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Our favourite student discounts while living and studying in Melbourne

At Academia, we want every student to reach their full potential, not only when it comes to obtaining their qualifications, but their lifestyle as a whole, while they are part of our family.

As such, we thought it’d be helpful to share some great local tips, discounts, and free activities you can enjoy while you’re studying and living in Melbourne.

From public transport tricks to local food that won’t break the bank, we hope your time at Academia is more than just study – it’s about living, too, after all!

Public transport

If you are studying in the city and living nearby, chances are you won’t have the desire or need for a car.

Not only is owning and maintaining a car expensive, but with Melbourne’s excellent public transport network, you simply don’t need it!

Best of all, students with a valid concession card can benefit from heavily reduced public transport fees – up to 50% off, in most cases!

Free Tram Zone

Additionally,the city of Melbourne is pleased to offer all patrons a FREE Tram Zone in the CBD.

That’s right – if you’re travelling in the city within this Zone, you can get from A to B without touching on your Myki.

The Free Tram Zone is bordered by Spring Street in the east, Flinders Street in the south, and La Trobe Street in the north.

The Zone extends to include Dockland and the Queen Victoria Market.

Regular announcements while on board will remind you if you are about to travel beyond the Zone, at which you will need to ensure you “touch on” your Myki ticket. View a map on PTV’s website here.

Remember, you must always travel with a valid ticket, except when travelling exclusively in the Free Tram Zone. Only valid student concession cards can apply for a concession Myki.

Food

Food is the fuel that keeps Academia students going!

Whether you desire a quick study break or want to celebrate a milestone with close friends, food is essential!

What makes food even better?

Discounts and specials!

On our little block alone (that’s Lonsdale Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets) there are countless cafes, restaurants, filled with all different types of cuisine as well as fabulous student and lunchtime discounts.

Here are a few of our favourites, all located within steps of our campus!

Cafe 358

Yummy and cheap banh mi? Yes please! Cafe 358 is lauded for its fresh and delicious sandwiches, and is located 130m from Academia.

They also offer cheap breakfast specials before 11am.

A25 Pizzeria

Located just downstairs from Academia on the corner of Hardware Lane, you’ll find A25 Pizzeria.

The lovely and bright cafe is a great spot for a catch up and delicious meal. A25 offers lunchtime specials on Mondays and Tuesdays – every Monday, any pizza is just $15, and the same goes on Tuesdays for their pasta menu.

Academia students also receive specials such as $2 for small and $3 for large coffees every day of the week and $12 for pizza or pasta Monday to Wednesdays.

Little Ramen Bar

Who doesn’t love the aromatic smell and flavourful taste of ramen?

At the Little Ramen Bar, the broth is prepared fresh daily from 5am. But all you need to do is show up and eat it!

Asian Beer Cafe

During O-Week particularly, Asian Beer Cafe offers students some great discounts, specials, and activities, but throughout the year, they also offer a lunchtime special of a meal + schooner of Grumpy Bastard beer.

Choose from a variety of options including Fish ‘N’ Chips and Classic Parma for just $15 between 11am and 3pm every day.

Museums

Melbourne Museum

Did you know that students with a valid concession card can enjoy FREE entry to Melbourne Museum?

Located in Nicholson Street, Carlton, the museum is easily accessible from the CBD via bus or tram

Scienceworks

Over the Westgate Bridge just to the west of the city, you’ll find Scienceworks. This science museum and planetarium is a sure hit with kids and adults alike!

Students can enjoy free entry and benefit from great discounts on displays like the Planetarium Show and the Lightning Room Show.

Immigration Museum

Victoria (and Australia, in fact) is a cultural hub filled with people from a diverse mix of ethnicities and backgrounds.

If you want to discover more about Victoria’s fascinating immigration history, you can’t miss the Immigration Museum. It’s located on the corner of Flinders and Williams Streets. From Academia’s campus, hop on the 58 tram or 234 or 236 bus.

Studying and libraries

State Library of Victoria

As much a tourist attraction as it is a library, the State Library of Victoria is one of Melbourne’s most iconic sites.

Don’t forget, though, that you’re in a working library so keep noise to a minimum and make sure your mobile phone is switched to silent!

