Applications for Otago Polytechnic are ''well up'' on last year, but it is too early to say whether this will mean more students when the academic year starts next month.
Otago Polytechnic director of communications Mike Waddell said early signs were looking good for the polytechnic.
''Things are looking really positive, but to be quite frank, until you have actually got the students in front of you, it's just a bit too early to say.''
''Applications have been really positive indeed, but how many of those turn into full students [it] is a bit too early to say,'' Mr Waddell said.
The polytechnic would have a ''far better idea'' of where things stood after courses started in mid-February.
The polytechnic held an open day for prospective students yesterday.
Tasha Taane(18), who was at the open day to look at signing for a fashion design degree, said she liked the polytechnic because it was more ''hands-on'' than the University of Otago.
The polytechnic last year forecast student numbers would increase 6% to 4220 equivalent full-time students (Efts) this year.
