Experience of moving from UK A levels to university in Sydney

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We are thinking of repatriating to Aus however my son has expressed real desire to stay in UK for university. We are dual citizens. Anyone with experience with this? Any experience finishing A levels in UK then moving to university in Sydney, did it feel a bit like a repeat or was it hard to make friends? Thanks!

I did both - partly educated in the UK, then Australia, then the UK. It's like starting any new thing - making friends through clubs and extra-curriculars etc. In my experience. Australians are pretty racist about the English (not the Scots, Welsh or Irish). The other thing is that the Australian high school matriculation (HSC or similar in various States) is much broader than UK A Levels - much more like Scottish Highers. But really both education systems are pretty good. It might depend which University in Sydney, though - I'd only rate Sydney or UNSW for generalist Arts or Science degrees. Sydney is a world leader, and UNSW tends to be more tech/science oriented in its excellence. UWS is an ex-poly, and Macquarie was a widening access sort of place, when I was working in Australian HE.

So it will depend on his aims. You don't apply for a specific subject, but apply for the degree eg BA, BSc. You generally ae required to do a range of courses in first year then, narrow down to specialise. The Honours qualification is an extra year. In my day, it was much more like a taught MA in the UK - my (Humanities subject) undergrad thesis was 20,000 words, and I did 4 seminars (ie modules) per week over 30 weeks. But in those dats they really worked us, unlike nowadays.

Most students in Australia live at home & work part-time (some of mine seemed to work full-time & university was a hobby in terns of the work they did!)

This is not what you asked but if your son wants to stay in UK why would he not do that? In a system he is familiar with, that supports the education he has had?

Main concern is that we have no family here, I am torn as I would like to return home but feel that we would be returning with an incomplete family unit. He is Lower 6th at the moment so a very tricky time, logistically wise.

We considered this as also dual nationality but to enter an Oz uni they needed both English & maths A levels plus a third. It’d be much easier to move post GCSEs and do the HSCs in Australia as their curriculum is broader - a bit like Scotland or IBs. Ours will maybe give Oz a try after uni. We are staying here for now.

Our A levels just don’t translate very well to the Oz system. What A levels is he taking? It could be worth contacting the admissions ppl but we fell with the need for higher level maths and English / despite all 7-9’s at GCSE’s.

He's expressed a strong desire to stay but.....you are asking about Oz universities??? This is a really tricky time for your son. What's the rush to move now? Can't you wait until he's finished uni? I have a son the same age and there's no way I'd be uprooting him now. Once he's finished uni he can make his own decision whether to remain in UK or look for work in Aus.

At that age I wouldn't move. If it goes wrong they will remember and you will get the blame if they can't get job.

Don't you need to looking at uni now in the UK.

When we emergrated out of the UK we worked out we had 2 years to settle ormove back as you need to be in the UK a few years before or you would have to pay overseas fees for uni.
What is the funding like for uni in Oz.
The only way you son can move to Oz is if he wants to.
What about staying until the end of school having aplyed and got into uni then he could do a gap year in Oz so he has some idea what it might be like. Then he comes back for uni. I am sure you have friends that can look out for him.

How long have you been in the UK?

But if he finishes A levels in the UK and wants to stay for uni why not? He doesn't need to come with you.

A long shot but how about looking at a UK university with a year abroad at an Australian one? Then he can experience both and choose for himself after his degree is finished.

My dd applied just recently with uk A levels and didn’t need special subjects. In the end she decided to do her degree in the uk but she was offered places in oz.

I’d let him go to uni in the UK. Pay for his flight to Australia for Christmas

I would encourage your DC to look at what Auz universities offer in terms of courses and careers, clubs and lifestyles etc.

Its probably not wise to put your foot down with a blanket - this is happening type response, either.

While I don't have experience of Auz education, I do have experience of having our UK kids go thru the US school system and then go to the UK for university.

One DC was determined to attend uni in the uk the other wasn't really interested / that bothered, but a trip and some tours and looking at the options available totally swayed them. Both are now attending Uni in the UK and doing extremely well, despite not having had any education in the UK.

I did a year at Sydney university as a transfer and it's a beautiful place. I particularly loved the outdoor swimming pool. There was a lot less diversity than a London university though and the students were from very privileged backgrounds compared to London (although this was 20+ years ago)

Which universities?

Ahhh @Newmeagain we were looking about 2-3yrs ago and I see that Sydney uni has removed its prerequisite for maths etc. Your experience makes much more sense!

Lots of UK universities offer this.

It's changed a lot. Last time I was at University of Sydney (last year for a conference) it was an observably SE Asian student body. Mainly because they tend to live on campus & study hard while the Anglo-Australians live at home and often work for money a lot more than they study. When I was an undergrad in Australia 30 years ago I had a lot of Greek- & Italian-Australian friends, as well as Hungarian and German peers.

So there is a heck of a lot of diversity - you just probably didn't recognise it.

My DD has just finished her A-levels and had firmed Bristol. She will also apply for the universities of Auckland, Sydney and Canberra in August and will decide when she gets her results whether to stay and go to uni here or go to NZ or Oz in Feb to try it there. She may defer her UK place.

As a NZ citizen she is eligible for local fees in both NZ and Oz despite never living there. And the fees will be 1/3 - 1/2 of UK one.

I'd let him finish school here, it's really easy to apply down there.

Maybe it depends on the degree. When I was there I would say 95% were white Australian women, the vast majority of them lived at home with wealthy parents. Don’t get me wrong though, I had a wonderful time and it was only really later I reflected on the lack of diversity.

Your son needs to finish his A-levels in the UK at the school at which he is currently and receiving full parental support. As other posters have said, moving from A-levels to Australian university is really hard and probably unwise even to entertain for undergraduate.

UK A levels translate to a numerical points system for ATAR, it seems quite straightforward at least for UNSW, on the entry requirements it lists ATAR, A level and IB requirements which is very handy

Sounds like you had a frustrating experience, the A level system is quite limiting! My son has 4 A levels, one which is Further math, I wonder if it is a higher level than the old 4 unit maths which I believe they now call maths extension 2