City Library

Getting to this Flinders Street public library from Academia is simple: just jump on the 19, 57, or 59 tram from Elizabeth Street (just outside Melbourne Central train station), and within a few minutes, hop off at Collins Street and complete the short 3-minute walk.

The City Library is open until 8pm from Monday to Thursday, 6pm Fridays, and 5pm on the weekends.

The Age student subscription discount

Did you know that The Age newspaper offers students a discount to their digital subscription?

All you need to do is register a valid student email address with UNiDAYS and login or sign-up here. Subscriptions start from just $1 per week for the entire duration that you’re a student!

Study in Melbourne today with Academia!

Whether you’re a local who was born and bred in Melbourne, or are an international student seeking an exciting adventure in Australia, Academia is ready to welcome you!

All of our courses – from English to Commercial Cookery, Accounting, and Childcare – are fully approved and accredited by the Government of Australia.

Got questions? Please get in touch!

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Want to study English in Australia? Reasons to learn English

A language mutual to many tourists and locals alike, English is often regarded as the “International Language”.

As such, it’s an increasingly popular language to study, particularly for foreign students who wish to study in, move to, and work in a new country like Australia.

This week, we run through reasons why you should study English, and how learning a second language can boost brain and memory function as well as concentration and multi-tasking!

English is the most widely spoken language in the world

While Chinese and Spanish beat English is terms of the most spoken languages, English is often considered the most widely spoken and widely spread language in the world.

This is due to several factors:

  • English is an official language of 56 countries
  • The vast number of people who speak English as a second language, in addition to their native one
  • The popularity of English being taught as a foreign language in schools all over the world

It’s no wonder an estimated 1.5 billion people all over the world are learning English!

English is the language of…

Science

Good English skills are critical when following a career in science, as, according to Why English Matters, up to 98% of scientific research papers are written in English.

Aviation

On the 1st January 2008, the International Civil Aviation Organisation declared that all Air Traffic Controllers and Flight Crew Members associated with international flights must be proficient in the English language.

This ruling stemmed from concerns rising from air traffic controllers and pilots to safely and effectively communicate.

Business

Did you know that 1 in 4 people speak English at a “useful level”? That’s the equivalent of about 1.75 billion people!

As mentioned in the previous point, English is not only an official language of 56 countries, but it is also increasingly the secondary or a dominant language in other countries.

Learning English helps you further your studies

Many of our international students who enrol in our English courses do so to power them with the knowledge of the English language which then allows them to further their studies in their chosen fields, such as Patisserie or Commercial Cookery, Childcare and many more.

Our English for Academic Purposes course, for example, supports international students who have the goal of entering and studying at an Australian university or college.

During this particular English course, you’ll focus specifically on reading and writing skills.

You’ll be assessed through:

  • Writing essays
  • Making presentations
  • Language analysis (for example, reading and summarising articles)

The benefits of learning a second language

There are plenty of benefits of learning a second language beyond furthering your studies or career prospects.

Learning a second language like English can…

Improve your memory

A 2013 study from the University of Granada found that bilingual children performed better in “working memory” tasks than monolingual children.

Working memory refers to short-term memory including perceiving, processing, and storing information.

Engage your brain

Research has shown that those who study or learn a second language display better concentration than those who knew only one language.

The research also showed that it didn’t matter whether participants learnt the second language in infancy, adolescence, or as an adult, so it’s never too late to start studying English!

Boost concentration

Yet another study has found that those who know a second language are better at ignoring irrelevant distractions and focusing on their core task.

Improve your first language

This is a really interesting one!

Learning the linguistics of your second language (whether it be English or any other) will also be applied to your native tongue, improving your writing, speaking, and reading skills?

Think of learning a second language as a sort of refresher course for your first, where you revisit grammar, sentence structure, and conjugations.

Enhance global travels

With a solid understanding of the English language, you can feel confident while travelling to and communicating in the 56 countries that call English an official language!

Learning English doesn’t only help you when it comes to planning and booking accommodation, flights, and activities, but also expressing what you want in a restaurant, to a tour guide, a shop assistant, or your hotel receptionist.

A grasp of the ever-popular English language allows you to independently travel and enhance your experiences!

Want to learn English in Australia?

Academia welcomes hundreds of students every year through our doors to study English and help propel further studies.

