Media releases

University preference statistics for 2023

20 Dec 2022

THE Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) has released a snapshot of applicants’ preferences for study at university in 2023.

The following table shows applicants’ first preferences as at 30 November 2022, 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, 9,000 students changed their preferences after receiving their ATAR with a realistic appraisal of courses to which they may qualify for admission.

Download preference statistics for 2023 admissions*

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

UniversityContact
Australian Catholic UniversityJen Rosenberg, National Manager, Strategic Communications
0407 845 634
jen.rosenberg@acu.edu.au
Australian National UniversityJames Giggacher, Associate Director, Media and Communications
(02) 6125 1236, 0436 803 488
James.Giggacher@anu.edu.au
Media and Communications team
media@anu.edu.au
Charles Sturt UniversityDavid Neil, Media Manager
0407 332 718
dneil@csu.edu.au
news@csu.edu.au
Macquarie UniversityAngie Kelly, Acting Media Manager
0437 867 726
angie.kelly@mq.edu.au
Southern Cross UniversitySharlene King, Media Officer
sharlene.king@scu.edu.au
Media unit
scumedia@scu.edu.au
University of CanberraDanielle Meddemmen
0408 826 362
ucmedia@canberra.edu.au
University of New EnglandMedia unit
(02) 6773 2551
media@une.edu.au
University of NewcastleLou Morrissey, Deputy Director, Communications
(02) 4985 4374, 0419 168 940
lou.morrissey@newcastle.edu.au
University of SydneyClare Masters, Director Media and PR
(02) 9114 2119, 0414 257 745
clare.masters@sydney.edu.au
Rachel Fergus, Central Media Manager
(02) 9351 2261, 0478 316 809
rachel.fergus@sydney.edu.au
University of Technology SydneyHeather Nolan, Media and Public Relations Manager
0491 157 409
newsroom@uts.edu.au
University of WollongongYogesh Bhatia, Acting Manager, Media & PR
0406 560 657
yogesh@uow.edu.au
UNSW AustraliaCaspian Smith
Director, Corporate Communications
0401 711 823
caspian.smith@unsw.edu.au
Western Sydney UniversityAmanda Whibley, Manager, Media and Public Relations
(02) 9678 7084, 0418 438 399
a.whibley@westernsydney.edu.au

* Preference statistics only include UAC participating universities with their main campus in NSW and the ACT. Private higher education providers are not included.