Charles Darwin University applications for Semester 1 this year are bucking the national trend which has seen a decline in university applications of between 3% and 5% across Australia.
First preference data for Commonwealth-supported places at CDU show applications are very strong. At 15 January 2008 there were 2103, only 17 fewer than for the corresponding period last year. Semester 1 numbers were expected to strengthen further with several weeks still remaining in CDU’s application and intake period.
CDU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Garnett said she was delighted with the applications for Semester 1 which also came just weeks after the end of a successful Summer Semester at the University.
“The result comes on the back of an extremely successful 2007 intake in which CDU exceeded its Commonwealth established target for the year,” Professor Garnett said.
“The success of CDU’s inaugural Summer Semester has made the Semester 1 enrolment figures even more notable.”
With the number of new students gaining admission to CDU in the Summer Semester exceeding expectations, applications for Semester 1, 2008 could have been well below last year; however this has not been the case.
Of the 2103 first preference applications to CDU, 291 were from school leavers and 1812 from non-school leavers.
“This is an outstanding result that reflects well on the work we have done to ensure we offer an improved student experience and a range of relevant courses,” Professor Garnett said.
She said the University’s work in better understanding its students had allowed CDU to defy the national trend for Semester 1.
“We have placed a great deal of emphasis on improving communications with our students and providing them a more enjoyable university experience,” Professor Garnett said.
The University has made 1626 offers to date, 24 fewer than for the corresponding period last year. More offers will be made in the coming weeks.