The table illustrates the demographic characteristics of students in six departments at an Australian university in 2009, including the proportion of female students, those whose first language was not English, and students born outside Australia.
Overall, it is clear that student profiles varied considerably across departments. Modern Languages had the highest proportions of both female and international students, while History showed the lowest figures for overseas enrolment. In contrast, Chemistry was the most male-dominated subject.
In terms of gender, English and Modern Languages had a strong female majority, with 67% and 63% respectively. History also enrolled more women than men at 58%. By comparison, Chemistry had the lowest percentage of female students, at only 29%, followed by Physics at 37%. Maths showed a more balanced gender distribution, with women accounting for 42%.
Regarding international background, Modern Languages again ranked first, as 54% of students were born outside Australia and 41% spoke a first language other than English. Chemistry and Physics also had relatively high proportions of overseas students, at 47% and 44% respectively. In contrast, History had the smallest international presence, with only 18% of students born abroad.