The 18-year old is one of the capitals best young rowers and since finishing Year 12 at Dickson College last year has received scholarship and accommodation offers from several universities in Melbourne and Sydney.

She said that her family and friends were shocked when she turned these offers down in favour of a degree at the Australian National University in Canberra.

When I got those scholarships interstate, everyone thought I was totally crazy not to take them, Tessa said.

Everyone just said, but Canberras so boring, why would you want to study here?. But I think its getting pretty cool: there are groovy places popping up all over the place at the moment.

Tessa said she expected her flexible double degree studies - which allow students to mix their courses across a range of study areas - will be in international relations and arts.

Hackett resident Andrew Palm got the offer he wanted and will also continue to call Canberra home. He is set to study a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) honours at ANU.

Its exactly what I was after. It was my first preference, Andrew said.

The 18-year-old Dickson College graduate said he had tossed up other universities interstate, but Canberra seemed a good idea.

I guess Canberra is a good place to study, and I only live 15 minutes away from ANU, so its easy to do, he said.

Andrew said he was looking forward to the freedom of the course, which involves three years of study before a one-year honours program.

Tessa and Andrew are two of more than 2000 ACT students who received an offer to attend university in 2014 on Thursday night.

The University Admissions Centre issued more than 50,000 offers to students around Australia at 9pm, in its largest round of offers for the 2014 academic year.

Locally, the Australian National University and University of Canberra made 2236 offers, of which just over 500 went to ACT and Queanbeyan students.

This was the latest in a number of university offer rounds that have taken place since October last year. Nearly 5000 fewer offers were made in the main round this year than in 2013 Many universities offered a greater proportion of their places in competitive early rounds instead.

Students who missed out on a main round offer are being encouraged to keep their hopes up, with several more rounds to come before the academic year begins. UAC has recommended disappointed students review their preferences before the next round to check they are being realistic.

In the meantime, successful students will begin busily making plans for their first year at university, perhaps after a celebration with family and friends.

Andrew will be enjoying the break before the semester starts mid-March.

Therell be a lot of cricket and sport, and hanging out with mates, a good holiday, he said.

Might as well make the most of it.

Tessa, on the other hand, has a rowing regime to stick to.

Im training for nationals at the moment, and Im on an incredibly strict diet and exercise plan, she said.

So, despite all her success, therell be no going out or partying for me.