Demand for New Generation courses surges – and Arts tops the pops!
Media Release, Friday 9 January 2009
The University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Arts - a cornerstone of the University’s Melbourne Model - is by far the most popular course in Victoria and probably Australia, according to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre’s December ‘Pop Polls’ data.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter McPhee says the Bachelor of Arts has a significant lead of around 800 over the next University of Melbourne course and, in fact, over any course offered at another institution.
The University of Melbourne has seen strong demand for study at Melbourne in 2009 – with the December ‘Pop Polls’ showing a substantial surge in demand for Melbourne Model New Generation courses in 2009.
First preferences for the six Melbourne Model courses are up 11 per cent on 2008 and total preferences up 14 per cent. Melbourne has received 6208 first preferences for New Generation degrees in 2009 compared to 5608 last year with total preferences for these degrees at 20445 for 2009 compared with 17864.
New Generation degree first preferences in 2009 (and 2008 in brackets)
B. Arts – 2249 (2175)
B. Biomedicine – 622 (425)
B. Commerce – 1454 (1464)
B. Environments – 583 (516)
B. Music – 128 (130)
B. Science – 1172 (898)
New Generation degree total preferences in 2009 (and 2008 in brackets)
B. Arts – 7169 (5937)
B. Biomedicine – 2555 (2306)
B. Commerce – 3350 (3369)
B. Environments – 2063 (1821)
B. Music – 354 (306)
B. Science – 4954 (4125)
Professor McPhee says that in order to provide an accurate comparison of all 2008 and 2009 preferences for Melbourne it is necessary to remove data on seven courses, including Medicine and Education, which are not offered in 2009.
”Those courses accounted for more than 1600 first preferences in 2008. Taking those first preferences out of the equation, Melbourne's first preferences for all courses offered in 2009 are actually up by over 1000.”
Professor McPhee says that using first preferences as a measure of popularity, the success of the Melbourne Model is evident with five of the new generation degrees ranked in the top eight courses, and Melbourne Arts, Science and Commerce are three of the four most sought-after courses in Victoria.
“We are delighted that our Science first preferences are up by 30 per cent and Biomedicine by 46 per cent.”
Professor McPhee points out that the ‘Pop Poll’ figures are for preferences expressed by prospective students. “The real evidence of success is the offers we make on Tuesday 20 January 2009 and which are accepted. We are confident the offers and acceptances will again show the strength of demand for our Melbourne Model undergraduate programs.”
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