University of Tasmania is offering free enrollment into their "Introduction to Family History" online unit - similar to the previous ozbargain deal (Free Health Unit @ Uni of Tas).
Enrollment into unit comes with free access to the Ancestry.com library
No fees if you meet the criteria, ie, eligible for HECS (Australian citizen with a TFN, etc) and provide requested details.
Some people may be curious to go back further than their grandparents? I have one side traced back 300 years. I didn't really look into this deal but Ancestry.com is like $50 per month, and I don't know how long this gives you access but it could be worth it.
I have traced back to 1000's, but there is a big gap between 1400 to 1600. Hopefully I will be able to fill in when more records are scanned/translated and posted on the UK National Archives. Scottish records have some info in the missing period, which I need to pay for to get - they will only post no emailing info etc.
All I got out of ancestry.com, was easier access to 150 years of census info, and passenger lists. Most research came from the National Archives, and old books on Google books(Heraldry and geanology books from the 1600's etc).
You have once again made assertions about an UTas course without any supporting evidence. You have no knowledge about the course and you are in no position to judge its usefulness or otherwise.
So this is only a module that you can take for free?
No Heccs debt, no fees whatsoever?
There is a page that provides information on the fees:
http://www.utas.edu.au/arts/introduction-to-family-history/f…
It says: "Domestic students* will receive a full HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) scholarship for the Introduction to Family History unit in 2015."
The asterisk in that statement points to:
"*Domestic students include Australian citizens or students holding Permanent Humanitarian Visas or with Permanent Resident Status. Citizens of countries outside of Australia, including New Zealand, are not eligible to study this unit."
Yes. The unit you do becomes credit towards some sort of general diploma/degree but there is no obligation to complete any other unit.
This unit isn't free to the taxpayer. What a waste of money for 1 month free access to a website which you can access for free at your local library.
A very odd way to run a "free" course. You have to sign up to an associate degree, get into the HECS system, then get a scholarship. Has anyone ever come across a "free course" like this before?
I've completed a similar free unit called Bringing the World Back Home, where the uni gave you a unit credit for writing a detailed blog and reflecting on cultural experiences while travelling in some specific countries. My wife completed the fitbit unit. Both units were full hecs scholarships.
UTAS offered a similiar deal at the start of the year. It was a fitness certificate and you got a 'free' fitbit. Im not sure how many actually got a fitbit for the trouble of enrolling. I didnt.
The two people I know got their fitbits and full hecs scholarship. They did however attend on campus.
"Introduction to Family History" - how to tell who your grandparents are in the retirement home.
Another totally useless course from UTAS……..