Undergrad starts at all HE institutions were up in 2023, according to new stats released by the Commonwealth Government – a rise of 4.3% to 378,000.
Blokes were back; up nearly 15% in enrolments compared to 2022; although there are still way more women, making up 56%.But total undergrad numbers dropped 1% – to 1.39m
The news is not great for beginners: enabling courses were down 8.3%; or for big finishers: research PG starts declined by 0.2%, to 13,900 – all students was also down 0.9%.
But there is growth in new products: new non award/micro-credential starts were up 34%, just off a less low than subterranean base, to 14,750.
New UGs are keen on campus: internal-attendance starts were up 21%, to 58%. Veterans were also keen to get back: all student internal numbers were up 10%.
There’s a way to go for First Nations numbers: commencers grew nearly 5%, but that was to just 10,000. Overall enrolments were effectively unchanged, at 2.2% of total students.
Jason Clare won’t be encouraged: low SES starters were unchanged at 64,000. Total low SES students went back 2% to 162,000.
And yes there were more internationals: overseas students in Australia were up 25 per cent to 409,000. A bunch will be around for a while: there were 50% more commencing internationals than in 2022.
It seems some students got the Coalition’s JRG message on fees: Local “Society and Culture” commencers were down 6% at public universities and management starts fell 4%.
But others got one the LNP did not send: Australian students starting education degrees were 4.6% down and there were only 3% more first-years in health. Natural and physical sciences starts fell 7%.
The people’s choice: public universities with 20%+ commencing enrolment increases include, Swinburne U (27%), UTS (22%), Uni Wollongong (25%), Victoria U (23%).
