University of Tasmania, Australia

We are now seeking participants who are willing to undertake a University course in any part of the University of Tasmania, across the State. Study can be part-time or full-time, at undergraduate or postgraduate levels.

Eligibility

To be part of the study, you will need to be between the ages of 50 and 79 at the time of your first enrolment. You must be in good health, and have no history of neurological disease or prior brain injury. If you have had a serious illness that may affect your participation in tertiary education, or if you have, or have had, a significant neurological or psychiatric disorder, then it may not be possible to include you as a participant. We will follow this up more closely at your first interview. If you are uncertain about how this affects you, contact the Healthy Brain Team.

Process

Your admission to particular courses will follow the same admission procedures and requirements as for any new student to UTAS (refer to Future Students). HECS scholarships are available for one unit if students enrol in two units in the current academic year. You may not be required to repay a HECS debt if your annual income is below a particular threshold (refer to Going to Uni).

1. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria above
2. Ensure that you will be able to meet minimum enrolment requirement (1 standard 12.5% unit for two semesters in the current year)
3. Decide which course you would like to study at Future Students or by phoning 1300 361 928
4. Apply for a place in your selected course at Student Centre and select the item from the drop-down menu to indicate your interest in the Healthy Brain Project
5. Accept your offer and enrol in your units
6. Advise us of your selected course by emailing healthy.brain@utas.edu.au or by phoning 1800 982 600

Enrolments

• 350 students between the age of 50 and 79 are participating in the Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project and studied at the University of Tasmania in 2010/2011. This number is expected to rise.
• A control group of 80 people between the age of 50 and 79 has also been recruited.

With an initial five year time-line of recruitment and assessments, the investigation is focussed on whether university study may affect cognitive changes associated with ageing. It is hoped that further funding can be secured to extend this to a 10-15 year study to establish whether tertiary education intervention may protect against dementia.