New study reveals what’s driving Australians back to university – and what’s holding them back.

31 May 2025, Sydney

A national survey of more than 1,000 people has revealed that most adults planning to study in the next few years want flexible, online degrees they can do while working, parenting or just getting on with life.

The survey, conducted in February and March 2025, captured the perspectives of more than 1,000 Australians aged 18 to 65 who are actively considering university study. The findings shed light on what adult learners need, what they value, and what’s getting in their way.

The new report ‘Adapting to Change: Motivations, Barriers, and Opportunities to Mature-Age Study, commissioned by the University of New England (UNE) and run by Year13, found that Aussies are thinking hard about returning to uni—but on their own terms.

UNE’s Executive Director Future Students, Engagement and Technologies, Dr Neil Durrant, said the research backs up UNE’s experience as a university with one of the highest proportions of non- school leaver students in Australia.

“UNE has been delivering distance and online education for more than 70 years. We understand the complexities of adult life—working, raising families, paying mortgages—and we’ve built our model around supporting people who are studying around those commitments,” Dr Durrant said.

“This research validates what we’re hearing from our students every day. They want a high-quality university education that works with their lives, not against them.”

Online study preferred option for Millennials and Gen X

More than 64% of all respondents said they prefer online study over on-campus learning. For respondents aged 25–44 and 45–54, that figure rose above 70%. Regional learners were even more likely to prefer online options, seeing it as the only viable path to certain qualifications.

Key reasons included:

  • Flexibility to learn around work (75%) and family responsibilities (63%)

  • Avoiding commuting or relocation (68%)

  • Learning at their own pace (59%). 

While people under 25 were more likely to express a preference for on-campus study, the research shows that appetite for online learning grows rapidly with age and responsibility.

“These are learners who want flexibility without compromising on quality or connection,” Dr Durrant said.

“We’re constantly investigating and investing in digital experiences that support real interaction - with tutors, peers, and the content itself. Online learning doesn’t mean going it alone.”

Motivations shift with age and life stage

The research highlights how motivations differ across generations.

  • Learners aged 18-24 are more likely to be seeking their first qualification and driven by career progression and peer influence.

  • Those aged 25-44 often return to study to change careers or level up their qualifications while juggling work and family.

  • Learners over 45 are motivated by personal fulfillment, flexibility, and the chance to re-engage with education in a way that works for them.

Top motivators overall included:

  • Personal fulfilment (52%)

  • Career change (44%)

  • Gaining additional qualifications (41%)

  • Career progression (40%)

“These aren’t school leavers,” Will Stubley, Year13 CEO said. “They’re experienced adults making calculated decisions. They’re asking: What will this cost me? How will it fit into my life? And what’s the return?”

Barriers reflect the realities of adult lives

Across all age groups, finances were the most significant barrier to university study:

  • 52% cited cost as a key obstacle

  • 42% expressed concern about incurring student debt

  • 29% said full-time work left little room for study

  • 22% pointed to family responsibilities

  • 46% said it was hard to compare similar courses across universities. 

“People want to study, but they’re pragmatic,” Mr Stubley said. “Universities need to do a better job of showing how courses fit into real lives and what outcomes students can expect.”

Dr Durrant agreed that the decision to study is rarely taken lightly.

“It can take years for someone to work through the financial, emotional and practical considerations of returning to university,” he said.

“That’s why UNE focuses not just on access, but on making the experience work once students are in the door.”

What students really want from a university

Respondents were clear about what matters most when choosing a university:

  • Quality of online learning (54%)

  • Admission pathways and flexible entry (42%)

  • Career relevance and industry connections (35%)

  • Transparent course structure and outcomes.

Less important were research rankings or traditional ideas of prestige. Learners, especially those aged 25 and older, were focused on outcomes, not image.

“People are past the brand-chasing stage,” Mr Stubley said. “They want a uni that respects their time and delivers practical value.”

Dr Durrant added that UNE’s long history in supporting diverse learners is what sets it apart.

“We’re not trying to copy the sandstone model. Our strength is knowing who our students are and backing them with systems, flexibility and genuine support,” he said.

UNE will use the research to refine its online learning environments, student communications and course information. The goal is to ensure that prospective students, regardless of generation, can easily assess whether study is right for them, and how UNE can help them succeed.

“This is not about reinventing ourselves, it’s about sharpening what we already do well,” Dr Durrant said.

“We’ve been teaching students outside the lecture theatre since the 1950s. This research gives us even more insight into how to keep leading in that space.”

The full research report, based on the national survey conducted by Year13 in partnership with UNE, is available now to download from the Year13 research page.

About Year13

Founded in 2011, Year13 is a Gen Z Publisher and Ed-tech whose purpose is to support young people to live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives, and whose mission is to upgrade the school-to- work transition. Year13’s suite of brands includes Career Tools, Australia’s largest school to work transition platform, with over 1250+ subscribing schools. In 2023, Year13 acquired Good Education Group, including The Good Universities Guide, The Good Schools Guide and Studies in Australia, together with Australia’s most comprehensive database of schools, universities and training providers.

About UNE

The University of New England (UNE) is a regionally based (the main campus being in Armidale NSW), globally networked university that is renowned for the quality of its student experience and the excellence of its research specialisations. One of the University’s most profound contributions to education is the pioneering of teaching to mature and off-campus students as UNE is Australia’s most experienced provider of distance and innovative online education.

Contact

For more information, please contact Ian Walker at ian@year13.com.au