Jamie Lampard
Bachelor of Property and Real Estate
The flexibility of Deakin's study opportunities allows Jamie Lampard to work part- time, study full-time, and remain in his home town of Ballarat while he does it all.
Jamie enrolled in Deakin's Bachelor of Property and Real Estate at the Burwood campus in 2008 - the first year of the course. He entered straight from school, having developed an interest in real estate through his parents' involvement in investment properties. 'I always enjoyed dealing with real estate agents and attending Saturday morning auctions - and still do,' he says.
After applying to VTAC and being accepted into the course, Jamie was hired by a Ballarat real estate agency that recognised the value of a Deakin Degree. 'The course is so flexible it allows me to do it,' he explains. 'Most of the property subjects are offered via flexible delivery, so a mix of face to face lectures and use of high level technology makes it easy to combine work with study.'
Being enrolled in the course gained him the position, Jamie says, and his employer allows him to work around his study commitments. 'There are not many people in Ballarat doing this course and it definitely got me the job,' he says. 'For one semester I only needed to travel up to Burwood once a fortnight because I was enrolled in on-line units.'
Trips outside the university are one of Jamie's favourite aspects of the course. 'We went to Sydney to take part in an international competition against property students from Australia, New Zealand, China and America which was an awesome experience,' he says. 'We have also had excursions to Docklands, the REIV (Real Estate Institute of Victoria) and Council House 2.'
The opportunity to become a student member of organisations such as the Australian Property Institute and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is a further bonus. 'Industry bodies are always coming out and visiting and that makes the course a lot more practical. It means it's the real deal,' Jamie says. And the practical nature of the course helps him combine work with study, he adds. 'Many of the assignments are based on real life examples, like preparing reports to show potential employees, and you can synchronise what you learn in one unit with another.'
Jamie enjoys his visits to the Burwood campus which he says has 'a really good atmosphere, open spaces and everybody is really friendly'. He also enjoys mixing with his fellow students. 'Our classes are really diverse with all ages and backgrounds. It's really enjoyable,' he says. 'If I wasn't in this course I probably wouldn't still be at uni, but this course is really good.' He finds smaller classes another advantage. 'Most of us move together from one unit to another and the lecturers know us all. They are really approachable and always willing to help out.'
