Engineering Applications Reach Record Numbers

Media release
The University of Auckland
22 February 2013

Engineering Applications Reach Record Numbers At The University Of Auckland

The University of Auckland has received a record 2,283 applications to its Bachelor of Engineering programme, a rise of nine percent from this time last year. This is a trend which has seen the number of undergraduate Engineering students go from 2,213 five years ago to 2,730 expected in 2013.

The high level of interest in Engineering has been matched with an increase in standards and students obtaining marks above the University’s guaranteed entry threshold. The growth has also seen a record 118 Engineering places offered to Māori and Pacific students, and coincides with an all-time high in the number of new women Engineering students. Early indications are that 180 women will enrol in the first year of the University’s Engineering programme - a nearly 20 percent rise from the 151 students in 2012.

“Nearly 800 new students will enter the University’s Engineering programme this year and the growth in applications reflects, in part, our commitment to reaching out to students who would not normally consider Engineering as an option,” says Acting Dean of Engineering, Professor Gordon Mallinson.

“The strong demand in Engineering will easily fill the additional 150 places funded by government this year, and will ensure that the country produces the high-calibre engineers it needs.”

To help support the expansion, the University is embarking on a $200 million upgrade of its engineering facilities including construction of a new research facility to cater for its roughly 3,700 undergraduate and postgraduate Engineering students.

University of Auckland Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon says: “In addition to Engineering, enrolments are looking particularly strong in the faculties of Medical and Health Sciences, and Science. These are in line with the government strategy to promote the STEM subjects as drivers of economic development.

“Since we limit entry to our programmes, this does not mean that we will necessarily have higher numbers at the end of the enrolment period, but it does mean that we continue to experience strong demand for access to our comprehensive research University.”

Applicants from out of Auckland have increased by six percent over 2012 and account for 32 percent of all Engineering applications. The three biggest regions supplying applicants are Waikato, Wellington and Bay of Plenty.

The Faculty of Engineering is ranked alongside the best Engineering schools in Australasia and is 68th in the QS global rankings.

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