Media releases

University preference statistics for 2018 admissions

07 Dec 2017

91ÌÒÉ« has released its university preference statistics for 2018 – a snapshot of applicants’ preferences for study at university in 2018.

When applying for university, applicants are advised to list their preferences in the order they would most like to receive an offer with the course they would most like to do first, followed by the course they would like to do second, and so on. An applicant’s preferences are considered in the order in which they are listed.

The following table shows applicants’ first preferences as at 30 November 2017, however, applicants can change their preferences as often as they wish – and often do – so these numbers change daily.

It is important to note that first preference statistics should be used with caution as an indicator of demand for a particular institution or perceived variations in the quality of institutions.

Year 12 applicants tend to include more preferences than other applicants, with many listing the maximum five preferences. In many cases the courses they include as their first and second preferences are ‘wishes’ – courses they would really like to receive an offer for but which, in previous years, had a cut-off higher than the rank they expect to achieve.

Non-Year 12 applicants tend to list fewer than five preferences, often including only two or three preferences in their application. They appear to have more focus, most likely because they have other factors to take into account when selecting their courses – work, family and/or time commitments.

All applicants can change their preferences at any time but most preference changes happen after the release of the ATAR. This year, NSW HSC students receive their ATARs on Friday 15 December. Based on figures from previous years, 91ÌÒÉ« expects about 25,000 of these students to change their preferences after receiving their ATAR with a realistic appraisal of courses to which they may qualify for admission.

Download preference statistics for 2018 admissions.

Institution Media contacts for comment

For further information about these statistics, call individual institutions on the numbers given below.

University Contact
Australian Catholic University Jen Rosenberg, National Media Manager

(02) 9739 2513

jen.rosenberg@acu.edu.au
Australian National University James Grubel, Strategic Communications Manager

(02) 6125 7979

james.grubel@anu.edu.au
Charles Sturt University Victoria Erskine, Manager, Media

(02) 6338 6329

0429 217 026

news@csu.edu.au
Macquarie University Shannon Kliendienst, Communications Director

(02) 9850 7456

0407 200 474

shannon.kliendienst@mq.edu.au
Southern Cross University Sharlene King, Media Officer

(02) 6620 3508

sharlene.king@scu.edu.au
University of Canberra Claudia Doman, Media and Communications Manager

0408 826 362

claudia.doman@canberra.edu.au
University of New England Milly Taylor, Manager, Business Intelligence & Data Governance

(02) 6773 2177

milly.taylor@une.edu.au
University of Newcastle Sheena Martin, Communications Manager

(02) 4921 8714

0418 445 888

sheena.martin@newcastle.edu.au
University of Sydney Kirsten Andrews, Head of Media and PR Manager

Verity Leatherdale, Faculty Media and PR

(02) 9114 0748

0413 777 404

02 9351 4312

0403 067 342



kirsten.andrews@sydney.edu.au

verity.leatherdale@sydney.edu.au
University of Technology Sydney Terry Clinton, Media & PR Officer

(02) 9514 1623

0419 293 261

terry.clinton@uts.edu.au
University of Wollongong Andrew Herring, Media and Corporate Communications Manager

(02) 4221 5501

0409 787 446

herring@uow.edu.au
UNSW Australia Liza Cassidy, Manager External Relations, UNSW Media Office

(02) 9385 3249

0429 390 737

l.cassidy@unsw.edu.au
Western Sydney University Amanda Whibley Manager Media and Public Relations

(02) 9678 7084

0418 438 399

a.whibley@westernsydney.edu.au

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For further information (media only) email media@uac.edu.au or contact:
Raquel Tracy, Communications Officer, 91ÌÒÉ« on 9752 0775
Kim Paino, General Manager, Marketing and Engagement, 91ÌÒÉ« on (02) 9752 0760 or 0409 155 112.