The first year experience in Australian universities: findings from a decade of national studies

This report examines the experiences of first year university students over a 10 year period and reports on six key areas: aspirations, change and uncertainty in the first year; student expectations and adjustments to university study; engaging with learners and learning at university; managing commitments in the first year; perceptions of teaching and satisfaction with courses; and the first year experience of significant student groups. An important finding of the report is that the 2004 respondents continued to rate both interest-related and job-related reasons as important in their...  [+] Show more

This report examines the experiences of first year university students over a 10 year period and reports on six key areas: aspirations, change and uncertainty in the first year; student expectations and adjustments to university study; engaging with learners and learning at university; managing commitments in the first year; perceptions of teaching and satisfaction with courses; and the first year experience of significant student groups. An important finding of the report is that the 2004 respondents continued to rate both interest-related and job-related reasons as important in their decisions to enrol in university study together with an increased sense of purpose. The respondents also revealed a greater clarity about occupational aspirations compared with their peers from 1994 and 1999 and were less likely to have come to university directly from school.