Campuses from Moreton Bay to Fraser Coast are set to welcome nearly 4,800 new students to the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2024.
Starting Monday 19 February, Orientation week is a chance for new students to meet new friends, join clubs, visit facilities and find out what else is on offer at UniSC.
This includes 2,637 enrolled to study at Sunshine Coast campus, 1,333 at Moreton Bay, 144 at Caboolture, 114 at Fraser Coast, 47 at Gympie, and 1,386 online.
UniSC Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett said she was pleased to see strong enrolment numbers, and a particularly strong growth across the engineering programs.
“It's such an exciting time for new students, the chance to visit their new campus before the serious study begins,” Professor Bartlett said.
The most in-demand undergraduate courses for 2024 are Bachelor of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Primary Education, Business, Paramedicine and Clinical Exercise Science.
Engineering experienced a 13.1 percent increase on last year across Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic, Mechanical and Mechatronic degree programs.
Commencing student Baxter Burke of Caloundra is looking forwards to applying his lifelong love of the outdoors towards studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) and Bachelor of Environmental Studies in a double degree at the Sippy Downs campus.
“My interests in sustainability were sparked through my parents from a young age as they taught me to think and live sustainably,” said Baxter, who received an early offer to study while still a school Vice-Captain in Year 12 at Caloundra State High School last year.
Along with a group of fellow students and teachers, he formed an environmental club to implement eco-friendly ideas at the school and used his leadership position to encourage others.
“I knew I wanted to do something that makes a change in some way, whether that’s helping out the environment or the next generation,” he said.
“UniSC had a degree that offered exactly that, so I jumped at the opportunity.”
UniSC also met his criteria for sustainability impact. Last year, UniSC placed equal 29th in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings measured against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and among the top three for clean water and sanitation.
On top of this, UniSC has campuses across three of Australia’s five UNESCO biosphere reserves, a nature-lover’s dream.
“I was also one of five lucky winners to go on the UniSC Best Field Trip in the World and, after talking to a professor and student ambassador from the program, it solidified that this was the right step for me,” Baxter said.
“I’m looking forwards to meeting and making connections with a range of different people and maybe joining some of the uni clubs and activities”.
UniSC has 15,115 students enrolled for Semester One, 2024. This includes 4,792 new domestic and international students (4,398 new domestic and 394 new international students).
UniSC Orientation dates 2024
- Caboolture: Monday 19 February
- Sunshine Coast: Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 February
- Fraser Coast: Tuesday 20 February
- Gympie: Wednesday 21 February
- Moreton Bay: Thursday 22 February
- Online: Monday 19 – Friday 23 February
Media enquiries: Please contact the Media Team media@usc.edu.au