Charles Sturt University (CSU) has bucked the downward trend in the higher education sector, increasing the number of applicants who have listed CSU as their university of first choice (first preferences) by 12 per cent on last year. 

Of those who applied more than 3 000 will receive offers to study at CSU as part of the main round university offers through the University Admissions Centre, with NSW and ACT applicants able to access their offers online from 9pm tonight, Wednesday 19 January 2005. 

Executive Director, Student Administration, Geoff Honey attributed the strong performance to CSU’s course profile, which now includes the new Veterinary Science program, the first non-metropolitan program of its kind in Australia.

“Across all our campuses it is clear our course profile, which we have tailored to be relevant and accessible for our regional communities, is a reason for the increasing demand to study at CSU. Education programs, allied health courses and nursing have performed well and are examples of areas where professionals are needed in our communities. 

“We have also gained additional places for the new campus at Orange, following its transfer from the University of Sydney. After a shortened application period due to the transfer of Orange to CSU there has still been strong demand for our pharmacy program, while management and equine studies courses are among the stronger courses.” 

The University has advertised a range of courses as having vacancies in order to take as many applicants as possible into our courses. A full list of courses with vacancies will be listed in Thursday’s metropolitan papers.

A brief summary of student demand highlights is included below:

Albury 
• Popular courses include:  Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Podiatry, Early Childhood, Middle Schooling, Early Childhood/Speech and Hearing Science.
• Vacancies remain in a range of Business, IT, and Environmental Science courses and applicants are encouraged to contact the campus for advice on their prospects for admission, by contacting the Student Administration Office on telephone: (02) 60516811. 

Bathurst
• Eight per cent increase in overall preferences from 2004.
• Popular courses include: Communications courses, Justice Studies, Education courses, Psychology, Nursing, and a general increase in popularity across Business courses. Inquiries about any vacancies should be directed to the Student Administration Office on telephone: (02) 63384176.

Dubbo
• Popular courses include: Primary Education, Nursing and Accounting. 
• Vacancies remain in a range of courses and applicants are encouraged to contact the campus for advice on their prospects for admission, by contacting the Student Administration Office on telephone (02) 63384176.

Orange
• Popular courses include: Pharmacy, Management, Equine Business Management and Agricultural Commerce.
• Vacancies remain in Nursing and a range of Rural Management courses and applicants are encouraged to contact the campus for advice on their prospects for admission, by contacting (02) 6360 5511. 

Wagga Wagga
• Fifteen per cent increase in first preferences from 2004.
• Popular courses include: Veterinary Science, Pharmacy, Medical Imaging, Education courses, Nursing/Midwifery, Arts, Equine Studies, and a general increase in popularity in Business, Science and Agriculture courses. Inquiries about any vacancies should be directed to the Student Administration Office on telephone: (02) 6933 2240.