Prize winners choose the University of Queensland

The University of Queensland's courses, facilities and excellent reputation have attracted the majority of the State's 99 Australian Students Prize winners this year.

Elizabeth Ahern, Peter Casey, William Chang, Thomas Friend and Rebecca McDonald were among 59 Prize winners who have made the University their first choice for tertiary study.

Five hundred Australian Students Prizes, each worth $2000, are awarded annually by the Federal Government for academic excellence and achievement in secondary education.

Engineering student Elizabeth Ahern said the new biomedical stream offered through various engineering divisions attracted her to the University of Queensland.

"I was always going to do engineering and I'm looking at studying medicine in the long run," she said.

"Because medicine is a graduate degree, I'm planning to do chemical engineering with a biomedical component and then go on to medicine."

Rebecca McDonald, who is studying arts and science, based her choice on the University's "great reputation".

"It is one of the best universities in Australia," she said.

"I like the atmosphere and I know people who study here and are really happy with it."

Former Brisbane Boys' Grammar student William Chang was interested in the opportunity to complement his law degree with a bachelor of commerce.

Thomas Friend is enrolled in a physiotherapy degree and Peter Casey is studying pharmacy, both programs offered by no other Queensland university.

They were also interested in the University's outstanding sporting facilities, with Thomas training for triathlons and Peter joining the pharmacy touch football team.

Students are nominated for the prize by State and Territory Ministers for Education to the Commonwealth Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training, Senator Christopher Ellison.