careernav.

Three to four years is the average length of time for a tertiary degree. However, some can take up to five and even six years to complete. A course in Wine science and Viticulture can take eight years via distance education – although on campus, it’s only three. Excluding distance education and students who defer their course, there are particular degrees that are notorious for taking longer than average. Our career advice is understand what you getting yourself in to BEFORE you start. Talk to different universities, current students, tutors and lecturers about the course. Exactly what is involved, how many lecture hours each week, reading requirements, assignment time and pressures of the course.

• Dentistry. This includes the time it takes to specialise within a chosen area of dentistry, including orthodontics, Periodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The initial degree is five years, and then add another year for Honours, with two years of clinical experience, and then post-graduate studies.
• Medicine. A standard degree in Medicine or Surgery takes around four to five years. Following this, students have to attend four years of medical school, two years of internship and residency, and between three and eight years as a registrar, depending on their chosen speciality. Some people are not fully-qualified specialists until they are well into their thirties.
• Engineering. Well-known for its specialisations taking up to five years to complete.
• Law. As a stand-alone degree, this tends to be four years. Put it in a double degree, and you’ve got yourself at least five years of intensive study.
• Construction Management/Architecture. This degree can take between four and five years. 

Other lengthy degrees include areas of health science, education, social worker and veterinary science. Do you think you could handle up to six or more years of study before you start working in the career of your choice? You can only hope it’s financially worth it and there are jobs available when you start.

If you have any advice for potential uni students, post a reply and share you experiences.