19 January 2009
Victorian school leavers have again voted Monash the university of first choice, reflecting strong interest in flexible, career-focused degrees, and Monash's reputation for the highest standards of learning and teaching.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre data showed that 12,876 domestic school leavers, 22.8 per cent of the total pool, listed Monash as their first preference, up from 11,274 in 2008. (Source: VTAC pre change of preference data.)
Professor Shoemaker said this was the third year in a row that Monash maintained the greatest number of undergraduate first and total preferences in the VTAC joint selection system after the change of preference period. (20.7 per cent and 21.1 per cent respectively).
The University also recorded its highest ever number of 99.95 or "perfect score" applicants considered for admission. There were more than 60 of these applicants when International Baccalaureate (IB) and interstate applicants were taken into consideration - with 41 in the faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
Professor Shoemaker said the enhanced interest in courses at Monash reflected the successful introduction of the Monash Passport.
"Monash, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary, offers professional degree programs that start from day one, as well as broad generalist degrees. We have a strong international focus, offer support for students to study abroad and volunteer with organisations like Oxfam, and sponsor world-leading research in many disciplines.
Professor Shoemaker said there had been a sharp increase in applications for undergraduate degrees in medicine and science, with over 1000 more students applying for courses in these faculties compared with 2008.
"The Science faculty has made the highest number of offers in its history -- 100 more than last year, and a significant number of these are in courses at Clayton with ENTER scores above 90."
He said with applications for law places at Monash doubling in the past two years, the faculty had received additional Commonwealth Supported Places, enabling it to make many more offers.
Professor Shoemaker said this had resulted in an increase of 50 per cent in the number of offers of Commonwealth Supported Places in law courses.
Highlights of the 2009 round of offers included:
- A record number of applications - 63 in total - for Monash courses from students with a "perfect" ENTER score of 99.95;
- A rise in the cut-off score of the architecture course at Caulfield to 90.3, reflecting the very positive response to the first year of the course in 2008;
- A continuing rise in the "clearly-in" ENTER score for Arts at Clayton (at 86.55 the highest in four years). In addition the Global Arts degree, with its mandatory period of overseas study, was also highly subscribed, underlining the popularity of offerings with an international focus;
- Offers for the Monash Science Advanced (with Honours) program more than doubled, reflecting strong interest in undergraduate research from high-achieving school-leavers.
Professor Shoemaker said the quality of applicants and the popularity of Monash courses was a clear endorsement of the University's reputation, its commitment to social justice and its outward-looking approach.
For more information contact Martin Curtis, Media and Communications on 0409 401 482.
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