Just what do the next generation really want from their tertiary education?

Surveying more than 500 Australian recent school leavers aged 16-18, the UNSW College research reveals the pressures shaping attitudes around academic results, study pathways and career choices this year.

For almost a third of the students, decision-making about study and future careers is a source of uncertainty (30 per cent) and can potentially be overwhelming (28 per cent).

In fact, for many students, the pressure begins before they have even finished school.

More than half (58 per cent) are concerned their ATAR could prevent them from getting the job they want, showing how much weight school leavers place on formal academic results when thinking about their future career.

The findings highlight the importance of offering school leavers more pathways into higher education.

Sarah Lightfoot, CEO of UNSW College, says universities understand just how vital it is to equip school leavers with confidence in the next step they’re taking after school.

“We also understand that preparing students for the workforce of today and the future is so much more than teaching theory.

“They need real opportunities to apply what they’re learning as they learn it, and have real-world experience before they graduate.”

For a number of young Australians, choosing what to study means looking ahead to a workforce that could change significantly over the course of their careers, with almost half (45 per cent) worried about choosing a career that may not exist in the future.

NSW students began their HSC exams last week, and Victorian students are in the middle of their VCE exams.

Professor Lucas Walsh, Director of the Monash Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP) and Professor of Education Policy and Practice in the Faculty of Education at Monash University, says many are considering their next steps with a sense of career anxiety.

“Young people are facing a rapidly moving labour market, casualisation and ongoing economic pressure,” the academic says.

“Our research through the Australian Youth Barometer shows that while traditional university pathways remain highly valued, young people are increasingly reassessing what education means for their future stability.

With questions about job security and how quickly the workforce is changing, it’s understandable that Year 12 students often feel torn between following their interests and making a ‘safe’ choice, career coach and youth advisor Dr Jo Wincehester says.

Walsh says students want pathways that offer practical adaptability rather than fixed, linear careers that may no longer exist in a decade.

“To better prepare school leavers for an AI-driven workforce, education systems must go beyond technical skill delivery,” Walsh says.

“We need embedded, early career conversations that build resilience, critical thinking and the ability to navigate ongoing workplace change and uncertainty.”

School leavers are aware of the juggle of priorities that is likely to face them in their careers.

Dr Jo Winchester is a career coach and youth advisor and says, at 17 or 18, for young people it can feel like they’re being asked to choose not just what to study, but what they’re going to do for the rest of their working life.

“Add questions about job security and how quickly the workforce is changing, and it’s understandable that they can feel torn between following their interests and making a ‘safe’ choice, Winchester says.

“But those two things don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

“Rather than trying to map out an entire career now, young people can focus on building practical, transferable skills and gaining exposure to different types of work, giving them more flexibility as both their interests and the workforce evolve.”

When asked to rank their top three priorities in making career decisions, 80 per cent of the students surveyed included financial security, while 72 per cent also prioritised doing something they’re passionate about.

But many aren’t confident the two can go hand in hand practically, with 57 per cent believing they can’t have both a career they love and strong job opportunities.

The findings show school leavers want both passion and security from their careers, but many aren’t confident they can have both, making decisions about what to study and which career to pursue even harder.

With more than a third (35 per cent) worried further study won’t properly prepare them for the workforce, the research reveals school leavers are placing a premium on gaining practical experience before they graduate.

When asked what they think would best prepare them for their future career, two-thirds point to a combination of theory, practical projects and workplace experience.

That preference carries through to the features they value when choosing study pathways, with 57 per cent ranking learning from professionals currently working in industry among their top three features, 48 per cent prioritising completing a real industry placement, and 45 per cent who want to learn through hands-on projects.

Together, the findings suggest school leavers recognise the competitive edge that can come from entering the workforce with practical experience already under their belt, from knowing how to apply what they’ve learned to understanding how their skills translate in a real workplace.

Cory Roeton, Industry Collaborator & Advisor for UNSW College Applied Degrees, says employers aren’t just looking for people who can do the technical parts of a role, they’re looking for people who can communicate, collaborate and solve problems when real-world challenges arise.

“Knowing how to ask the right questions, manage deadlines, navigate conflict, escalate an issue or turn analysis into action are incredibly valuable skills,” Roeton says.