Engineering, science degrees among high-school graduates’ top-preferred uni courses

Victorian high school graduates are making a shift away from creative degrees to study pathways with stronger job prospects. See which courses are growing in popularity.

High School graduates are shifting towards degrees in STEM. Picture: University of Melbourne

Victorian high school graduates are shifting away from creative degrees to pathways that will help them get into industries struggling with skills shortages or have stronger job prospects.

A Saturday Herald Sun analysis of Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) first preference application data from the past five years has revealed degrees in engineering and science are climbing up the ranks as more high-school graduates pick them as their dream course.

There’s been a 13 per cent surge in first preference applications for engineering and related technologies degrees since last year, with health and natural and physical science degrees also recording a significant increase in interest.

Engineers Australia acting chief engineer Bernadette Foley said while the increase in interest for engineering courses was a step in the right direction, it was “just the start”.

“Engineering is a profession that requires expertise, and with an estimated 25,000 engineers set to retire by 2026, we need a sustained effort to replenish and expand the workforce,” she said.

“This rising interest, if nurtured properly, can help close the skills gap and ensure Australia remains competitive in innovation and infrastructure.”

Having clearer pathways into the profession and access to STEM education early on were strategies Ms Foley suggested could encourage more students to pursue work in the industry.

“Widening the appeal of engineering and broadening the talent pool is critical to meeting future workforce demands,” she said.

“The interest we’re seeing now must translate into long-term support, education pathways, and industry engagement to truly make a difference.”

Other subject areas which recorded a surge in interest this year were education, management and commerce, and society and culture degrees.

Natural and physical science degrees have also recorded a significant increase in interest. Picture: University of Melbourne

A VTAC spokeswoman said students wanting stable careers was a key motivator behind their tertiary course decisions.

“Students are focusing on courses with careers which are perceived as more stable and reliable in what is a rather unpredictable job market over recent years,” she said.

“In the last year there has been strong growth particularly across natural and physical sciences and engineering as first preferences.

“We have also noticed large increases in the popularity of health since 2020 … with 26 per cent of total offers being for health related courses.”

The VTAC data also revealed the most popular tertiary institution among first preference applicants, with the University of Melbourne holding its position as the top-preferred Victorian university for high-school graduates.

The institution’s Parkville Campus was a popular choice for those wanting to study arts and science degrees.

More than 4000 high school students who applied for university courses in these faculties last year received a first-preference offer in December.

The University of Melbourne held its position as the top-preferred Victorian university for high-school graduates Picture: David Geraghty

A University of Melbourne spokesman said the university’s undergraduate programs, including its Bachelor degrees in arts and science, stood out for their “quality and flexibility”.

“They encourage students to explore diverse disciplines while at the same time, follow their passions in depth within one of over one hundred majors,” he said.

“Our programs help students develop deep knowledge as well as analytical and inquiry skills that can be applied across a range of careers or in further specialist graduate study.”

Meanwhile, Monash University was also a popular choice for science, biomedicine, and engineering degrees, while Deakin University and La Trobe University were top picks among high-school graduates wanting to study nursing and other health related degrees.

Students who accepted offers for courses commencing this year will join their peers on campus in March, when semester one is due to kick off at most Victorian universities.

Originally published as Engineering, science degrees among high-school graduates’ top-preferred uni courses