The bar chart illustrates how many students applied for PhD programmes at four universities (Queensland, Adelaide, Newcastle, Canberra) between 2009 and 2019, and the prediction of how many would apply in the upcoming year of 2029.
Overall, total applications across the institutions reached their highest point in 2019. However, unlike the other universities, Canberra recorded its peak figure at the beginning of the period, in 2009.
Looking from an overall perspective, in 2009, Queensland University attracted the highest number of doctoral applications, at roughly 2,800. By comparison, Adelaide and Newcastle universities experienced noticeable growth over the decade, with application numbers rising to about 1,200 and 800, respectively, by 2019.
Looking ahead to 2029, Queensland is forecast to see a slight increase, reaching approximately 2,850 applications. Applications to Newcastle are expected to climb to around 1,600, while Canberra is projected to receive the fewest submissions, with only about 100 candidates applying.
