School leavers take advantage of struggling industries as universities reveal most popular courses for 2025

Struggling industries could be seeing a boost very soon as Queensland school leavers take up degrees in droves.

Sophie Hosack took up an early offer to study a double degree of Architecture and Business at Griffith University, Brisbane. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Queensland school leavers are taking advantage of the gaping holes in the state’s workforce with teaching, health and nursing degrees the top picks ahead of Monday’s tertiary offer round.

Recent graduates from across the state will once again be glued to their computers this morning as they find out whether they were welcomed into their first preference course pick for their new chapter at university.

More than 16,000 graduates are set to receive offers on Monday from Queensland’s 17 leading tertiary institutions.

The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) has revealed what the most popular fields of study are for graduates, with relieved students receiving places ranging from a Bachelor of Engineering to a Bachelor of Arts.

As of 5pm, more than 6800 applicants have already responded to their offer, with 88 per cent of those having outright accepted their offers.

For the past four years, The University of Queensland has consistently offered the most places overall in the December offer round, while health has remained the most popular field during the same period.

Among the top five courses offered during the first round, UQ took out the top four, with the Queensland University of Technology scraping into the fifth spot.

Health degrees, law, economics, commerce and engineering were among the top fields of study that attracted this first batch of 2024 graduates.

Ahead of the first round, The Courier-Mail reached out to the top universities in the state to gauge the most popular degrees being picked by graduates in 2025.

However, thousands of Year 12s had already made up their minds after receiving an early offer, which is becoming a more common practice.

This can be said for Cavendish Road State High School graduate Sophie Hosack who took up an early offer to study a double degree of architecture and business at Griffith University.

“It was such a relief,” Ms Hosack on getting her early entry.

“And I wasn’t too stressed about my (ATAR) results because I knew I had gotten in to uni already … which was less stressful.”

Ms Hosack said she was excited about entering into university life and her degree where, along with studying her top pick of business, she is trying something new in pairing it with architecture.

“I’m not entirely sure what I want to do so I was so open to just trying it (architecture) and giving it a go,” she said.

“I wanted something broad too so I had lots of options going forward.”

Sophie Hosack took up an early offer to study a double degree of Architecture and Business at Griffith University. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

While the first of the offer rounds kick off on Monday followed by a second on January 16, the state’s 10 major universities have revealed the trends they are seeing among graduates applying to their institution.

Combined with early offer numbers, Monday’s round brings the total offers to more than 33,400 admissions year-to-date, resulting in a 18 per cent increase on offers made in the same timeframe last year.

“Interestingly, we note 5612 applicants applying to QTAC from other states across Australia. Compared to the same round last year, that represents an increase of 5.5%, highlighting a continued strong interest in studying in Queensland,” QTAC Interim CEO Chris Veraa said.

For QTAC applicants who are yet to receive an offer, there’s no need to panic.

The next offer round will take place on 16 January 2025, and applicants have until 11:45pm on 7 January 2025 to change their preferences and maximise their chances.

“As a reminder, QTAC makes offers all year round, so if today hasn’t delivered the offer you were hoping for, we encourage you to reach out to QTAC to talk through your options,” Mr Veraa said.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

The top first preferences among school leavers at Griffith were a bachelor of medical science, bachelor of nursing, bachelor of education and bachelor of business.

These preferences have revealed a noticeable trend where graduates are gravitating towards industries with clear career pathways with a stark rebound in sciences, nursing and teaching.

According to the university health sciences, businesses and IT have seen a surge in applications, possibly driven by new degree offerings.

“At Griffith, we’re seeing many students keen to secure their future through our early offer program, which alleviates much of the stress associated with applying to university,” Griffith Vice President Future Students Phillip Stork said.

“We’re thrilled to see the rebound in interest for key study areas like sciences, nursing, and teaching post-Covid.

