Vice-chancellor David Battersby announced a range of new initiatives and ramped up existing programs on Wednesday for the Ballarat campuses. 

Professor Battersby said the changes aimed to reduce a daunting, traumatic and costly start to university. 

“We take our students very seriously – we want to reassure students that the support doesn’t stop once they get in,  it continues,” Professor Battersby said. 

The university will make  interest free student loans of up to $1000 available for new students.

International students starting their study in 2015 will be eligible for $2000 scholarships towards university student accommodation. 

Restrictions will be lifted and all commencing students will be guaranteed student accommodation at the university. 

The free five-day course to prepare students for university FedReady will be ramped up with free accommodation during the program. 

After a pilot program last year, FedUni will roll out a free online tutoring service from 6pm until 11pm. 

Professor Battersby said prospective students were seeing a lot of debate about the higher education reforms, but no reforms have been enforced yet.

“It’s business as usual for 2015.”

He said as it was coming up to the time where school leavers could change their university preferences, he wanted to reassure them that FedUni was a good decision. 

“Regional students want the full package when it comes to university, not just the course. That’s what we’re providing.” 

Student futures manager Ellen Sabo said each commencing student was paired with a mentor from their course to provide support. 

She said this program was existing, but they were now promoting it to new students so they knew it was out there.

“We want to equip students with the skills for university,” Ms Sabo said. 

She said the after hours tutoring service and FedReady pre-university course all aided students to get the most out of university.

nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au