January 16, 2026 — 5:00am
Summer Johnstone is embarking on her university journey this year, but she anticipates entering her profession only by the age of 27. “I wanted to be certain on what I was going to do … I just wanted something to be a passion,” she explained. “A lot of my friends rushed into courses and midway through the year, they changed to two different courses.”
Johnstone is starting a dual bachelor’s degree in architecture and construction management at Griffith University, joining over 17,500 adult-entry students across Queensland in 2026—a figure that continues to rise annually. The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) recently released its second and largest round of university course offers, bringing positive news to nearly 14,000 students across the state.
Growing Trend of Mature-Age Students
Since the rollout of Queensland university offers in late 2025, approximately 48,700 applicants have been accepted into their courses, with around 36 percent being mature-age students. Adult students, typically aged 21 or older, are those who do not transition directly from high school. However, the period between high school and further education may be shorter for students like 19-year-old Johnstone, who did not receive an ATAR.
Another adult applicant, 21-year-old Jeremy Hauter, left his career as a security technician to pursue a bachelor of pharmacy. “The reason I chose my original career option as a tradesman was when I was in high school, I was told I wasn’t good enough to go into university and study medical science,” Hauter shared. “March to April 2024 is when I realized that this career [in security] was not for me.”
Challenges and Motivations
Hauter cited the environment at his former workplace, where he was an apprentice, as a significant factor in his decision to change paths. “I worked every weekend, I was traveling constantly, I wasn’t able to go see my family, and I was ridiculed constantly by my employers,” he said. “I just had this looming anxiety about my career.”
Hauter, a resident of Redcliffe, is among 6,261 adult students pursuing health-related degrees—the most popular field of study across all age groups. The proportion of adult-entry students at Queensland universities has consistently ranged between 35 and 38 percent, with the actual number steadily increasing.
From 2024 to 2026, overall applications rose by about 12 percent, resulting in 2,500 more adult applications this year compared to three years ago.
Institutional Highlights and Future Prospects
In 2026, the University of Queensland issued the largest number of offers from any single institution, particularly for its bachelor of engineering with honors. For adult students specifically, the most frequently offered course was the Queensland University of Technology’s bachelor of business, followed by a bachelor of arts at UQ, and the online tertiary prep pathway at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Following Thursday’s major round of offers, additional places for courses commencing in the first half of the year are expected to be available until late February. This ongoing trend of increasing adult student numbers highlights a significant shift in educational preferences and career planning among Queensland residents.
The rise in adult students reflects broader societal changes, where lifelong learning and career adaptability are becoming essential in a rapidly evolving job market. As more individuals reassess their career paths and seek fulfillment in their professional lives, universities are likely to continue adapting to meet the needs of this growing demographic.
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