Uni to take 100 extra students in engineering

Thursday, 18 January 2007

The 成人大片 is encouraging more school leavers to apply for engineering this year.

The University has decided to accept more than 100 extra students into for 2007, because of high demand and a strategic need for skilled engineers in South Australia.

There has been a 19.4% increase in the number of first preference applications from school leavers for engineering at Adelaide compared with the same time last year.

"The demand for engineering degrees is so strong, and the need for skilled engineers in this State so great, that we are prepared to take at least 100 additional students into engineering for 2007," says the University's Vice-Chancellor and President, .

"This gives a clear message to school leavers: if you had hopes of studying engineering at the 成人大片 this year but didn't think you would get in, think again."

The 成人大片 will accept additional students into all of its undergraduate engineering programs except Aerospace Engineering, which has the highest demand of any engineering degree at Adelaide.

In order to encourage more students to apply for places, the University will set the TER (Tertiary Entrance Rank) cut-off scores to 80 for all undergraduate engineering programs except Aerospace Engineering.

"Cut-off scores are a result of supply and demand. By increasing the supply of places in engineering we can cater for the demand. The TER of 80 is a score that we think a student needs in order to be successful in engineering studies," Professor McWha says.

"School leavers who have earned a TER of 80 or more might have thought that the cut-off score for engineering would be too high for them, so many of them haven't bothered to apply. We want those students to reconsider their options and their possible career choices," he says.

Engineering programs at the 成人大片 proving popular with school leavers include:

  • : 45% increase in the number of first preference applications from school leavers when compared with the same time last year;
  • : 35.3% increase in the number of first preference applications from school leavers;
  • : new degree program;
  • : new degree program.

As well as the extra places being made available in engineering, additional places will also be made available to students in the areas of , with a new degree in starting this year.

"Our new degrees in are important because they show that the University is able to respond to the needs of industry and the community," Professor McWha says.

"The skills shortage in the mining industry has been well covered in the media. Australia is producing just 40% of the mining engineers it needs. The 成人大片 has been able to respond very quickly to this skills shortage, and our new degree in Mining Engineering is already showing strong interest from school leavers.

"We initially thought we might get about 30 students for that degree - we're now looking to take at least 50 students.

"The new Mining Engineering program joins our established program in , which is attracting increased numbers of students from across Australia and overseas, and is addressing similar skills shortages in the oil and gas industry.

"There are great opportunities for engineering graduates of all kinds to apply their skills anywhere in the world, including right here in South Australia. This is a good time to study engineering," Professor McWha says.

Professor McWha says the additional places will be made available by balancing student load in other areas.

Students interested in studying engineering at the 成人大片 - and who meet the TER cut-off score and other pre-requisites - should contact the University's Student Centre on 8303 5208 or freecall 1800 061 459 (for country and interstate callers).

 

Contact Details

Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: /newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The 成人大片
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