How University differs from school
The size and scope
If you go to Curtin's main campus at Bentley, the first difference you'll notice is the size and population of the campus. At 115 hectares, the Bentley campus is the largest of the four public universities in WA and is attended by more than 25,000 students - that's nearly as many people as Bunbury!
If you think of your high school as a community, think of university as a city (with less pigeons).
Study what interests you
University education is the first step in taking control of your own learning. Unlike high school, where you study certain subjects because they're compulsory, at uni you can choose a course that suits your interests and abilities.
Student responsibility
High school is very 'teacher focused', meaning that the teacher is responsible for the way you learn a subject. For this reason, high school teachers are highly trained in different ways to effectively pass their knowledge onto students. University, on the other hand, is 'student focused'. In other words, uni students are responsible for finding out what is required of them and carrying it out. A common saying is that lecturers are experts in their field who 'teach their subject, not their students'.
Contact time
'Contact time' is the time you spend at uni attending lectures and tutorials (tutes). At high school, you spend about 30 hours a week at school, but you will generally have much less contact time at university. This doesn't mean you spend less time on your studies at university - it just means you're expected to do a greater portion of your work away from the classroom. This usually involves research, reading and completing assignments.
Culture
The rules at Curtin aren't as strict as those at high school. For instance, there's no particular dress code like there is at school and no-one's going to call your parents if you miss a class. Obviously though, a certain standard of behaviour is expected (e.g. no smoking in lectures, no eating in the library) and no form of discrimination will be tolerated. At Curtin we encourage tolerance and acceptance of people of all walks of life, and as a result, you will find the Curtin community a welcoming place free of prejudice, where you can always feel comfortable.
Research
Universities aren't just about teaching and learning. One of the major functions of most universities is research. Because universities are attended by so many experts across a range of fields, they play an important role in supplying industry and government with innovative solutions to real problems. As an undergraduate student at Curtin, you may be able to participate in a research project under the guidance of one of your lecturers.
