A profile of part‐time undergraduates in Australian universities |
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| Authors: | Martin Hayden Michael Long |
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| Institution: | 1. Southern Cross University , New South Wales , Australia;2. Monash University , Victoria , Australia |
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| Abstract: | Over one‐quarter of all undergraduates attending Australian universities enrol on a part‐time basis. This paper addresses the social, educational and financial characteristics of these students. In a survey in 2000, questionnaires were sent to a sample of 84,591 domestic (i.e. excluding overseas fee‐paying) undergraduate students at 19 Australian universities. The response rate was 41.1%. Systematic differences were found between full‐time and part‐time respondents across a wide range of characteristics. Importantly, part‐time undergraduates were more likely to be older, in full‐time employment and concentrated in particular fields of study. Just over one‐half of all part‐time undergraduates would have preferred to be studying full‐time, financial circumstances permitting. Slightly less than one‐third felt prevented from studying full‐time because of a lack of government income support. A tenth of all part‐time undergraduates felt unable to study full‐time because of costs. |
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