Our English courses are available at both our Melbourne and Brisbane campuses, where students from all over the world are nurtured by supportive, warm, and encouraging teachers.

Find out more about our English courses, all of which are NEAS approved:

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Choose a rewarding career: 5 reasons to study aged care in Melbourne

A career in aged care can be challenging. Looking after elderly patients often means dealing with complex, unique medical needs that don’t apply to other groups.

Sure, it comes with its own challenges, but as all of our students who go on to enjoy fruitful careers attest to, it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences.

Are you are thinking of making a career shift? Unsure what path you should take in the coming years? And most importantly, do you love being able to make a difference to people’s lives?

If so, you might want to consider studying aged care with Melbourne’s Academia.

1) A career in aged care is great for social butterflies

Do you like to engage, converse, and connect with others?

Do you find it easy to connect with people from all walks of life, regardless of age?

If so, you’ve come in the right place!

Aged care is more than helping manage seniors’ health and wellbeing – it’s also about ensuring their mental and social wellbeing is looked after, too.

That’s also what makes it such a great opportunity for extroverts to connect with all sorts of people you mightn’t otherwise.

Think you’ve got a lot of experiences under your belt? Seniors have a whole lifetime of stories and experiences to share – literally. All these and more are just some of the things that you can learn from older people.

2)  Working in aged care is rewarding

Everybody wants a career where they’ll be challenged and more importantly, rewarded.

And for certain people, working in aged care is the ticket.

When we ask our graduates why they continue to work in aged care, one of the most common responses we receive is that it’s incredibly rewarding.

That’s because aged carers make a huge difference in the lives of not just their charges, but of their families too.

In particular, carers play a huge impact in improving quality of life for many seniors. For example, some of our students wound up specialising in palliative care, helping seniors with health conditions.

These seniors often have difficulty moving, running errands or otherwise living independently. As you can imagine, the loss of independence can be crushing.

By being there to help them, you’re making a huge difference to their lives. While that may seem minor to us, it makes a world of difference to many seniors.

Additionally, you’ll also be helping their families out too.

Not all families have the time and resources to provide care. Aged carers guarantee that their loved ones are getting the attention they deserve, taking that burden off their shoulders.
And that, as they say, is priceless.

3)  Plentiful opportunities to advance your career or specialise

Like we mentioned above, many of the health problems faced by seniors are unique to aged care settings.

As such, this opens many doors to many additional pathways for continuing your studies and as such, advancing your career, including:

  • Social support
  • Dementia
  • Personal care
  • Domestic assistance
  • Respite
  • Palliative care

Each presents a possible opportunity to take your career in aged care to the next level.

4)  Aged care workers are in high demand

Compared to other fields in healthcare, there’s a surprising lack of individuals working in aged care.

Demand for aged care and related services far outstripping the supply of available carers, making your job prospects rosy.

And with Australia’s ageing population, you can expect a good amount of job security in the future.

Over the past years, the number of Australians that need aged care is projected to grow, with the number of over-65s predicted to grow to 8.7 million – 22% of the population – by 2056.

The result? Higher demand for carers.

So why not start a bit early? Study aged care today to get established in this very promising industry!

Enrol in our aged care courses in Melbourne

Learn with Academia – enrol today!

Any career in aged care starts with training – and that’s where we come in.

Study aged care in Melbourne with Academia, and you’ll enjoy a world-class education in aged care, combining theoretical learning, practical learning, and real-world placements in a registered aged care facility.

Our Melbourne campus offers two fantastic qualifications:

Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)

Provide excellent individual support to the elderly in a residential aged care facility or home care through tutorials, practical training, and workshops.

At Academia, you will learn how to operate equipment and machinery akin to a real-life aged care facility.

The Certificate 3 requires you to complete 120 hours of training in a registered aged care facility. Unlike other institutes, we arrange this for you.

Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC33015)

Highly qualified training staff will teach you how to complete specialised tasks and services in aged care.

Job opportunities can be sought in home and community care, residential aged care, retirement villages, and even hospitals.

Complete 120 hours of on the job training and be qualified to supervise and coordinate with people working in community care, retirement villages, and hospitals.

Academia has strong industry partnerships, and can connect you with a registered aged care facility to complete your placement.

