08 Dec 2020
Media releases
University preference statistics for 2021 admissions
THE Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) has released its university preference statistics – a snapshot of applicants’ preferences for study at university in 2021.
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 2020, 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 undergraduate 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 at 9am on Friday 18 December. Based on figures from previous years, UAC expects about 20,000 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 2021 admissions.
For further information about these statistics, call individual institutions on the numbers given below.
| University | Contact |
|---|---|
Australian Catholic University | Jen Rosenberg, National Manager, Strategic Communications |
Australian National University | James Giggacher, ANU Media |
Charles Sturt University | David Neil, Acting Media Manager |
Macquarie University | Lucy Mowat, Head of Media |
Southern Cross University | Sharlene King, Media Officer |
University of Canberra | Megan Reeder Hope |
University of New England | Milly Taylor, Manager, Business Intelligence & Data Governance |
University of Newcastle | Lou Morrissey, Deputy Director Communications and Media |
University of Sydney | Shehana Darda-Teixeira, Director Media and PR |
University of Technology Sydney | Terry Clinton, Media & PR Officer |
University of Wollongong | Andrew Herring, Media & Public Relations Manager |
UNSW Australia | Freya Campbell, Director of Corporate Communications & Government Relations |
Western Sydney University | Amanda Whibley, Manager, Media and Public Relations |
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For further information (media only) email media@uac.edu.au or contact:
Diane Jardine, Communications Coordinator, UAC on 0436 459 603, or
Kim Paino, General Manager, Marketing and Engagement, UAC on 0409 155 112.