For ambitious students across Australia, the traditional university path often means putting professional life on hold. However, the University of New England (UNE) is challenging that notion with its flexible study model, allowing learners to seize career opportunities while earning their qualifications. Current students are already reaping the benefits, seamlessly blending work experience with their academic pursuits.
Blending Campus Life with Professional Ambition
Eaden Maslen, a dedicated nursing student at UNE, exemplifies this successful balance. By splitting her time between on-campus life in Armidale and online study from her hometown of Tamworth, she has managed to pursue her degree without sacrificing her personal and professional life. "Studying nursing, I knew I wanted a New Graduate position in Tamworth to stay close to my family and support network," Eaden explains.
Her week is strategically divided: part of it is spent living on campus at Wright College, where she serves as a Resident Leader, participates in college events, and plays netball for the Armidale Blues. The other half is dedicated to working at a dental clinic in Tamworth and focusing on her studies remotely. This structure has allowed her to submit assignments on time, attend essential intensive practical sessions, be a diligent employee, and maintain a fulfilling lifestyle. "Online study has meant that I've been able to have that balance," she says.
From Classroom Theory to Real-World Agronomy
The flexibility to switch between study modes has also proven crucial for agricultural student Jimmy Brunner. He found that UNE's well-taught online courses and carefully planned in-person intensive schools allowed him to integrate work seamlessly. "The benefit of studying online was that I was also able to start a job in merchandise sales. Since then, I'm now in a graduate agronomy role," Jimmy states.
He was pleasantly surprised by how directly his university learning applied to his professional role. Concepts that once seemed abstract in lectures, like molecular biology, became invaluable in workplace discussions. "When my boss was talking about similar concepts the other day, I started to connect the dots a lot more," he notes, highlighting the practical value of his theoretical education.
The UNE Advantage: A Head Start on the Future
Both students credit their UNE experience with giving them a significant career advantage. For Eaden, clinical placements were transformative. "I was very lucky to gain a Collaboration position with the Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital," she shares. These placements allowed her to apply lecture knowledge to real patients, building crucial skills and familiarity with the hospital before even starting her formal graduate role.
Jimmy frames the benefit in broader terms: "I think it's all about putting yourself ahead in life. The bigger head start you can get for anything, the better off you are." He emphasises the powerful synergy of learning theory at university while gaining practical experience on the job.
To help students begin their journey, UNE is offering a 'Settle in for Free' initiative for 2026. This offer provides free Trimester 1 accommodation at select residential colleges for first-year, full-time Higher Education Continuity Guarantee eligible students who enrol from November 2025 and confirm their accommodation by January 31, 2026. The participating colleges are:
- Duval College
- Robb College
- Austin Page College
- Wright Village
This initiative underscores UNE's commitment to making the transition to university life both accessible and affordable, setting students on a path where they don't have to choose between their education and their career.
