For four Bendigo Senior Secondary College students the reality that their tertiary education begins this year is still overwhelming.

Bendigo’s top scoring student Zia Sass received an offer to study biomedicine at Melbourne University, which she is very excited about.

“It was my second choice but I’m happy with it... I worked really hard and it has paid off, I’m on my way to what I want to do,” she said.

“I can’t wait for university, having to move, the independence and focussing on what I enjoy.”

Jacqui Gleeson is also pleased to begin studying this year after being accepted into a Bachelor of Graphic Design at La Trobe University Bendigo.

“It is good to get into what I wanted after I worked so hard,” she said “I get to study what I love and this (graphic design) is what I love.”

Ms Gleeson said her parents were proud of her efforts. Cerisse Brown was delighted to receive an offer to study pharmaceutical science at RMIT.

“It was one of my top preferences, so I was happy with it,” she said.

Ms Brown was travelling back from Geelong with a friend when they found out they had both received offers.

With high school firmly in the past, Ms Brown is looking forward to the challenges of university.

“It’s going to be a big challenge, a big step, I won’t be a little kid anymore,” she said.

Tiffany Abel received an offer on her only preference and will be staying in Bendigo to study a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at La Trobe University.

She was also offered a six-month traineeship at Bendigo Senior Secondary College which she has already begun.

“I’m looking forward to it. It will be a good experience,” she said.

Additionally, Girton Grammar announced that all students who applied for university received a first round offer.

There was an increase in first year offers at La Trobe University Bendigo this year, up almost eight per cent on last year.