Jessica Hinschen

Student advisor specialising in applications and enrolments

Jessica is a student advisor at Open Universities Australia who knows the ins and outs of university applications and enrolment processes. She’s supported students in a wide range of situations, helping them understand what’s required, find useful resources and work through their next steps.

Drawing on her customer service experience and her own experience of online study, Jessica brings practical, reassuring guidance to the application process.

Jessica would love to talk to you about:

• Applications and enrolments
• Preparing to begin your studies

Jessica reveals how she found her own path through study

What did you study at university?

I previously studied a Bachelor of Creative Writing, where I explored areas including literature, children’s literature, media and cultural studies. I am currently studying a Master of Information Studies online. Through this course, I’m learning about how to support collections in libraries, museums and archives.

What led you to start working for Open Universities Australia?

I’ve always been passionate about helping others, so I took the opportunity to use my customer service experience in a university setting. Since then, I’ve especially enjoyed supporting students through pre-study support calls and connecting them with helpful resources.

What’s your favourite part about helping students?

Helping students find resources they might not have been aware of before. Some of these include Suburban and Regional Study Hubs, accessibility resources and other support options that can make study feel more manageable.

What’s one thing you want students to know before submitting their application to study?

It’s better to submit your application earlier rather than later. Even if you don’t have all your documents ready, depending on the university, it may take time for our administration team to hear back from the university. The more time you allow before applications close, the better!