Defence, IT, engineering, health and fast-evolving creative industries are featuring strongly in course selections by the incoming class of 2024 who are choosing Flinders University to springboard their 21st century careers.
Flinders is an academic powerhouse – its research is hitting top speed, with 140% growth in research income in just five years, and major investments into state-of-art facilities such as its signature Health and Medical Research Building at Bedford Park and the new City Campus which is set to open within weeks.
Studying at Flinders gives students access to stellar researchers, contemporary learning experiences and a networked campus community through the heart of the county, from Adelaide to Darwin, so students can dive into the jobs of today and skill for the jobs of tomorrow.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) Professor Romy Lawson says Flinders courses are future ready, providing job-aligned education pathways into a wide range of professions with many students entering medicine and allied-health fields this year, along with a growing number developing the skills and knowledge to make it in the burgeoning tech and defence sectors.
Professor Lawson says demand for engineering reflects job opportunities, including the national ship building program which has allocated $18 million in Commonwealth places to Flinders through the Nuclear-Powered Submarines Student Pathways program. This is supported by the Flinders’ education partnership with Universities of Rhode Island and Manchester, as well as its landmark agreement with Naval Undersea Warfare Centre Division Newport – an Australian first. These are all creating exciting new inroads to advance knowledge, skills and research.
“We continue innovating courses and building collaborative partnerships with government and industry. These initiatives, added to how Flinders supports students such as growing our academic, regional and other scholarships, all work to maximise the advantages a Flinders degree offers to springboard into one’s chosen career,” explains Professor Lawson.
“Engineering, Science, Health Sciences and Computing courses are attracting strong interest this year,” she says.
“In health, Flinders is offering exciting allied-health degrees in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology among other disciplines which will go on to meet job needs across rural, regional and remote Australia. We are also growing our online program, such as Psychology, giving students even more choice to learn in their preferred mode and flourish.
“At every opportunity, Flinders is innovating and evolving, steadfast in our commitment to provide the best learning and research experiences, whether you’re in South Australia, the Northern Territory or online.
“Together with government, industry and our Alumni network, the Flinders community is making its mark and contributing to a stronger, smarter and healthier future.”
Professor Lawson says there is strong interest in the new City Campus. Nearly 600 first-preference applications have been received for its opening courses, including the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) Honours, Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice, Bachelor of International Relations and Political Science, through to Bachelor degrees in Psychological Science, Criminology and Social Work which all start when the campus opens its doors in February.
There is a total of 6,585 first round offers to prospective domestic students out this week. Of these, 5,445 are for entry to undergraduate courses.