Despite the industrial turmoil of the past year, the Australian National University has managed to increase its first-preference applications for next year.
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The University of Canberra has also slightly increased its first preferences on last year - drawing strong interest in new courses in physiotherapy and justice studies.
But the ANU is expecting to take a hit on enrolments at the beleaguered school of music, which are down by at least 20 per cent on last year.
ANU vice-chancellor Professor Ian Young said: ''The numbers of applications for the school of music are down at this stage, as the school goes through a period of change and rebuilding. ANU is firmly committed to the school, and expects the numbers to grow over time.''
ANU first preferences for school-leavers were 2167 this week - up from 2141 at the same time last year.
There has been high demand for the new bachelor of politics, philosophy and economics degree, and the bachelor of politics, philosophy and economics/juris doctor.
Applications for bachelor of international relations/bachelor of laws are up 50 per cent against the same time last year, with applications for the PhB in science (a research-focused bachelor of philosophy) up 30 per cent.
First preferences for programs in the ANU's College of Asia and the Pacific are up 7.6 per cent against the same time last year, while first preferences for programs in science are up 4.5 per cent.
The University of Canberra recorded 1946 first preferences compared with 1932 at the same time last year.
New courses drawing strong interest include a bachelor of physiotherapy with 82 first preferences and a bachelor of justice studies with 34 first preferences.
Health courses were also popular, including the bachelor of nursing, bachelor of human nutrition, bachelor of psychology and bachelor of sports management.
Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker hoped to cement the UC's health credentials through the creation of a 'health hub' on campus, including the University of Canberra Public Hospital, a new ACT GP super clinic, the expansion of the university's student-led clinics, and the inclusion of a national e-health 'living laboratory' in the super clinic building.
The UC's first preferences from school-leavers were on par with previous years, at 1680 compared with 1681 last year, while first preferences from non-school-leavers were up from 251 to 266.
Professor Parker said he was pleased to see first preferences from the ACT and Queanbeyan were up by 12.5 per cent from 997 to 1122 this year, which indicated the UC was ''a university of choice for the capital region and beyond''.
''The number of ACT residents aged 15-24 is currently declining and will continue to do so until at least 2015, so these results are particularly pleasing in their context,'' Professor Parker said.
First preferences are an indication of popularity as students apply for their ideal course and institution. But they differ from actual enrolments, which need to be confirmed by the institutions and depend on student results through the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.
The deadline for preference changes is January 4. Most offers in the region will be made on January 6.
