66,000 students are expected to receive Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre offers to undertake tertiary studies or vocational training.

Dr Napthine has urged universities, industry, schools and governments to work together to encourage student interest in courses crucial to the Victorian economy.

The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to ensuring all Victorians are able to access and undertake further education.

Premier Denis Napthine today joined Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall to launch this year’s Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre offers at the newly formed Federation University Australia in Ballarat.

Almost 70,000 students will receive their first round offer at 2pm, which represents a steady increase in the number of Victorian students choosing to study at university.

Courses including health, natural and physical sciences, engineering and architecture reported the greatest growth in offers for tertiary student places in 2014.

“It is fantastic to see that there are more students studying at university today than ever before, with 56,000 students set to receive an offer, an increase of 2 per cent on 2013,” Dr Napthine said.

“It is especially encouraging to note a stronger student demand for courses of vital need to the future of the Victorian economy.”

The newly formed FedUni received a total of almost 1,600 first preference applications. “It is expected that FedUni’s intake will be even greater than this when you consider second and third preference applications,” Dr Napthine said.

Dr Napthine said this was a fantastic outcome for FedUni in its first year.

“This is great news for regional education and great news for Ballarat and Gippsland,” Dr Napthine said.

FedUni will not only transform the educational experiences enjoyed by regional students, but it will also encourage growth and diversity in these regional communities by attracting our next generation of leaders,” Dr Napthine said. Mr Hall said he was particularly pleased to be at Australia’s newest university to mark this day.

“Today’s offers are only the beginning of a journey that will lead to many successful pathways,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall reminded students who may have missed out on a first round offer to not be discouraged.

“Firstly, don’t panic, there are many more paths to tertiary study today than ever before,” Mr Hall said.

“Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to pick up a place in a second or supplementary round of offers.

“There are also TAFE and vocational education and training courses as pathways to tertiary education studies.”