Increasing participation and attainment in higher education in Australia

Abstract

This article examines the early outcomes of the policy reforms that aim to increase substantially the proportion of Australians with a bachelor’s degree and improve equity of access. The changes rely on student choices dictating the flow and overall volume of government funding. The authors analyse the new policies and their implications for students and higher education institutions, focussing on: i) the initial evidence of impact on student numbers and the nature of the patterns of growth; ii) the effects on equity and the mix of students enrolled, both overall and between institutions; iii) the impact of increasing enrolments on government fiscal constraints and the pressure on student ch..