Degrees ranging from Animal Ecology to Sports Studies will be in the spotlight when USC Fraser Coast opens its doors to prospective students and their families this Saturday (8 July).

Open Day, from 10am to 1pm at the USC campus on Old Maryborough Road, Hervey Bay, will be a valuable study starting point for a wide variety of people – from Year 12 students planning for life after school, to those interested in changing careers or upgrading their skills.

Special panel sessions will have current USC students, graduates and staff sharing stories and advice on how to choose the right study program and career path based on interests and goals, and how to make the best start to university.

Full degrees offered at USC Fraser Coast are Tourism, Leisure and Event Management, Nursing Science, Animal Ecology, Business, Commerce (Accounting), Marketing, Human Services, Sports Studies and Primary Education.

Students can also complete locally the first year of degrees in Science, Social Work, Counselling, Psychology, Social Science, Environmental Science and Secondary Education.

Open Day visitors will be able to speak one-on-one with academics from various programs, and with administrative staff about applying to study at USC’s campuses at Fraser Coast, Sunshine Coast, Gympie, South Bank and Caboolture.

They will be able to tour the local facilities and teaching spaces, including the state-of-the-art nursing and science labs, and the Makerspace robotics room.

High school students going into Year 11 and 12 next year can discover how to work towards a USC degree while still at school by inquiring about the Headstart program.

Another Open Day will be held at USC’s main campus at Sippy Downs on Sunday 23 July. USC will run a free bus services for Fraser Coast residents who would like to attend.

 — Clare McKay