UWS makes the largest number of offers to uni hopefuls in NSW and ACT
Careers in paramedicine, policing, criminology, physiotherapy, podiatry, nursing and teaching are some of the popular choices this year, as the University of Western Sydney makes 12,020 uni offers to students in 2014.
UWS is tonight making 5,855 main round offers across its comprehensive range of programs, following the 6,165 offers UWS has already made in the earlier rounds. Together, UWS will have made the largest number of offers of any university in NSW and the ACT, giving even more students greater opportunity to get into their preferred course.
257 of the offers are going to bushfire-affected students from the Blue Mountains and Lithgow areas, following the University's announcement last year that it would guarantee a place to all those students who wished to go to university after they had their HSC study preparations disrupted by the bushfires that devastated those local areas.
New UWS Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover, who officially took up his position on 2 January this year, says UWS is passionate about giving more students – particularly those who live in Greater Western Sydney, a region of great diversity and varying socio-economic backgrounds – the opportunity to succeed at university.
"On behalf of the University of Western Sydney, I congratulate all those who have been offered a place to study at the University and we look forward to welcoming you to our campuses in the coming weeks," says Professor Glover.
"You are joining a university that provides a high-quality, real-world education. You will be taught by some of the country's best and most innovative lecturers and researchers, in an approachable friendly environment that strongly values the student experience, and is flexible to students' needs."
UWS has experienced a large increase in first preferences from September 2013 to January 2014. Demand is particularly strong among those who just completed their HSC, with UWS experiencing a 19 per cent increase in first preferences among school leavers this year.
Students joining UWS this year will benefit from innovative programs to help support their tertiary education. The University is once again providing new iPads to all commencing students for 2014 as part of its ground-breaking blended learning strategy, making the University's curriculum more flexible and interactive for students.
This year also marks the University's official opening of its new campus at Lithgow. The campus is offering more tertiary education opportunities for the 20,000 residents of the Lithgow Local Government Area, which has one of New South Wales' lowest participation rates in higher education.
"We are on target to enrol 80 students at the Lithgow campus into our Foundation Studies program and Diploma programs in engineering science and arts, with the view to fully expand the range of programs on offer as the Lithgow campus grows and interest increases," says Professor Glover.
Professor Glover's advice to students who may not have received an offer today, or didn't receive an offer to the course of his or her first choice, is not to worry – there are still options ahead.
"The important thing for students to realise is that there are many pathways to university, so students should explore the options available to them," says Professor Glover.
"Our own UWSCollege provides an excellent pathway to university, offering students smaller class sizes and more intensive support in their studies. Those who successfully complete a diploma program with UWSCollege are then guaranteed entry into the second year of a UWS undergraduate degree.
"UWS will also be continuing to make more offers during the late and final rounds."
Students who missed out on a main round offer or would like to discuss their study options can contact 1300 897 669.
Ends
16 January 2014
Photos: Lena Balout
Popular courses for 2014
Many of the popular UWS programs for 2014 are in response to skills shortages, workforce demand and emerging careers. UWS courses which received large numbers of first preferences or an increase in first preferences this year include:
- Bachelor of Business and Commerce programs at the Parramatta, Campbelltown and Bankstown campuses – attracted over 1500 first preferences this year
- Bachelor of Nursing at the Campbelltown, Parramatta and Hawkesbury campuses – attracted over 1500 first preferences this year
- Bachelor of Midwifery at the Parramatta campus – attracted 190 first preferences this year
- Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) and the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) at the Bankstown, Parramatta and Penrith campuses – attracted over 800 first preferences in total across the two programs
- Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) at the Campbelltown campus – a new course for this year, which attracted over 300 first preferences
- Bachelor of Medical Science at the Hawkesbury and Campbelltown campuses – attracted over 300 first preferences
- Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Podiatric Medicine – a 47 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Policing at Penrith and Bankstown campuses – a 22 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Criminology at the Penrith and Bankstown campuses – a new course for this year, which attracted over 150 first preferences
- Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth to 5/Birth to 12) at the Bankstown, Parramatta and Penrith campuses – a 14 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Science (Zoology) at the Hawkesbury campus – a 12 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Physiotherapy at the Campbelltown campus – a 9 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Natural Science (Animal Science) at the Hawkesbury campus – an 8 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Construction Management at Penrith campus – a 7 per cent increase in first preferences
- Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at Campbelltown campus – a 4 per cent increase in first preferences.
About UWS
UWS is a vibrant, modern, outer-metropolitan university, located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia – Greater Western Sydney, home to over 2 million people. It has one of the most comprehensive academic programs in the country.
It has campuses in Penrith, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Parramatta and Blacktown, and a new campus in Lithgow.
UWS currently has over 41,000 students.
Over 60 per cent of commencing domestic students are the first in their families to attend university.
75 per cent of domestic students are from Greater Western Sydney.
32 per cent are over 25 years of age.
UWS has the largest number of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds of any university in Australia – over 9000 students in 2013, across its campuses – which equates to 24 per cent of its total domestic student enrolments.
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