January 16, 2026 — 5:00am
Summer Johnstone is embarking on her university journey this year, with plans to enter her chosen profession 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’s decision to pursue a dual bachelor’s degree in architecture and construction management at Griffith University places her among more than 17,500 mature-age students enrolling across Queensland in 2026. This demographic is steadily growing each year, reflecting a broader trend in higher education.
Increasing Adult Student Enrollment
The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) recently announced its second and largest round of university course offers, bringing positive news to nearly 14,000 students statewide. Since the initial offers began in late 2025, approximately 48,700 applicants have been accepted into courses, with mature-age students comprising about 36 percent of this cohort.
Mature-age students, typically aged 21 or older, are those who do not transition directly from high school. However, the gap between high school and university can be shorter for students like 19-year-old Johnstone, who did not receive an ATAR.
Career Changes and New Beginnings
Other adult applicants, such as 21-year-old Jeremy Hauter, are leaving previous careers behind. Hauter, who left his job as a security technician, is now pursuing 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 explained. “March to April 2024 is when I realised that this career [in security] was not for me.”
Hauter cited the challenging environment at his former workplace as a significant factor in his decision. “I worked every weekend, I was travelling 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.”
The Redcliffe local, who begins his new path at Griffith University this year, is one of 6,261 adult students pursuing a health-related degree – the most common area of study for students across all age brackets.
Trends and Statistics
Year-on-year, the percentage of adult-entry students at Queensland universities has ranged between 35 and 38 percent, with the actual number steadily increasing. From 2024 to 2026, the overall number of applications surged by about 12 percent, equating to 2,500 more adult applications this year compared to three years ago.
In 2026, the University of Queensland issued the most offers from any single institution, particularly for its bachelor of engineering with honours. However, for adult students specifically, the most commonly 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 offered at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Future Implications
The increase in mature-age student enrollment highlights a shift in educational trends, where more individuals are seeking to redefine their career paths later in life. This shift is indicative of a broader societal change, where lifelong learning and career adaptability are becoming increasingly valued.
As additional places for courses starting in the first half of the year are expected to be made available until late February, the trend of adult education is likely to continue its upward trajectory.
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