Applications on the rise

Main round offers – also known as major round or round one – have been published in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and ACT. There has been steady growth in students applying to study at ACU, with nursing and allied health services continuing to generate strong interest, and more applicants than ever applying to study a double degree.

ACU has attracted a 4 per cent per cent increase nationally in first preference and direct applications.

ACU Provost Professor Pauline Nugent said the growing interest in double degrees indicated prospective university students were increasingly aware of the need to pursue a degree that was practical in nature and maximised their employment prospects.

“Young people who are drawn to become nurses, paramedics and health specialists are those who want to improve the lives and the wellbeing of others. At ACU they know they will receive a quality education, access to state-of-the-art facilities and practical experience that will provide them with essential skills for the workplace,” Professor Nugent said.“

The University's strong connections with industry partners give our students the chance to gain practical experience with schools and hospitals and other healthcare providers before graduation. As a result of these factors, more than 90 per cent of our graduates gain full time employment within four months of finishing their studies.”

Commonwealth government projections continue to indicate that the healthcare and social assistance sector, and the education and training sector are two of the four sectors forecast to provide more than half of total employment growth over the five years to November 2020.

Professor Nugent also noted that there were still options for applicants who had missed out on an offer in the major round.

“University entry is competitive, so people may need to wait until the next round of offers before being offered a place. If prospective students want to change their course preferences, there is still time to do so,” she said.

Following the main round offers, additional offers in subsequent offer rounds may be released where course vacancies still exist. Applicants wishing to discuss their options can contact us at www.acu.edu.au/askacu or the Tertiary Admissions Centre in their state to find out more.

For those who do not achieve the required entry score needed to secure a place in their chosen university course or for those wanting a VET qualification, there are a range of alternative entry schemes, programs, and pathways offered by ACU. ACU's Pathways Programs offer prospective students associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.

For further information, visit acu.edu.au/study_at_acu/alternative_entry.

Double degree courses gaining in popularity include:

• Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Exercise Science
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Paramedicine
• Bachelor Applied Public Health/Bachelor Global Studies
• Bachelor Psychological Science/Bachelor Laws
• Bachelor Information Technology/Bachelor Business Administration
• Bachelor Teaching/Bachelor Arts (Secondary - Humanities)

Among the popular single degree courses this year are:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor Psychological Science (Honours)
• Master Psychology (Clinical)
• Bachelor Education (Primary)
• Bachelor of Midwifery
• Bachelor of Speech Pathology
• Master of Social Work
• Bachelor Physiotherapy

ACU is Australia’s largest Catholic university with campuses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Ballarat and Adelaide and opportunities to study at the Rome Centre in Italy.

Media coverage

The Age: Nursing at ACU among the most popular courses in Melbourne
The Canberra Times: More prospective students than ever choosing double degrees
The Sydney Morning Herald: ACU entry the highest advertised gain in NSW