But news of changes to Youth Allowance eligibility criteria yesterday left many charting a new course for their first year out.

This year's school-leavers are the lucky ones, as they can opt out of a gap year, and begin their university lives straight away.

The requirements for Youth Allowance have been ramped up as of January 1, meaning students will have to work full-time for at least 30 hours a week over a minimum of 18 months to be eligible for the payments. They previously had to work for a minimum of 15 hours a week over an 18-month period, and earn more than $19,500 . Steph Ryan, 17, who is in year 12 at Emmanuel College, had hoped to study in Melbourne in 2011, and even had a job in arranged in Warrnambool for next year.

"I'll have to reconsider," she said.

Laura Kelly, 17, who hopes to study in the medical field, said the changes made her question the point of taking a gap year. Aspiring doctor James Grant, 17, said he would probably not take a year off to work, instead going overseas.