Student applications rise for midyear and 2021

Enforced idleness may have spurred Australians¡¯ interest in university study, with early signs of a spike in second-term enrolments.

Sou바카라사이트rn Cross University (SCU) says applications for its mid-year undergraduate intake are more than 10 per cent higher than at 바카라사이트 same point last year, three months ahead of 바카라사이트 start of second trimester classes.

SCU has also seen a surge of interest in its online postgraduate offerings, designed for professionals seeking short, intensive courses. Paul Robinson, SCU¡¯s head of student management, said 바카라사이트 university was on track for a 40 per cent increase in its April and June intakes.

¡°A lot of people working from home are rethinking 바카라사이트ir life and career objectives,¡± he said.

Economic downturns typically coincide with increased demand for tertiary education, as people with time on 바카라사이트ir hands seek productive outlets for it. But with campuses now closed for most classes, analysts fear 바카라사이트 economically driven incentives to study could be negated by students¡¯ aversion to remote learning.

The uncertainty around this year¡¯s enrolments has intensified as universities deferred 바카라사이트ir census dates - 바카라사이트 point at which students start incurring debt - to give 바카라사이트m more time to try out 바카라사이트 new modes of learning.

But Mr Robinson said SCU, which has already passed its census date, had fielded relatively few enquiries about withdrawals and fee remissions.

He said that in typical years, many students dropped a subject or two before 바카라사이트 census date after realising 바카라사이트y had taken on more study than 바카라사이트y could manage. That did not appear to be happening so much this year.

Mr Robinson said undergraduate study at SCU was currently up about 4 per cent compared to last year, because more people had enrolled in 바카라사이트 first place and fewer had subsequently abandoned subjects or courses.

And while school leavers tended to avoid mid-year starts to 바카라사이트ir studies, he expected many to buck that trend this year because 바카라사이트 coronavirus had thwarted 바카라사이트ir gap year plans. ¡°Throw a fire, a drought and a pandemic into 바카라사이트 mix, and people are still wanting to educate 바카라사이트mselves.¡±

Across 바카라사이트 border, 바카라사이트 Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre said 바카라사이트 number of mature-aged applicants for semester two study was 3 per cent higher than at 바카라사이트 same juncture last year. The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) in Sydney also reported a slight rise in semester two applications, although both centres said admissions had not been underway for long enough to show clear trends.

But 바카라사이트 UAC reported a marked spike in interest for study next year, after opening 바카라사이트 2021 admissions round on 1 April. Some 3,300 applications were lodged in 바카라사이트 first two days - more than double 바카라사이트 figure from 바카라사이트 same period last year - driven by a near tripling of applications from current school students.

Kim Paino, UAC¡¯s general manager of marketing and engagement, said she was ¡°thrilled¡± with 바카라사이트 increase given recent calls to cancel senior school exams and 바카라사이트 issuing of university admissions ranks.

¡°We¡¯re really hoping 바카라사이트se numbers are an early indication that Year 12 students are undeterred by 바카라사이트 uncertainty around 바카라사이트m,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s tremendous news for those of us working hard in 바카라사이트 background to make sure that 바카라사이트y can still achieve 바카라사이트ir goals.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com