“Our new offerings in commerce and cybersecurity are proving to be very popular, and we’re excited about the new vertical double degrees, combining a bachelors and masters program, which lead directly to excellent employment outcomes in fields like architecture, urban planning, policy, and international law.”

Griffith University has provided more than 2000 early offers to Year 12 students this year under its early offer guarantee program, marking an increase of approximately 10 per cent from 2023.

There has also been a significant increase in applications for tertiary education across Queensland with Griffith experiencing strong growth in applications for two consecutive years.

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

The University of Queensland continues to be a popular choice among graduates, attracting around a third of first preferences across the state.

“We are seeing high demand across law, engineering, provisional medicine, psychological science, and advanced finance and economics this year,” UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said.

“It’s also pleasing to see strong growth in education, allied health and nursing programs where Queensland has a need for more skilled workers.

“My message to students is that if they don’t receive an offer in this round, don’t worry – UQ’s major offer round is in January and we’ll continue to make offers right up until Semester 1 starts.”

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

UniSQ has made 397 early offers to students from 141 different schools, which is a 26 per cent increase in offer numbers compared to 2023/24.

The university saw the largest year-on-year increase within engineering for school-leaver first preferences, with health remaining steady as one of their most popular fields.

“UniSQ has benefited from the sector trend of increased application numbers from school leavers, with many study areas experiencing growth,” a spokesperson said.

“Health remains UniSQ’s most popular area of study based on total first preferences, with engineering, and management and commerce experiencing the greatest rate of variance compared to 2023/24.

“The creative arts study area is the only field not on par or ahead of the same time last year.”

Top 5 first preferences among school leavers were:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medicine Pathway)
• Bachelor of Education (Primary)
• Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

A QUT spokesperson said engineering and business subjects had been the most popular among graduates for 2025.

“QUT’s largest offers to Year 12 students so far this year have been in Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Business, and the double degrees of Bachelor of Property Economics/Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology).

“The strongest increase in applications is for Bachelor of Business ahead of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).”

UNIVERSITY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST

UniSC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Michael Wilmore said school-leavers were choosing the University of the Sunshine Coast as their first-preference university at their highest level in four years.

Domestic applications to study at UniSC were up 12.7 per cent on this time last year, with 65 per cent of applications coming through QTAC.

“Many bachelor programs have seen an increase in applications, particularly engineering (mechanical) with a 74 per cent increase, social work with a 48 per cent increase and paramedicine with a 28 per cent increase,” Prof Wilmore said.

“Our new physiotherapy and law programs starting in 2025 are also proving popular.”

UniSC Engineering Lead, Dr Adrian McCallum, said the demand for engineers had continued to flourish across the country.

“UniSC’s hands-on approach, offering industry exposure from day one of the program, is an attractive model that allows students to learn directly from industry experts, make strong connections with employers, and often line up jobs before they’ve finished studying.”

UniSC made more than 1460 early offers which was on par with 2023 figures.

Top five first preferences among school leavers:

• Nursing
• Primary education
• Occupational therapy
• Paramedicine
• Psychology

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

ACU Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Cogin said the number of Queensland school leavers who nominated ACU as their university of choice had surged this year.

“First preference applications to ACU’s Brisbane campus are higher than the previous two years of entry,” Prof Cogin said.

“What’s also interesting is a 20 per cent increase in eligibility so more applicants are receiving an offer in Brisbane than last year. This is already showing in our enrolments which are well ahead of this point of the cycle in 2023/24.”

ACU’s nursing degrees continue to be popular and is once again their most in demand course for entry in 2025.

Soaring applications for nursing are part of a strong trend for school leavers towards health sciences courses with strong interest other fields including midwifery,

occupational therapy and physiotherapy.

Prof Cogin said ACU’s early entry program had increased for the 2025 intake, with the most popular courses being nursing, education and law for this intake.

BOND UNIVERSITY

The in demand courses among graduates looking to study at Bond University are reflecting market demand with health related degrees once again topping the list of the most popular first preferences.