Unsure which one is best for your planned career move? Get in touch with us today – we’d be happy to help out!

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Is childcare right for you? 6 questions to ask yourself before studying childcare

Childcare industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia, with IBISWorld recording 6.5% annual growth over the past few years alone.

And with dual-income households becoming the norm, it’s one that we predict will continue growing for quite some time!

You may be thinking about embarking on a career in childcare yourself and have started researching places to study childcare.

The reality? A love for children isn’t the only thing you’ll need to succeed in childcare, but it’ll certainly help!

So, how do you know if childcare is the career for you? Academia helps you uncover six important questions you should answer when it comes to deciding if childcare could be the rewarding and enriching career you’re searching for!
Interested in studying childcare? Explore our childcare courses: view the Certificate 3 here and the Diploma here.

Is childcare right for you?

At Academia, we offer a range of training courses in childcare. We train hundreds of students, helping them gain the skills and training to confidently enter the childcare industry.

So we know a thing or two about what makes a successful early childhood educator!

Do you love children?

You should love your job.

And for childcare students, that means having a love for kids!

That means a passion for watching them grow, an innate desire to help them learn, and the skills and compassion to support them at all times.

Are you patient in dealing with children?

They say patience is a virtue. When it comes to childcare however, it can be a necessity!

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: children can test your patience.

Young children don’t have fully-developed coping strategies or emotional awareness. In many cases, this results in tantrums and outbursts.

As such, working with kids requires patience and self-restraint. Successful childcare educators need to be easy-going, tolerant, understanding, and flexible.

Next to a love for kids, this is one of the most important attributes childcare educators need.

How energetic, vibrant, and lively can you be when you are with kids?

Anyone who spends a lot of time around kids knows that they have an almost uncontrollable amount of energy. They’ll constantly be running, jumping and playing without a pause (if only we adults could still do that!)

Not to mention, many of the daily routines that come with working in childcare requires strength, endurance, and stamina. The typical routine can include activities such games, physical activity, dance, and even yoga!

If you’ve got the stamina to keep up with this seemingly boundless energy your kids display, childcare could be an ideal career move!

Can you communicate with children well?

Communicating to kids is more than just talking to them. Much of it is conducted non-verbally, through body language and voice tone.

As such, you’ll need to be skilled in understanding the nonverbal cues a child gives off, as well as controlling your own nonverbal communication and striking the right balance between authority and friendliness.

And it doesn’t end there either.

Communication is a two-way street. On top of being good at communicating with kids, it’s also important that you are a good listener too.

You need to be able to listen and respond in a sensitive way to things your charges may say to you – not just the good news, but also things they might find distressing, scary, or embarrassing.

Do you have a passion for teaching?

Working in childcare is much more than just “babysitting”. Early childhood lays the foundations for the rest of a child’s life.

As such, it’s crucial that childcare workers nurture a child’s development and encourage the development of:

  • Literacy and numeracy skills
  • Social and emotional skills
  • Problem-solving and conflict resolution
  • Confidence
  • Mechanical skills

That’s why in recent years, childcare has shifted from the notion of just “looking after kids” to true early childhood education.

As such, a passion for teaching is quickly becoming a crucial attribute of a good childcare worker!

Do you know how to effectively communicate with adults too?

Childcare workers don’t only deal with kids – but with their parents and guardians as well.

As such, it’s crucial you can communicate with parents about:

  • Their child’s development
  • Achievements and struggles
  • Their child’s early education

Effectively communicating with adults on how their children behaved and performed during reading or activity time, for example, can better help them understand which areas need improvement.

Confidently communicating with the parents helps you give positive and negative feedback that contribute to the overall wellness of the child.

Study childcare in Melbourne and Brisbane

Enroll with Academia today!

You’ve got the passion and drive for a career helping mould children in their early development.

However, that isn’t the only thing you’ll need to enjoy a long, rewarding career in childcare – you’ll also need a strong theoretical base and the right qualification!

Our childcare courses cover elements such as:

  • Education techniques
  • Early childhood development
  • Allergies and first aid training
  • Nutrition

And we’ve got the courses, facilities and placements to turn that into a reality.

