Massey enrolment numbers up 20 pc

FAIRFAX

ENROLMENTS: The increase comes at a time when Manawatu unemployment is at a 16-year high of 8.1 per cent, with more than 10,000 people out of work.

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Tertiary students late to sign up for study in Manawatu may miss out as surging numbers of enrolments squeeze restricted courses.

The increase comes at a time when Manawatu unemployment is at a 16-year high of 8.1 per cent, with more than 10,000 people out of work.

At Massey University overall enrolments are up 20 per cent and international students have jumped 24 per cent compared with this time last year.

Massey University communications director James Gardiner said some students who made it in to a restricted course last year wouldn't make the cut this year.

"In design and fine arts for example, there were 25 per cent more applications this year, so normally while about 150 might miss out on the first-year places in those programmes this year it's closer to 250."

Other courses filling fast are Bachelor of Communications, Bachelor of Health Sciences, nursing, aviation and some teaching programmes.

Mr Gardiner said the increase was due to a growing awareness that spaces are limited.

"We have been urging students to enrol early to ensure they get in," he said.

UCOL students are also being turned away from restricted classes.

As of last week, an extra 410 students had enrolled compared with the same time last year and 262 students are on the Palmerston North waiting list.

- © Fairfax NZ News