ACER eNews


Tracking demand in higher education In 2012, Australian universities entered a new era of student selection and enrolment. Australia’s universities are now able to enrol as many students as they choose (or to be more precise, as choose them) under a funding system driven by student demand. ACER’s Joining the Dots Research Briefing, 'Tracking demand: An early audit of Australia's new student demand driven system', by ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards and ACER Research Fellow Ms Eva van der Brugge, explores the changes that have occurred in the system over the few years since this funding arrangement was announced. This involves an early audit of the figures for 2012 in relation to those of the past six years, followed by some discussion of the consequences of student demand driven funding for the higher education system. Key findings highlighted in this briefing are: Demand for university in Australia rose 2.1 per cent for 2012 enrolments and has increased 9.7 per cent since 2009. Among the states, Queensland and Victoria have experienced the largest growth in demand for university places over the past few years. University offers have surged in Australia following the announcement of student demand driven funding for the sector. In 2012, university offers increased 5.3 per cent nationally. This increase comes on top of notable rises of 3.5 per cent in 2011 and 6.4 per cent in 2010. This sudden growth directly parallels government policy announcements on student demand driven funding. Since 2009 the annual number of offers by universities has increased by 15.9 per cent, from about 200 000 in 2009 to more than 230 000 in 2012. The largest growth in supply of university places has occurred in Victoria, with a 22 per cent increase in offers since 2009. Queensland follows this with an 18 per cent rise over this period. Joining the Dots is a subscription-based resource provided by ACER to those with an interest in Australian higher education. Further information and details for subscriptions are available at www.acer.edu.au/jtd or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) « Back to eNews
Copyright © Australian Council for Educational Research 2013 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au Subscribe Unsubscribe Australian Council for Educational Research Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124 Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555 Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500 Web: www.acer.edu.au

In 2012, Australian universities entered a new era of student selection and enrolment. Australia’s universities are now able to enrol as many students as they choose (or to be more precise, as choose them) under a funding system driven by student demand.

ACER’s Joining the Dots Research Briefing, 'Tracking demand: An early audit of Australia's new student demand driven system', by ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards and ACER Research Fellow Ms Eva van der Brugge, explores the changes that have occurred in the system over the few years since this funding arrangement was announced.

This involves an early audit of the figures for 2012 in relation to those of the past six years, followed by some discussion of the consequences of student demand driven funding for the higher education system.

Key findings highlighted in this briefing are:

Demand for university in Australia rose 2.1 per cent for 2012 enrolments and has increased 9.7 per cent since 2009.
Among the states, Queensland and Victoria have experienced the largest growth in demand for university places over the past few years.
University offers have surged in Australia following the announcement of student demand driven funding for the sector.
In 2012, university offers increased 5.3 per cent nationally. This increase comes on top of notable rises of 3.5 per cent in 2011 and 6.4 per cent in 2010. This sudden growth directly parallels government policy announcements on student demand driven funding.
Since 2009 the annual number of offers by universities has increased by 15.9 per cent, from about 200 000 in 2009 to more than 230 000 in 2012.
The largest growth in supply of university places has occurred in Victoria, with a 22 per cent increase in offers since 2009. Queensland follows this with an 18 per cent rise over this period.

Joining the Dots is a subscription-based resource provided by ACER to those with an interest in Australian higher education. Further information and details for subscriptions are available at www.acer.edu.au/jtd or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tracking demand in higher education