Academia trains those who have an interest in starting a rewarding career in early childcare education. We offer two courses at both our Melbourne and Brisbane campuses:

Combining theory classes and hands-on placements, both of these courses provide you with the theoretical base you need to enjoy a long, rewarding career.

Interested in studying childcare? Got questions about studying with Academia? Contact us today!

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5 reasons to study commercial cookery

Does good food put you in a good mood?

Are you endlessly scrolling through Netflix, searching for food- and restaurant-related movies? (We suggest watching Chef, by the way!)

Are you constantly dreaming about new recipes or putting your own spin on tried-and-tested traditional recipes?

Hone those skills and turn your passion in the kitchen into a career – study commercial cookery with Academia today!

This week, we share some top reasons as to why you might consider enrolling in our commercial cookery courses.

1. The industry is positively booming!

“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.“

Anna Thomas

For the past few years, the sentiment has been much of the same: chefs are in high demand!

Restaurants, hotels, and other related hospitality businesses scramble to find qualified, hard-working, and skills chefs to fill their kitchens and as such, fill seats in their dining spaces!

The drawback, specifically, isn’t quite the numbers of people wanting to become chefs or commercial cooks; rather is that percentage of these who become qualified, completing their relevant studies and obtaining the right qualifications.

So if you want to take the dive into a career in cookery, you need to start with the right qualification! Explore our commercial cookery courses here.

2. Career prospects are plentiful

“I was 32 when I started cooking. Up until then, I just ate!”

Julia Child

When you enter the commercial cookery industry, you enter an industry ripe for expansion – the only way is up here, and you’ve got plenty of avenues to follow.

Take Academia’s commercial cookery courses, for example:

Within this department, you can pursue one of three streams – commercial cookery, patisserie, or hospitality management.

This means that you can begin your studies and then adjust your pathway as you discover and ignite passions within the industry.

Perhaps you have a penchant for producing delicious and beautiful sweet treats? Then the patisserie stream could be for you!

Career outcomes are plentiful, and depending on your qualification, skill, and area of work, you could be looking at moving into roles like:

  • Qualified chef or cook
  • Chef de partie
  • Supervisory chef or cook
  • Function or event manager
  • Executive or head chef
  • Food and beverage manager
  • And so much more!

3. You can grow your career

“Chefs are leaders in their own little world.”

Eric Ripert

In the cooking and hospitality, YOU fuel your career path – you lay the stones and take the steps you want in order to grow and advance your career.

Once you’ve got your qualification, teamed with real-life work experience in some of Melbourne and Brisbane’s most renowned hospitality facilities, the only way is up!

Chef superstars aren’t born overnight (unless, that is, you’re a Masterchef contestant!) so if you’re willing to work hard, stay motivated, and climb the ladder, success is your destiny!

4. Work with a close-knit group of individuals

“There’s a bond among a kitchen staff, I think. You spend more time with your chef in the kitchen than you do with your own family.”

Gordon Ramsay

If you love the buzz of a busy kitchen and are ready to be challenged by some full yet flexible working hours, a career in commercial cookery could be for you!

One of the best qualities we hear about time and time again from our students completing placement is the close-knit bond they form with their fellow workmates.

Your colleagues quickly become more than just that; they become like family, working with you as together, you triumph the highs and lows of a high-pressure commercial kitchen environment.

Best of all, you all share a passion for great food and outstanding attention to detail!

5. You want to turn a passionate hobby into a career!

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.“

George Bernard Shaw

One of the most important traits any aspiring chef or cook must have is an innate passion and genuine love for food.

Certainly, there will be challenges as you navigate the waters of a commercial kitchen, but your passion will truly see you through, as you discover new ways to conquer problems and come out on top!

A passion in the kitchen is the first sign – and often one of the most important reasons – you should consider pursuing a career in commercial cookery.

Start your career with Academia today – enrol in our commercial cookery courses

The most important ingredient in kick starting your career is with Academia’s commercial cookery courses

Explore the school here and follow the links within to find out more about our specific commercial cookery courses.

Commercial cookery stream

  • Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
  • Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
  • Diploma of Hospitality Management – Major in Commercial Cookery
  • Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management – Major in Commercial Cookery

Patisserie stream

  • Certificate III in Patisserie
  • Certificate IV in Patisserie
  • Diploma of Hospitality Management – Major in Patisserie
  • Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management – Major in Patisserie

Explore our commercial cookery school.

