The table illustrates data about students in six departments at an Australian university in 2009, focusing on the percentage of females, students whose first language is not English, and students born outside Australia. Overall, the table reveals notable differences in the demographics of students across these departments.
To begin with, there is significant variation in the percentage of female students across the departments. The English department has the highest proportion of female students at 67%, closely followed by Modern Languages with 63%. This trend indicates a higher female representation in humanities-related fields. In contrast, the lowest percentages of female students are observed in the Chemistry and Physics departments, with 29% and 37%, respectively. These figures suggest that STEM fields, especially Chemistry, have a lower female enrollment compared to humanities.
When considering students whose first language is not English, Modern Languages leads with 41%, indicating a strong presence of bilingual or multilingual students. This may be due to the nature of the field, which attracts students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Physics and Math also have relatively high proportions of students whose first language is not English, at 38% and 36%, respectively. Conversely, History has the lowest percentage of students with a non-English first language, at only 10%, suggesting a more homogenous linguistic background in this department.
The data also shows variation in the percentage of students born outside Australia. Modern Languages again has the highest proportion, with 54% of its students born outside Australia. This trend aligns with the higher percentage of students in this department whose first language is not English, reflecting its international appeal. Physics, Math, and Chemistry also have significant proportions of students born outside Australia, with figures of 44%, 43%, and 47%, respectively. In contrast, History has the lowest percentage, with only 18% of students born outside Australia, suggesting a more local student base.
In summary, the table indicates that humanities departments like English and Modern Languages have higher female representation and attract more students from non-English-speaking and international backgrounds. On the other hand, STEM fields such as Physics, Math, and Chemistry show lower female enrollment but have relatively high proportions of students born outside Australia. The History department stands out with the lowest figures in terms of diversity, as it has fewer international students and students from non-English-speaking backgrounds. These differences highlight varying demographic trends across different fields of study at the university.