Insight into university applicants 2021–22

AT the closing of applications for semester 1 in the 2021–22 admissions period, the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) processed more than 77,600 undergraduate applications and made more than 102,600 offers* through its centralised admissions service.^#

In addition to applying through UAC, many students have also applied directly to individual universities for study next year to maximise their chances of receiving an offer. UAC has processed another 106,300^ of these applications, bringing the total number of applications to 183,900.

UAC processes direct applications on behalf of Australian Catholic University, Australian College of Physical Education, Australian Maritime College, Australian National University, CQUniversity, Charles Sturt University, Macquarie University, University of New England, University of Technology Sydney, University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University.

UAC has now released a snapshot of applicant and offer data, providing an insight into the age, gender split and preferred fields of study of applicants who applied through UAC.

For example, nearly 37 per cent of all centralised undergraduate applicants were not current Year 12 students, and around 74 per cent of these were aged 24 or under.

Across all applicants, Health once again took the top spot as the favoured field of study, with 28 per cent of applicants listing a course in this field as their first preference.

More application and offer statistics and can be viewed on UAC’s website.

UAC applications will open again on Tuesday 12 April for courses starting later in 2022 and in first semester 2023.

See the previous year's data snapshot of university admission data for 2020–21.

* There are more offers made than there are applications because, while applicants can only receive one offer in each round, they can receive an offer in more than one round.

^# These figures do not include international applications.

^ These figures include international and postgraduate applicants. Applicants may apply directly to several universities so this figure is not the count of unique applicants, but the number of applications received. These applications may be for courses commencing in 2021 or 2022.

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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.