12 Dec 2023
Media releases
University preference statistics for 2024
THE Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) has released a snapshot of applicants’ preferences for study at university in 2024.
The linked table below shows applicants’ first preferences as at 30 November 2023, 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's NSW HSC students will receive their ATARs at 9am on Thursday 14 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.
Comparisons of preference numbers between universities must take into account the varying sizes of those universities. For example, a large metropolitan university has a larger cohort than a smaller regional university.
Download preference statistics for 2024 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 0407 845 634 jen.rosenberg@acu.edu.au |
| Australian National University | James 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 University | David Neil, Media Manager 0407 332 718 dneil@csu.edu.au |
| Macquarie University | Kate Symons, Media Manager 0435 294 123 kate.symons@mq.edu.au |
| Southern Cross University | Sharlene King, Media Officer sharlene.king@scu.edu.au 0429 661 349 Media unit scumedia@scu.edu.au |
| University of Canberra | Danielle Meddemmen 0408 826 362 ucmedia@canberra.edu.au |
| University of New England | Media unit (02) 6773 2551 media@une.edu.au |
| University of Newcastle | Tegan Brown |
| University of Sydney | Clare Masters, Director of 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 Sydney | Heather Nolan, Media and Public Relations Manager 0491 157 409 newsroom@uts.edu.au |
| University of Wollongong | Benjamin Long, Media & Public Relations Manager 0429 294 251 media@uow.edu.au |
| UNSW Australia | Michaela Boland |
| Western Sydney University | Amanda Whibley, Manager, Media and Public Relations 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.
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For further information (media only) email media@uac.edu.au or contact:
Diane Jardine, Communications Coordinator, 0436 459 603, or
Kim Paino, Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer, 0409 155 112.