Got a question or prefer to chat?

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Do you have what it takes to enrol in our hairdressing courses?

Do you love everything about the beauty industry?

If so, you’ve probably thought about pursuing a career in hairdressing at one stage or another!

If the thought of helping others redefine their “look” speaks to you, it may be time to think about studying hairdressing.

Of course, wanting to succeed in hairdressing is only one part of the equation (albeit an important one) – just as important is having the qualities of a successful hairdresser.

What kinds of qualities make for a passionate and talented hairdresser? We explore below.

1) A passion for hairstyling

“Love what you do, and do what you love.”

Words to live by, if you ask us!

And when it comes to hairdressing, it isn’t just a healthy attitude to take – it’s also what separates great hairdressers from the rest!

Naturally, a passion for all things hair is the secret to success as a hairdresser.

The best students are the ones that love to explore, experiment, and keep updated with the latest hair trends.

Ideally, the thought of being able to spend your career defining hair trends and making people beautiful should speak to you.
Does this sound like you? If so, studying hairdressing might be your next career move!

2) An eye for visuals

Since so much of hairdressing is all about appearance, it’s crucial that you’re the type of person who has a keen eye for what looks good and what doesn’t.

This goes beyond following the latest hair trends – many of your customers are going to put their appearance in your hands, simply saying “do what you think looks good”.

Needless to say, that’s a pretty big responsibility!

The best hairdressers should be good with colours and shapes.

They’ll need to have a solid idea of what hairstyles complement different face shapes, as well as which colours best match different skin tones.

3) Strong customer-facing skills

Hairdressing isn’t like retail or admin.

As a hairdresser, you’ll be working directly with your clients – as such, your customer service skills are just as important as your proficiency with the clippers.

Does making conversation come to you as easily as breathing? Do you enjoy meeting new people?

If so, you’ve got one of the most important parts of the role nailed right there!

4) Attentiveness and an eye for detail

We’re going to level with you: working with hair is a lot harder than it looks!

When they start studying hairdressing, many of our students assume they’ll be able to pick it up with ease, only to find out that hair can be wildly unpredictable:

  • Sometimes, hair doesn’t react the way you think it will
  • Thick, layered hair must be treated differently to thin hair
  • Different textures affect technique

While hairdressing courses provide plenty of hands-on learning that teaches you how to deal with hairdressing, you’ll also need considerable attention to detail to back it up.

5) Can work independently and with the team

A hairdresser’s career can see them working in all sorts of places:

  • Busy “high street” salons
  • Independent, self-run businesses
  • Boutique salons
  • Hotels and resorts
  • Film and television

Your certificate opens the door to plenty of opportunities – these are just a handful of the locations our hairdressing students have found employment and as such, enjoyed a rewarding career!

To find success as a hairdresser, you’ll need to be flexible. You’ll need the skills to work independently as well as part of a team.

If you’d like to aim for a more senior or managerial role, our Diploma of Salon Management will help you learn the skills to coordinate and manage your own staff.

Our hairdressing courses help you turn your passion for hairdressing into a career!

Love everything to do with beauty, fashion, and hair?

Why not study hairdressing with Academia?

Passion, focus, and conversational skills will get you so far as a hairdresser. For the practical skills and technical training, enrol in Academia’s hairdressing courses!

Certificate III in Hairdressing (SHB30416)

During this course, you’ll acquire technical hairdressing skills such as hair cutting, design, styling, and hair colouring.

You’ll also receive training in leadership skills for problem resolution, helping you provide excellent service as well as improving your communication, customer service, and hygiene.

Find out more.

Certificate IV in Hairdressing (SHB40216)

Requiring a Certificate III in Hairdressing plus an additional year of full-time employment, the Certificate IV will see you work with senior hairdressers who will serve as technical advisers and expose you to more specialised hairdressing services.

Find out more.

Diploma of Salon Management (SHB50216)

Eager to open your own salon or manage your own team?

This diploma includes 20 weeks of on-campus training and a 20-week internship in a salon.

During your studies and internship, you will learn the skills required to become an effective salon manager or small business owner, including planning, monitoring and administrative skills!

