New uni students urged to carefully consider study options

New university students are being urged to do their homework as they receive offers, after new data released today shows differences in the job prospects and satisfaction levels between areas of study.

 

Minister for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham said with thousands of students finding out from today whether they’ve been accepted into their course of choice, it’s important students take time to consider their options before taking the plunge.

 

“Accepting an offer can be a life changing decision and its vital students have the tools they need to make the best possible choice when selecting a course and institution,” Minister Birmingham said.

 

“That’s why the Turnbull Government has ramped up its efforts to improve the transparency and availability of information available in areas including the satisfaction of students and employers, the quality of teaching in courses and job outcomes.

 

“The more resources prospective students have at their fingertips, the better decisions they will be able to make when considering the courses and careers they choose to embark on.

 

“I encourage all prospective students to visit the improved Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website – www.qilt.edu.au – which has useful information from employers and past university students about their experiences and job outcomes.”

 

Minister Birmingham said the 2017 Graduate Outcomes Survey National Report published today on the QILT website did highlight why students should carefully consider their course selections and career pathways.

 

“For example the results show that 82 per cent of graduates with degrees in teaching secured full-time employment within four months of finishing, with the figure dipping under 61 per cent for graduates in the creative arts and communications fields,” Minister Birmingham said.

 

“It’s also clear that graduates in vocationally oriented fields such as dentistry and vet science are more likely to gain full-time employment than graduates with more generalist degrees such as management and commerce, and social sciences.

 

“It’s examples such as these that students should to pay close attention to when considering offers.

 

“By ensuring universities are more accountable and transparent about the job prospects of their graduates, we are helping students to make the right choice the first time around.”

 

The survey results also showed employment levels of graduates from regional and remote areas have increased with three in four students now securing full-time employment within four-months of graduating and small rises in the employment outcomes of graduates from low socio-economic status backgrounds. 

 

The 2017 Graduate Outcomes Survey National Report can be found at https://www.qilt.edu.au/graduate-outcomes-survey-national-report-final-report.