However, exercise and sports science has emerged as one of the top courses of 2025, with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon more job opportunities are set to pop up.

“Healthcare and industries associated with the hosting of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics are going to be key drivers of employment,” a Bond University spokesperson said.

“In Queensland alone, more than 40,000 new healthcare staff will be required over the next 10 years.

“It is no surprise to see the most popular courses in 2025 include degrees such as exercise and sports science, which allow graduates to embrace these growth areas with our industry-specific degrees offering the potential to work with elite athletes in the lead-up to the Games.”

Top 10 first preferences among school leavers:

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Psychological Science
• Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Actuarial Science
• Bachelor of International Relations/Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Health Sciences
• Bachelor of Design in Architecture

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY

James Cook University said they were experiencing strong demand from school-leavers for 2025 with health degrees ahead as the most popular among graduates.

Bachelor of medicine and surgery applications were up almost 10 per cent from 2023, followed closely by bachelor of dental surgery with an increase of 28 per cent.

Primary education was identified as another popular course jumping 59 per cent from 2023, while JCU’s nursing and veterinary numbers also improved.

“We are seeing strong demand for our courses for 2025, chief among them an increase of almost 60 per cent of first preference applicants for Bachelor of Education

(Primary) compared to this time last year,” a JCU spokesman said.

“Our thriving medicine and dentistry programs have also enjoyed increases in application numbers, which speaks to the outstanding reputations of these programs and the College of Medicine and Dentistry overall.

“This next generation of students will ensure JCU can continue to focus on addressing the critical challenges facing the tropics, in medicine, dentistry, education, marine science and other areas.”

Overall, first preference applications to JCU rose by around 10 per cent compared to the same time last year.

SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY

Southern Cross University saw their biggest growth ahead of the 2025 university year for degrees in education.

However, allied health courses, particularly nursing, remains strong and there has also been strong interest in two new courses – bachelor of veterinary technology and bachelor of physiotherapy.

Director, future students and outreach Evan Crandon said SCU had observed consistent numbers in early applications.

“Interestingly this year, there is a notable increase in the rate at which students are accepting offers and enrolling much earlier within traditional timelines,” Mr Crandon said.

“This trend reflects a growing awareness among Year 12 students about their university of choice and the early offer programs available to them, particularly Southern Cross University’s well-established initiative.”

Top five first preferences among school leavers:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor of Education (all specialisations: Early Childhood; Primary; Secondary)
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Rubi Grogan who accepted an early offer to study psychology at SCU on the Gold Coast said she was excited to dive into university life.

“I am looking forward to study psychology, with a current interest in forensic psychology,” the Merrimac graduate said.

“What always drew me towards SCU was their tight knit community and radiating a welcoming space. Instead of large classes and finding it hard to interact and make relationships, the classes are smaller – making it easier and more efficient.

Recent graduate Rubi Grogan is going to study at Southern Cross University in 2025 after receiving an early offer. Picture: Luke Marsden/Supplied

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY

Central Queensland University have revealed their health related disciplines continue to be popular among graduates with teaching and engineering travelling closely behind.

Similar to other universities across the state, education degrees have seen an increase in interest from graduates providing hope for a struggling industry in need of more numbers.

The university has made 2182 offers to domestic students for undergraduate programs in 2025, with 1809 of those formally accepting offers and admitted to the university – up from 1660 this time last year.

“Our school-leaver applications are showing solid growth on previous years (currently up 6 per cent on last year),” a CQU spokesperson said.

“That’s encouraging for us as school-leaver applicant numbers in regional Queensland has taken some time to recover from the downturn experienced during Covid and we’re hopeful that this trend will continue into the future.

“We look forward to welcoming new students in 2024 across all of our campus locations and online.”

Top eight first preferences among school-leavers

• Nursing
• Medical sonography
• Medical imaging
• Medical science (pathway to medicine)
• Paramedic science
• Physiotherapy
• Teaching (early childhood, primary and secondary) Engineering