Huge enrolment increase at Lincoln among positive increases at most Kiwi unis

Thursday, 21 March 2024

The number of full-time equivalent students at the University of Otago has fallen 2% compared to the same time last year.

Lincoln University has seen a huge boost in enrolments this year amid overall positive announcements across the country - except by University of Otago.

Full-time equivalent (FTE) students at Lincoln University have rocketed up 20% compared to 2023, made up of 21% domestic and 13% international increases. Postgraduate students also soared 58%.

It’s the fifth year running that enrolments have risen at Lincoln, something vice-chancellor professor Grant Edwards attributes to their leading land-based courses and 84% employment outcome.

Last year, enrolments fell at all five North Island universities. This year, only Otago University didn’t announce an overall increase. Massey University was unable to provide overall figures.

The University of Otago counted a 380 fewer FTE students (down 2%), resulting in a forecast $3m to $5m shortfall.

Last year, falling student numbers and reduced retention at the university contributed to course cuts and a $20m shortfall.

Domestic numbers had fallen further than forecast and international growth was “running behind expectations”, acting vice-chancellor professor Helen Nicholson said.

Lincoln University enrolments have soared 20%, growing for the fifth consecutive year.

International numbers, up 35 FTE students, were expected to rise more later in the year, and fewer domestic students than usual had selected their semester two courses so far, she said.

Massey University said it was unable to provide overall or domestic student figures compared to last year, but noted international students were up 18%.

The university made major cuts to its college of sciences, sold parts of it campus, and proposed further course slashes this year after a $45m deficit last year.

The University of Waikato saw a FTE student increase of 6%, while the international students rose 25%.

The University of Canterbury and the University of Waikato recorded 6% growth in FTE students - contributing to this was a 12% and 25% international student boost respectively. Canterbury was on track to exceed 24,000 students by the end of the year.

Auckland University of Technology recorded a 3% rise and University of Auckland a 2% rise..

Victoria University of Wellington’s enrolment drop has stabilised, with 98 extra FTE students this year (1%), despite cutting courses last year to address a $35m to $38m deficit.

The slight increase put Victoria “on track” to meet 2024 revenue targets and supported a “solid foundation for the university’s ongoing financial sustainability”, a spokesperson said.

Victoria University of Wellington is “on track” to meet revenue targets this year after stabilising an enrolment decline.

Victoria University Students’ Association president Marcail Parkinson noted the capital was “one of the most expensive cities in New Zealand to live in”.

“If you move to Wellington deciding to rent you pretty much have to have a part time job, which is not something you have to do in most of the other cities.

“A lot of students are happier to live in Christchurch where they’re paying sometimes half the amount of rent,” she said.

Otago University Students’ Association president Keegan Wells said multiple factors could be attributed to the fall in student numbers at Otago and the rise in Canterbury.

Affordable housing may be one factor drawing students to the University of Canterbury.

Otago’s financial situation was not a good look and Canterbury was a more affordable place to live, she said.

“Canterbury students usually boast higher quality of flats at varying price levels, it appears, while Otago has more similar price levels at a more consistently lower quality.

“It's a shame seeing property managers and landlords in Dunedin continue to let their housing quality deteriorate… It’s an even bigger shame to think this may be stopping students from coming to Otago.”

Wells noted it was “incredibly difficult” to determine how heavily housing quality affected prospective students’ choices, however.

University of Canterbury Students’ Association president Luc Mackay said students wanted space and to be able to “explore their youth as comfortably as possible”.

“So when rent is comparatively very cheap compared to other regions in the country, it's very attractive.”

The culture was also a draw card, Mackay said, with strong club support and a “very beautiful” campus with lots of green space.

“It's hard to justify if you come from Wellington, to stay in such a cramped place.”

All enrolment changes were compared to a similar time last year and will change in the coming months.