Forget moving to Adelaide – online study appeals to Murraylands students

The Murray River Study Hub is firming as an option for high schoolers, a survey has found.

Online study is becoming a viable alternative to the traditional move to Adelaide, a study of Murraylands high school students has suggested.

Almost half of the next generation of uni students – today's year 11 and 12s – say they will consider studying online if they are able to do so.

The figure was drawn from a survey of 180 high schoolers in the Murraylands and Riverland by the Murray River Study Hub, which offers support to university students at its Murray Bridge and Berri campuses.

Program manager Vanessa Leigh said the survey had showed the study hub was filling a useful niche.

"Local youth want to stay in the region to remain close to family and friends, combine study with local work opportunities or reduce their living costs by avoiding the expense of relocating to the city to live and study," she said.

"On top of this, they can enjoy all the perks of our fantastic river lifestyle and maintain connections with their sporting clubs.

"(The survey) highlights for us the importance of getting our message out there: that we are here and we can link young people with the courses that will take them on to their dream careers."

Health was the most popular subject area among students surveyed – about 30 per cent planned to list it as their first preference.

Also popular were education, science, the arts and law, with tourism and hospitality, business and engineering further down the list.

The survey was conducted to coincide with Careers Week, which ended on May 24.

South Australia’s universities have already moved many of their teaching activities online during the first semester of this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lectures at the University of South Australia will only be offered online for the remainder of 2020.

Photo: Murray River Study Hub.