Almost 5000 new students are taking their first steps towards new careers at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
There are more than 2600 newcomers at UniSC’s Sunshine Coast campus, while many others are at precincts at Moreton Bay, Caboolture, Fraser Coast and Gympie, as well as online.
Students are in the midst of Orientation Week, which provides students with a chance to meet new friends, join clubs, visit facilities and find out what else is on offer, before semester one starts next week.
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,” she said.
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The most in-demand undergraduate courses for 2024 are a Bachelor of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Primary Education, Business, Paramedicine and Clinical Exercise Science.
Engineering experienced a 13.1 per cent increase on last year, across the 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,” he said.
Mr Burke 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.
“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,” Mr Burke 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.
This includes 4792 new domestic and international students (4398 new domestic and 394 new international students).
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