The university opened its Advantage early entry program to students Australia-wide this year and received 4533 applications, up from 2182 in 2020.

The program provides a pathway to university before students even complete their HSC exams, preferencing prospective students' 'soft skills,' such as communication, empathy, resilience and motivation.

CSU made 3873 offers to study, with half of these to students within the university's regional footprint.

More than 20 percent of this year's applications received were from students wanting to study at a Central West campus.

Bathurst was the most popular choice for the early entry program, with 773 applicants wanting to study there, while 194 preferenced Orange, and 20 preferenced Dubbo.

There were also 673 applicants who preferenced studying online. Online students will undertake residential schools at Charles Sturt's regional campuses including Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo throughout their courses.

The most popular courses are nursing, paramedicine, teaching, physiotherapy, psychology and early childhood education.

Schools with more than 20 applicants for the program included Orange High School, MacKillop College (Bathurst), Kinross Wolaroi School, St Johns College (Dubbo), James Sheahan Catholic High School, Dubbo College Senior Campus, Dubbo Christian College and Scots All Saints College Bathurst.

"The University responded to the demand to study in the regions and the uncertainty facing COVID-impacted school-leavers by expanding its early entry program, and the response from prospective students has been incredible, " said Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renée Leon.

Meanwhile, CSU is hoping to welcome back international students "soon" as it works with other universities and the NSW Government to deliver a NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan.

CSU has made a strategic decision to bring more international students to its regional campuses and in September announced it would end its 25-year-plus partnership with Study Group Australia (SGA) and close its study centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, where a large proportion of its international students study.

With the 2022 academic year now on the horizon, vice Chancellor Leon said there was "genuine cause for optimism."

"The benefits of the University's swift and decisive action to address the impacts of COVID-19 will be clearly evident. The University is now in a strong financial position and has a strategic vision that will ensure opportunities and success for our students, researchers and communities."

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