Find out more.

Study hairdressing in Melbourne with Academia!

Take the first step towards a rewarding career in the hairdressing industry with Academia’s hairdressing courses in Melbourne.

We give students the training needed to succeed in this buzzing job market!

Got questions? We’ll help you find the right answers.

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3 free study tips that improve recall and retention

Studying can be a very time consuming and stressful activity.

If you’re not doing it well, it can feel like you’ve studied for hours and haven’t been able to retain anything. Or maybe you’ve found yourself reading the same line over and over again and still not understanding what it says (we’ve all been there!)

So, what are some completely free and effective study tips you can start implementing immediately?

Exercise creates more effective study habits than caffeine

A hot cup of coffee is everyone’s go to best friend for a late night study session.

What you might not know, is that the warm coffee cup on your desk is actually the devil in disguise. Caffeine may give you an instant energy high, but your energy levels will hit a downwards spiral that will leave you feeling stressed and overworked.

Our most important study tip is not to drink coffee when you’re feeling tired.

Trying fighting off the heavy eyelids and constant yawning with exercise, instead!

We aren’t telling you to leave your books and study desk behind to go on a 10km run.

Squat your way to a better mood!

No, instead, get up out of your chair and smash some quick-fire exercises, like 30 squats followed by a round of sit-ups and push-ups.

These are really good exercises to add to your study routine because they can be done in a small space and they don’t take long to perform.

In addition to keeping you alert, exercise will release hormones into your body that will put you in a good mood.

Coffee on the other hand releases a wide variety of hormones that aren’t so positive.

You can’t deny that you’re more likely to keep studying and stay focused if you’re in a good mood rather than stressed out and hitting the burn-out period in your caffeine high.

Find a quiet area free from distractions to study effectively

Your study area can greatly contribute to your brain’s ability to both focus and retain information, as well as recall it later.

A well-known, but very effective, study tip is not to study in your bedroom. Your brain associates your bedroom with sleep and relaxation. It is unlikely to perform at its highest capacity if you are trying to study in your room.

(In fact, your bedroom should only be reserved for sleep – that means no eating or watching TV in bed!)

Even more important than not studying inside your bedroom is not to study in your bed. The sensory information your brain receives when you’re in bed is comfort, warmth, and the smell of your sheets.

These all things your brain will associate with turning off and going to sleep. If you continue to study in bed you will change the association your brain has with your bed. It will begin to associate the sensory information it is receiving with concentration, hard work and stress. It will become very difficult for you to sleep in your own bed if this occurs.

So where should you study?

It is important to work in an place that will mimic the environment your brain will be required to recall information in.

For example if you are going to need to remember what you are studying in an exam then you should study in an exam environment: somewhere quiet, away from other people and removed from things that might distract you.

If you are studying for an exam, don’t study in a kitchen where you are likely to be interrupted by people getting dinner, cleaning up or just hanging out.

Try go to a spare room, your parents’ office, or to the local library.

Take breaks while studying

We know it might sound counterintuitive to advise taking breaks while studying, but it’s important to remember that your mind and body sometimes need a moment to rest and recuperate!

Did you know that frequent breaks can actually help boost focus, increase retention, and reduce stress?

Breaks don’t need to be disruptive to your whole day; it could be something simple as watching an episode of your favourite TV show or heading out for a 15-minute brisk walk in the fresh air.

Break mistakes you may be making

  • Taking breaks that last more than 30 minutes (a longer break makes it harder to re-focus)
  • Not moving during your break – stretch your legs and fuel your mind with physical movement
  • Skipping out on food – make sure you have easy access to healthy snacks, and drink water consistently

Studying for long hours without a break tires the mind just as exercising without a break tires muscles.

So give your body (both physically and mentally) the chance to recuperate with frequent study breaks.

Bonus: wearing the same scents may help your body recall information!

When it comes to memory, smell is the strongest sense the human body has in terms of recall.

Your brain is capable of retrieving information from your long term memory based off nothing other than smell.

Psychologists recommend wearing the same perfume, cologne, or deodorant while you study that you will wear when you take a test.

You brain is a vast chasm of information and it will retain knowledge you are not consciously aware of.

How cool is that?!

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