University of Queensland remains the choice of most of the state's high achievers

The University of Queensland, Australia's 1998 University of the Year, continues to attract the majority of the state's high achievers, according to new data.

Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre figures show that in 1998 the University of Queensland was the choice of more students in the top band of school leavers than any other institution in the state.

QTAC data shows 78 per cent of school leavers earning an Overall Position of 1 enrolled to study at the University of Queensland in 1998.

Of the 435 OP1 students enrolled in tertiary study through QTAC, 341 chose to study at the University of Queensland.

QTAC data also showed the University of Queensland enrolled more than three times that of its nearest competitor for students receiving scores in the top three OP bands. A total of 1063 students (67 per cent) with OP scores of one, two or three, were admitted to the University of Queensland.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the 1998 data for OP1 students choosing the University of Queensland represented a seven percent increase on the previous year.

Professor Hay said students were attracted to the University for its wide variety of courses and quality of teaching, backed by its high graduate employment level and opportunities for further study.

"The outstanding outcomes for UQ graduates, as recognised by the Good Universities Guide in naming UQ the 1998 Australian University of the Year, is a powerful sign that the choice of university can give students a competitive edge," Professor Hay said.

The University has recorded the highest employment rate for new graduates under 25 years for three of the past four years, and has a proportion of graduates (35.8 percent) pursuing postgraduate studies significantly higher than state and the national equivalents of 25.1 per cent.

In 1998 the University was one of Australia's top two universities in the allocation of research quantum funding, the Federal Government's annual allocation based on research performance.

For further information, telephone Professor John Hay on (07) 3365 1300.