Release type: Media Release

Date:

Job-ready Graduates package sees more Aussies enrolling in key courses

Ministers:

The Hon Alan Tudge MP
Minister for Education and Youth

Early data from universities shows over 26,000 more Australians are set to study at universities this year, to get them the skills they need to get into a job.

Data provided by 25 Australian universities shows a five per cent increase in total enrolments compared to the same period last year. Enrolments of new students are up almost 11,000 or seven per cent.

Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the biggest increases in new enrolments have been in courses made cheaper under the Morrison Government’s Job-ready Graduates package.

“The Job-ready Graduates package is all about encouraging Australians to study the courses where we know they are most likely to get a job,” Minister Tudge said.

“This year more first year students are enrolling in science, agriculture, IT, education and engineering – areas where the jobs of the future will be.

“There has also been an eight per cent increase in enrolments in health, which means more Australians training to be doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

“Our record $20 billion investment in higher education this year, includes $550 million for extra university and short course places and $1 billion for university research.

“We are backing our universities and Australian students to get the skills they need to get into work and help supercharge our economic recovery.”

Final enrolment data will be available later in the year when data for all universities has been submitted and validated.

Commencing undergraduate enrolments, by broad field of education, 2020-2021
  Previous fees Fees under JRG 2020 enrolments 2021 enrolments % change 2020 to 2021

Natural and physical sciences

$9,698 $7,950 17,934 20,438 14.0%
Information Technology $9,698 $7,950 6,857 7,763 13.2%
Engineering and Related Technologies $9,698 $7,950 9,509 10,415 9.5%
Architecture and Building $9,698 $7,950 5,045 5,381 6.7%
Agriculture, Environmental & Related Studies $9,698 $3,950 1,829 2,077 13.6%
Health $9,698 $7,950 33,768 36,578 8.3%
Education $6,804 $3,950 12,731 14,133 11.0%
Management and Commerce $11,355 $14,500 19,265 19,178 -0.5%
Society and Culture $6,804 $14,500 39,048 41,316 5.8%
Creative Arts $6,804 $7,950 10,668 10,735 0.6%
Total     155,482 166,297 7.0%

 

Total undergraduate enrolments by broad field of education, 2020-2021
  2020 enrolments 2021 enrolments % change 2020 to 2021
Natural and physical sciences 52,093 56,123 7.7%
Information Technology 20,864 23,942 14.8%
Engineering and Related Technologies 37,094 38,477 3.7%
Architecture and Building 15,809 17,061 7.9%
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies 5,874 6,163 4.9%
Health 103,358 109,959 6.4%
Education 46,716 50,142 7.3%
Management and Commerce 75,458 74,876 -0.8%
Society and Culture 130,492 137,975 5.7%
Creative Arts 32,528 32,838 1.0%
Total 513,199 539,800 5.2%