USC is continuing to expand rapidly, with a record number of people receiving offers to begin degrees at the University in Semester 1.

A total of 3,777 applicants have received offers for undergraduate places at USC so far from QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) – up 9.5 per cent on this time last year. That number will increase after further QTAC offer rounds are made throughout February.

Day one of Semester 1 on Monday 27 February will see about 13,500 students on campus, compared to 12,300 at the start of 2016.

The Bachelor of Nursing Science remains USC’s most sought-after degree, with 384 applicants receiving offers, followed by Paramedic Science, Sport and Exercise Science, Business (Tourism, Leisure and Event Management) and Primary Education.

The 3,777 applicants include 1,972 from the Sunshine Coast (including Noosa Shire Council), 555 from Moreton Bay and Somerset regional councils, as well as 250 from Fraser Coast and 141 from Gympie.

USC’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Hill congratulated those who have received offers, and encouraged all new students to join in Orientation activities from 20-24 February.

“A university education is a wonderful experience and opens up many career doors,” he said. “I’d encourage our new students to make the most of the opportunities that will be presented to them during Orientation and throughout their degrees.”

Professor Hill said a further 500 people had today received offers to study USC’s free tertiary bridging program, called Tertiary Preparation Pathway.

The major round of offers was released online through QTAC (www.qtac.edu.au) this morning. Enrolment information has been provided to applicants online, and students are encouraged to respond to offers by Monday 23 January.

Anyone who has received an offer to study at USC but does not receive enrolment information from the University within the next few days should contact USC’s Student Administration Office on 5430 2890. Study planning assistance is also available.

Those who did not receive an offer can also contact USC’s Student Administration Office for advice about further QTAC offer rounds.

USC also has a number of alternative entry pathways to university, including the Tertiary Preparation Pathway program. For more details, go to www.usc.edu.au/apply.

— Terry Walsh