Hundreds of people took their first steps as university students at Charles Darwin University today during 2012 Orientation.
Overall enrolments are up 10 per cent on the corresponding last year with more than 5800 students enrolled to study Higher Education in 2012.
CDU is continuing to attract more students, with the enrolment of new students up 17 per cent on last year.
The introduction of several new courses, a continuing trend of increased interest in health courses and an increase in enrolments, particularly from school leavers, are responsible for the growth.
CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Sharon Bell said there had been strong demand from high achieving Territory high school leavers for places in CDU’s Bachelor of Clinical Sciences and Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences.
“For the first time Exercise and Sports Science is available externally,” Professor Bell said. “Enrollments have more than doubled this year.”
Other programs currently showing significant increases include the Bachelor of Engineering up 34 percent in enrolments.
Also up are the Bachelor of Environmental Science, which has double the number of enrolments of the corresponding period last year; the Bachelor of Teaching and Learning Early Childhood has 80 per cent more enrolments to date; IT enrolments are up 20 per cent, and Law enrolments are up 16 per cent.
Orientation 2012 is held each year at Casuarina and Alice Springs campuses and is essential for new students and those returning to study to ensure a smooth transition into studying.