The university will welcome about 820 new students when Orientation Week activities begin today.

Head of campus Col Sharp said there would be around 140 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) and 75 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing.

He said the Bachelor of Clinical Practice had fewer enrolments than last year, but was still proving to be the campus’ most popular course.

“It may be a few students lighter, but that is partly because the intake at the course in Port Macquarie, which started last year, is growing,” he said.

Lecturer Lyle Brewster said many of the students undertaking the course were attracted by the high chance of employment.

“Our employment rate is over 90 per cent – there’s a very high chance that they will be employed post-degree,” he said.

“The demand is higher than the supply; we can’t produce enough graduates to join the profession.”

Mr Brewster said interest has grown in the degree in recent years.

“I think popular TV shows like Recruits helped expose the career and people hear in the media that it is one of the most trusted professions and gravitate towards it.”

He said the university’s facilities and solid reputation within the field also helped attract students.

“We have top notch facilities, like our simulator suite, which is brand new and has lots of equipment students learn to use throughout their degree,” he said.

Among the new students, there will also be around 75 enrolled in the Bachelor of Justice Studies (Policing), 150 enrolled across the variety of Bachelor of Communi-cations degrees and 45 enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary).

Mr Sharp said the Communi-cations courses at the Bathurst campus were still a major drawcard for the university.

He added that negative portrayals of teaching in the media had possibly influenced the lower enrolments seen in the Bachelor of Education in recent years.

“Some issues have been well publicised. Questions have been raised about the entrance into teaching courses and the entrance into the profession.

“People are thinking twice before considering a career as a teacher.”

But he said the Bachelor of Education was a strong course which had a new structure.