About the statistics
NESA takes a snapshot of HSC enrolments on 1 September every year. It covers:
- HSC students overview - where they are studying, learning area summary and the HSC courses and languages with the highest candidature
- Enrolments by region - regional areas, cities and Sydney suburbs
- HSC enrolments by course - general, VET, languages and Life Skills.
Making the HSC the most popular school credential in Australia in 2024.
Most of these students are not yet in year 12.
The exams
There were 124 written exams totalling around 350 hours.
Around 200 students will sit HSC exams overseas.
Each exam is reviewed at least six times before 400,000 exam papers are printed.
91 exam committees and around 300 members will develop the written exam papers.
Around 750 exam centres are managed by over 7,500 staff.
How many students are studying for the HSC?
The HSC is the most popular high school credential in Australia with 80,166 students studying one or more HSC courses in 2024. Of these students, 71,619 are on track to complete their HSC this year. The others are typically undertaking accelerated courses, in the first year of compressed curriculum delivery or studying part time.
Where are students studying their courses?
The majority are studying for the HSC at schools in major cities. The others are studying in regional and remote areas of NSW, and a small number outside Australia.
What courses are students studying?
Almost 150 Board developed HSC courses, covering a broad range of subjects, are available to meet students’ diverse needs.
These include:
- 103 examinable courses
- 12 Industry Curriculum Frameworks (with examinations)
- 32 Life Skills courses for students with disabilities.
In addition, there are over 140 Board Endorsed courses available, including vocational courses, for which students can also achieve an Australian Qualifications Framework credential, and courses designed by schools to meet local needs.
It is compulsory to study an English course for the HSC. 72,297 students (90% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC English courses:
- English Standard
- English Advanced
- English Extension 1
- English Extension 2
- English EAL/D
- English Studies
- English Life Skills.
61,963 students (77% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC Mathematics courses:
- Mathematics Standard 1
- Mathematics Standard 2
- Mathematics Advanced
- Mathematics Extension 1
- Mathematics Extension 2
- Mathematics Life Skills
- Numeracy (Content Endorsed Course).
33,455 students (42% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC Science courses:
- Biology / Living World Science Life Skills
- Chemistry / Chemical World Science Life Skills
- Physics / Physical World Science Life Skills
- Earth and Environmental Science / Earth and Space Science Life Skills
- Investigating Science / Investigating Science Life Skills
- Science Extension.
5,066 students (6% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one HSC Language course.
19,890 students (25% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one HSC Vocational Educational and Training (VET) course. Of these, 17,242 are enrolled in one or more of the VET Industry curriculum frameworks.
29,549 students (37% of the total cohort) are enrolled in at least one of the following HSC courses with a performance or submitted work.
- Dance
- Design and Technology
- Drama
- English Extension 2
- Industrial Technology
- Music Extension
- Music 1
- Music 2
- Society and Culture
- Textiles and Design
- Visual Arts
The performance examinations were held in August and the dates for submission of major works were in July. This means that these students have already completed some of the HSC examinations.
Students studying English Extension 2 and Music Extension have completed these courses as there are no written examinations.
2,423 students are enrolled in at least one HSC Life Skills course.
Highest candidature subjects
There are almost 150 Board developed HSC courses.
| Rank | Subject | Unique Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 72,297 |
| 2 | Mathematics | 61,963 |
| 3 | Business Studies | 20,008 |
| 4 | Biology | 19,444 |
| 5 | Personal Development, Health and Physical Education | 18,776 |
| 6 | Studies of Religion | 14,839 |
| 7 | Modern History | 10,873 |
| 8 | Legal Studies | 10,425 |
| 9 | Community and Family Studies | 10,293 |
| 10 | Chemistry | 9,851 |
| 11 | Visual Arts | 9,424 |
| 12 | Physics | 8,315 |
| 13 | Ancient History | 8,072 |
| 14 | Hospitality | 7,587 |
| 15 | Industrial Technology | 6,220 |
Rank 1 Subject English Unique Students 72,297 |
Rank 2 Subject Mathematics Unique Students 61,963 |
Rank 3 Subject Business Studies Unique Students 20,008 |
Rank 4 Subject Biology Unique Students 19,444 |
Rank 5 Subject Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Unique Students 18,776 |
Rank 6 Subject Studies of Religion Unique Students 14,839 |
Rank 7 Subject Modern History Unique Students 10,873 |
Rank 8 Subject Legal Studies Unique Students 10,425 |
Rank 9 Subject Community and Family Studies Unique Students 10,293 |
Rank 10 Subject Chemistry Unique Students 9,851 |
Rank 11 Subject Visual Arts Unique Students 9,424 |
Rank 12 Subject Physics Unique Students 8,315 |
Rank 13 Subject Ancient History Unique Students 8,072 |
Rank 14 Subject Hospitality Unique Students 7,587 |
Rank 15 Subject Industrial Technology Unique Students 6,220 |
| Rank | Language | Unique Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 1,202 |
| 2 | French | 908 |
| 3 | Chinese | 708 |
| 4 | Italian | 469 |
| 5 | Spanish | 415 |
Rank 1 Language Japanese Unique Students 1,202 |
Rank 2 Language French Unique Students 908 |
Rank 3 Language Chinese Unique Students 708 |
Rank 4 Language Italian Unique Students 469 |
Rank 5 Language Spanish Unique Students 415 |
| Rank | Framework | Unique Students |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | 7,587 |
| 2 | Construction | 3,529 |
| 3 | Business Services | 2,401 |
| 4 | Retail Services | 1,615 |
| 5 | Entertainment Industry | 1,243 |
Rank 1 Framework Hospitality Unique Students 7,587 |
Rank 2 Framework Construction Unique Students 3,529 |
Rank 3 Framework Business Services Unique Students 2,401 |
Rank 4 Framework Retail Services Unique Students 1,615 |
Rank 5 Framework Entertainment Industry Unique Students 1,243 |
Course and region numbers
More detailed data for courses (including VET and Life Skills) and enrolment by regions across NSW. The data is taken from 1 September 2024.
2024 course enrolments
NESA reports on student enrolment information for HSC courses each year. Learn the number of students enrolled in Board Developed HSC courses in 2024.
2024 region enrolments
Students are studying their HSC courses in schools throughout NSW, and even at some schools overseas. View the number of students at schools in each region for the 2024 HSC cohort.