VTAC wish lists sport increased "Model" preferences
Monday, February 21 2011
In O-Week 2011, the university opens its arms to the class of 2013 for the Melbourne Model experience. With the first cohort of “New Generation” graduates released into the world, more students have given preference to these new courses than ever before.
Demand for places in New Generation degrees has strengthened this year, from 6781 first preferences in 2009/10 to 7624 in 2010/11, according to VTAC application statistics.
However, as 2011 marks the final year of cleansing of “Heritage” courses from the university system, students now have limited degree choices beyond Model options at Melbourne.
The total Arts offers for 2011 has reached a peak of 1833, with VTAC’s online application data noting an extra 220 places were offered this school year. An extra 358 first preferences for the course cements the program once again as one of the most popular course options in Victoria, according to VTAC’s online data.
The numbers are an increase for the New Generation degree, yet the absence of Media and Communications in 2011 (a course which, according to VTAC application statistics, attracted 200 first preferences in 2010) may be one reason for a surge in interest for Arts.
The university has done its best to entice students during the 2010 school year, with promises of extra places. In September of 2010 the Admissions Office announced on the Future Students website an increase of 350 new Commonwealth Supported places for the 2011 Bachelor of Science.
This was, the announcement stated, due to the popularity of the Model degree and the “quality and quantity” of 2010 applicants. The promise prompted new attention, with an extra 400 students adding the Science degree as their first preference.
Not all courses have received surges in interest. While New Generation courses are experiencing improvements in demand, demand for places at the Victorian College of the Arts has decreased somewhat in 2011. First preferences for VCAM courses dropped by 124 this year, according to VTAC’s online preference statistics. This was perhaps due to the uncertainty in 2010 regarding the campus’s future.
Yet as the six New Generation degrees settle into a rhythm, there has also been an increase in interest for double degrees at other universities.
An institutional report compiled by VTAC for 2011 indicates an increase of first preferences for Monash University’s Arts/Law degree of 35% since 2008, while their Arts/Commerce, and Arts/Science are experiencing steady increases.
Meanwhile, VTAC application data online suggests that the number of preferences across all Melbourne Uni campuses has dropped since 2008, from 9909 first preferences in 2008 to 8880 this year.