Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership

Name: Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership
Price: <p>Tuition: per semester AU$17,500</p> AUD

VU course code: SBOL | CRICOS: 099055M | Level of study: Undergraduate

Duration

3 years

Delivery mode

Hybrid

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$17,500

Location

Footscray Park

Next start date

24 February 2025

Overview

Launch an exciting career in the great outdoors, with Victoria University's Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership.

This unique degree is designed to meet the needs of the outdoor-education and recreation sectors, helping you create a rewarding lifelong career.

You'll learn to apply your on-campus study through a range of activities in our outdoor labs. This practical experience combined with your knowledge of the natural environment, group leadership and planning will open up diverse career possibilities in adventure tourism, environmental education, outdoor recreation, nature tourism and more.

We offer an exceptional opportunity to gain career experience through a paid internship with The Outdoor Education Group. This internship has been designed to work in tandem with your study, so you can apply best-practice theory to real situations.

Throughout the Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership program, the main themes will be explored through adventure-based activities such as:

bushwalking
canoeing
cycling
white-water rafting
alpine activities
rock-climbing.

Join VU for one of the most adrenaline-packed degrees in Australia!

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Integrate knowledge and skills related to Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure Sports to become a leader in their area of expertise;

Develop evidence based practice in Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure Sports to support a diverse range of individual, group, community and stakeholder needs;

Demonstrate skill specific knowledge and technique in a broad range of outdoor adventure activities to use as a platform for the development of meta-skills related to Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure Sports;

Exhibit knowledge related to the natural and cultural history, land management, hydrology, geology, and ecology directly relevant to selected natural environments and outdoor experiences;

Synthesise information gathered from outdoor leadership research to develop knowledge and understanding of professional identity and practice; and,

Evaluate a diverse range of policies and procedures to enable the safe delivery and implementation of field based programs related to Outdoor Education, Recreation and Adventure Sports.
: Apply for our innovative paid internship program to gain invaluable work experience while you study.
Our partnership with the Outdoor Education Group (OEG) gives us paid internships for 35 of our students, who will work part time for the second and third year of their degrees. When you graduate, there's an exciting opportunity to apply for a two- to three-year full-time contract with OEG.
If you decide not to take up the industry internship, you can select another complementary major or two minors and further specialise in a professional area of your interest or passion.
: Study this course via our award-winning VU Block Model®, where you complete one subject at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several at once.
Learning in workshop-style classes, you’ll develop strong connections with your peers and practical skills for your future career.
You’ll also get fast feedback on your assignments, helping you to improve quickly as you progress through your course.
Learn more about the VU Block Model®
: Achieve your full potential with The Learning Hub, which help you develop your confidence, academic ability, and study skills.
Benefit from in-person mentoring and study sessions, along with a range of digital learning modules that you can access anytime.
Get help from our online, 24/7 support service to polish your assignments before you submit, and receive guidance on writing, referencing, maths and more.
Read more about The Learning Hub

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

Entry criteria

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
PLUS:
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score or 6.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking).
OR:
Completion of a Foundation course or equivalent.

Special entry programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Additional information

Due to the nature of the field teaching components of this course students should note that some unit delivery will take place outside of the normal university hours. Please note that SOL2010 Natural Environments 2 will be delivered during 2B4, however the field teaching will take place after the end of the 2B4 block due to environmental constraints.

Students wishing to undertake SMAOLI Outdoor Leadership Industry Internship major will be required to undertake a selection process, managed by the organisation offering the internship through their standard employment process, to ensure their suitability for the available internship options. This selection process will take place in the second half of the first year of study.

Students may incur a levy of approximately $2000 across the duration of the course for transport, accommodation and camping fees associated with field teaching. This levy will be charged at a unit level depending on the requirements specific to the unit.

Students will require a Working with Children Check and National Police Check to be eligible to undertake and participate in workplace visits, placements or projects. Use the following site links to obtain additional information:
http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274

Students will need to undertake an industry standard first aid course and an industry recognised aquatic rescue course by the end of their first year to satisfy Industry risk management and VIT requirements. The Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS) will determine the standard for these courses.

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership, students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of First Year Core units
96 credit points of Professional Core units

Plus one of the following: Option A:

96 credit points of SMAOLI Outdoor Leadership Industry Internship Major studies

OR Option B:

96 credit points of Major studies from the approved list

OR Option C:

96 credit points of Minor studies from the approved list

Units

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

The Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership offers several career pathways:

camp program manager
environmental educator
outdoor educator
outdoor adventure guide, instructor or facilitator
park ranger
teaching (with additional Master of Teaching (Secondary Education))
business owner
eco and adventure tourism.

The nature-based outdoor economy offers many career opportunities. An industry-based report Outdoors Victoria and Sport and Recreation Victoria – Victoria’s nature based outdoor economy, indicates this industry is worth $7.4 billion annually to Victoria’s economy, employing 71,000 full-time jobs.

On graduation, you may continue on to our Master of Teaching (Secondary) to become a registered teacher.

Affiliations & memberships

When you study this course you benefit from affiliations and memberships with the Outdoor Education Group and Outdoors Victoria.

VU stories

Want a career in outdoor recreation?

National Head of Educational Delivery with Outdoor Education Group

"Nowhere else in the country can outdoor education students gain the valuable and unique blend of practical skills, academic understanding and on-field experience that VU’s Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership offers."

Want a career in outdoor recreation?