Smoothing the Path to Uni

Waikato University is looking at ways to knock down some of the barriers stopping students in the regions from going to varsity.

Two major reasons are the cost, and leaving home for the first time. 

So, what’s in store for students from in and around Thames?
 
Waikato University is looking into running a heavily subsided bus service to shuttle students back and forth to Hamilton every day. The proposed cost would be $1 a trip.

More fees’ scholarships specifically for travelling students are also in the pipeline for next year.

There’s also discussion over setting up computers in the library linked to the university, so students can study here on the days they are not travelling.

Principal Dave Sim says this is planned to start in 2017, and the university’s committed to it for five years.  

He says the travel service would mean students had the choice to live at home with their families in Thames, keeping the costs right down, and making the transition to leaving home far easier. 

Waikato University’s Future Students Team will be visiting Thames High School throughout Term 3.