April 2011     More Australian students than ever before have the opportunity of a university education.  The Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, has welcomed data showing an estimated 50 000 additional undergraduate students are enrolled at Australian universities compared to 2009.

“In 2011, more than 480 000 undergraduate places are being funded – an increase of 10 per cent since 2009. Regional universities taken together also have 10 per cent more student places than in 2009," Senator Evans said.   As a result of this growth, more than 200 000 students are estimated to have commenced undergraduate studies in public universities this year.

“Skills Australia has forecast that by 2025 a third of all jobs will require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree qualification. To meet that demand for highly skilled workers, the government is ensuring everyone who is eligible can access a place at Australian universities.”

Under the Government’s demand-driven system for domestic undergraduate student places to be implemented from 2012, universities will be able to enjoy sustainable growth and diversity in response to student needs.

“Increases in university enrolments will make a major contribution to the Government’s national target that by 2025, 40 per cent of all 25 to 34-year-olds will hold a qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above. In 2010, 34.2 per cent of this age group held such qualifications," Senator Evans said.

To reach the target, universities will need to reach out to a broader range of prospective students.  “In this next generation of students, there will be many people who will be the first in their family to have the opportunities that a university education can offer.”

Applications and offers data shows universities are already attracting a broader range of students, particularly those from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds.

The data also shows that between 2009 and 2011, applications for undergraduate nursing courses have increased strongly by more than 18 per cent and demand for science degrees also grew by around 23 per cent.

From information provided by the Minister for Tertiary Education, April 23, 2011.

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