Tracking demand – an early audit of Australia’s new student demand driven system

In 2012, Australian universities entered a new era of student selection and enrolment. Australia's universities are now able to enrol as many students as they choose (or to be more precise, as choose them) under a funding system driven by student demand. This Joining the Dots Research Briefing explores the changes that have occurred in the system over the few years since this funding arrangement was announced. This involves an early audit of the figures for 2012 in relation to those of the past six years, followed by some discussion of the consequences of student demand driven funding for the higher education system. Issues addressed cover: demand for university, university offers and student demand driven funding; and the supply of university places.