Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Acceptances 2016

Direct Offers and Acceptances

From the 120,606 applications made directly to universities in 2016, 96,126 offers were made. This is an increase of 16.2% from 82,732 offers in 2015. All states and territories, except WA, recorded positive growth in direct offers, ranging between 6.4% and 38.7%. In 2016, the share of direct offers by states and territories exhibits similar patterns shown in the direct applications. Offer rates in relation to direct applications decreased from 80.1% in 2015 to 79.7% in 2016. In 2016, 74,736 direct offers (or 77.7%) were accepted which is 3.0 percentage points lower than the 2015 acceptance rate.
Table : Direct offers, by state and territory, 2015 and 2016

State/Territory	2015	Share (%)	2016	Share (%)	% Change
NSW	26,843	32.4%	30,991	32.2%	15.5%
Vic.	22,605	27.3%	31,362	32.6%	38.7%
Qld	13,712	16.6%	13,993	14.6%	2.0%
WA	13,001	15.7%	12,004	12.5%	-7.7%
SA	2,907	3.5%	3,689	3.8%	26.9%
Tas.	407	0.5%	492	0.5%	20.9%
ACT	2,575	3.1%	2,740	2.9%	6.4%
NT	318	0.4%	416	0.4%	30.8%
Australia	82,732	100.0%	96,126	100.0%	16.2%

11. Glossary

    1. Acceptance

Applicants accepting offers are those who have advised the Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs), or their university in relation to direct applications, that they have accepted conditionally or unconditionally the offer they have received. Not all universities require applicants to respond to the state TACs. Acceptance rates may therefore be understated. An acceptance does not necessarily mean that the student will enrol in that course and in some states, advising the TAC that they are rejecting the offer does not prevent the applicant from enrolling with the university based on that offer.

2. Acceptance rate

The acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants with an offer who formally accept an offer. Not all universities require applicants to respond to the state TACs. Acceptance rates may therefore be slightly understated.

3. Age

Age is calculated as at the 31 December 2015.

4. Applicant

For the purposes of this report, a valid applicant is defined as an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or permanent visa holder who has applied through a TAC or directly to a university during the 2015-16 admissions cycle and who expressed at least one preference for a Commonwealth supported places in a higher education undergraduate award course at a Table A or B higher education provider (HEP). If an applicant applies to more than one TAC, home state highest preference application takes the precedence. Further, if an applicant applies through a TAC and directly to university, direct application takes the precedence.

5. Application

A valid application is one submitted to a TAC or directly to a university during the 2015-16 admission cycle by an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or permanent visa holder, provided that at least one preference was for a Commonwealth supported place in a higher education undergraduate award course at a Table A or B HEP. Applications are excluded if they have been cancelled by TACs as duplicates or because the applicant is known to be deceased or has falsified documentation or for other administrative reasons. An applicant may make multiple applications during the application process and each submission is considered a separate application.

6.