surprise that university enrolments are decreasing in the first place (13% since 2016).
Unsure About Career
These days, most people are unsure about their career path. Especially for students fresh out of high school, overwhelmed by their options and knowing little about the real world, choosing a random university course is all too common. They may choose a university degree based on parental pressure, to follow friends into uni, vague interest, or even popularity.
These reasons for study leave students with a lack of self-motivation. There is little intrinsic connection and sense of purpose towards their career path. In the end, they give up.
Location
Most Australian university campuses are in major cities, especially the larger and popular universities. While they may offer online study, courses vary greatly in resources, quality, and reliability.
Remote students are the most vulnerable to dropping out. They need to move to the city and rent student accommodation to study, adding another factor of financial pressure. They can also feel alienated with little to no friends in a new place and often get homesick.
Even if a student lives one or two hours away from campus, the commute can be taxing. The best public transportation will take so much time out of the day. Your child will need to get used to studying on the train. If they decide to drive, fuel and car maintenance is another contributor to financial strain – not to mention parking fees.
And just like many other reasons for dropping out, the stress just becomes too much.
Personal Factors
There are a lot of other factors that can stop a student from studying that are out of their control. These include academic difficulties, learning disabilities, work commitments, personal and family circumstances, illness, and injury. Here, the issue arises in returning to study. It can feel like there was too much time missed, or too many roadblocks hit, making it feel impossible to ease back into study again.
What Can You Do to Help Your Child Go Through the Stress of Uni?
As a parent, you have some options to help alleviate some of the stress your child is experiencing at uni:
Be an ear: Be supportive and check on them.
Learn about uni: Be aware of how uni works and the support services available so that you can understand and guide your child.
Plan: Sit with them and identify and plan for all their commitments and obligations.
Finances: Help them financially where you can. If that is not an option for you, help them apply for financial assistance like scholarships and Youth Allowance.
What If Your Child Ends Up Dropping Out?
First of all, relax. It doesn’t mean they are throwing their life away. A lot of stress has likely led them to the point that they are. Acknowledge and validate their feelings, give yourself some time to think, have a conversation and keep an open mind – they can always go back. There is no right path to a fulfilling career.
