The University of Queensland (UQ) is rolling out the welcome mat for 12,750 commencing students this week, with Orientation Week activities kicking off today (20 February 2012).
UQ will enrol close to 46,000 students, including 9,500 international students, across its four Queensland campuses for the 2012 academic year.
UQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debbie Terry, said UQ was committed to offering outstanding opportunities to all capable and committed students, irrespective of their social and cultural backgrounds.
“The academic quality of our incoming students is absolutely stellar,” she said.
“We had a record number of applications for our most prestigious undergraduate scholarships, a record number of interstate students wanting to come to UQ, and very strong applications from Queensland school-leavers.
“This has meant that our entry standards in a range of programs have risen.”
Overall Position (OP) entry cut-offs for most UQ programs have risen during the past two years, and this year rose further for degrees in Engineering, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Nursing, Midwifery, Oral Health, Occupational Therapy, Marine Studies, and Regional and Town Planning.
Beginning this year, the Australian Government has removed the cap on the number of newly-enrolling Australian university undergraduate students that it will support.
UQ has offered places to 11,200 domestic undergraduate students, an increase of 5 per cent on last year.
Professor Terry said that, through their quality and diversity, these students were demonstrating that UQ can welcome more students whilst upholding its tradition of high academic standards.
“Last year we launched UQ College at Ipswich to provide alternative entry to university,” Professor Terry said.
“We are supporting more than 200 talented Queensland students, who may not have otherwise considered university as an option, with mentoring and financial support during Years 11 and 12 as part of our Young Achievers Program.”
“As well, we are welcoming more than 3,050 new international students, who will contribute in amazing ways to the vibrancy of UQ, helping enrich the experience for Australian students.”
New students can learn more about starting at UQ at http://www.uq.edu.au/startingatuq/
Media enquiries: Kathy Grube, 07 3346 0561.
