Preliminary enrolment figures at Otago Polytechnic have indicated a rise in the number of applications being processed from Christchurch-based students.
The University of Canterbury has recorded a 5% drop in its enrolment figures from new students alongside a 10% drop in applications from international students for the 2012 academic year, while at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) enrolments are down 25%.
University of Canterbury vice-chancellor Dr Rod Carr said the university was continuing to accept late applications for enrolments.
Total applications to enrol were up by 15% on the corresponding time last year, although he acknowledged not all of those who applied would take up study at Canterbury, Dr Carr said in a statement.
Applications from international students were about 10% down compared with last year, while first-year domestic applications were down 5%, he said.
The University of Otago declined to provide specific information about enrolments for the 2012 academic year until after course approval had been completed next month.
Otago Polytechnic communications co-ordinator Emma Lancaster said the total number of applications to study at the tertiary institute were up by about 14% compared with last year.
Figures provided to the Otago Daily Times show the polytechnic had received 133 applications from "Christchurch-domiciled applicants".
In mid-December, 4.3% of the total applications from prospective students at Otago Polytechnic were from Christchurch residents.
The figure is slightly up from the 3.31% of Christchurch-domiciled applicants who applied to study at Otago Polytechnic in the 2011 academic year.
University of Otago academic and international deputy vice-chancellor Prof Vernon Squire said a firm picture of its enrolments would emerge once course approval was completed next month.
Last year, the university recorded a fall in student numbers for the first time in five years, partly as a result of an introduced enrolment limitation scheme and a drop of about 67 equivalent full-time students at the University of Otago's Christchurch campus.
Registrations for course enrolments from new students seeking to study at the University of Otago closed on December 10, while returning students had until January 15 to register.
Prof Squire said enrolments overall appeared to be broadly in line with expectations, as outlined in the university's 2012 budget document in December last year.
"As usual at this time of year, the enrolment situation remains fluid and a definitive picture will not emerge until a week or so after course approval in February.
"For this reason, we maintain our usual practice of not making any specific or detailed comment on the overall picture until after that time," Prof Squire said.
