Sue White investigates which programs are likely to dominate TAFE enrolments this year.

With hundreds of thousands of students preparing to enrol at one of Sydney's numerous TAFE institutes, choosing what to study can be tricky. We asked the Sydney Institute of TAFE which courses were likely to be popular across its seven Sydney campuses this year.

1: Diploma/advanced diploma of advertising
Put aside just one full-time semester and you could have one of these industry-focused courses done and dusted. Diploma students learn about all aspects of the ad industry, while advanced diploma students develop a campaign for a real-life client. If that's not enough to convince you TAFE is hands on, consider this: after a study tour to Singapore to take part in the Spikes Asia advertising awards, three students snagged jobs in Singapore media agencies.

2: Diploma /advanced diploma of accounting
Although the diploma and advanced diploma of accounting are likely to remain popular, TAFE is delighted with its new financial planning bachelor degree. Commencing next month, this course has been developed with the Financial Planning Association. Expect to find TAFE's accounting graduates everywhere from listed companies to the Australian Taxation Office. Internships have played a key role for past students - something the head teacher, Diana Bugarcic, says is "rarely available in most business-type degrees".

3: Design disciplines
With options spanning everything from interiors to jewellery, no object is left unturned by TAFE's design offerings. And that's even truer this year with the launch of a bachelor of 3D art and animation. The course will prepare students for careers as 3D and visual effects artists and animators in everything from feature filmmaking to game design. This specialist degree has been developed by experts and representatives from major animation and visual effects studios (including Animal Logic, Dr D and fuelVFX) and will blend theory and practice. "[We want] our graduates to get jobs and go on to succeed in the industry," says the course co-ordinator, Richard Cass.

4: Sport and fitness (online)
Delivered in partnership with Open Universities Australia, the online diploma of sports and recreation has no entry-level requirements and a high rate of employment on graduation. Even more appealing, you
can finish this course in a year or less. While the content will suit anyone wanting to
work in administrative or managerial roles
in sport, fitness or recreation centres, the online delivery will attract a particular audience. "It appeals to students who are independent learners, work full time, can't reach colleges to study face to face and parents with hectic family schedules," says the head teacher at Sydney Institute's Loftus College, Margaret Plag.

5: Hospitality and commercial cookery
Looking to get cooking? With training restaurants at Ultimo and Loftus colleges and mentoring programs with world-class chefs including Mark Best, Peter Gilmore and Kylie Kwong, it's no wonder TAFE's diploma in hospitality management and certificate III in commercial cookery are popular courses. Want to see what you could do with some TAFE training? Head to one of the training restaurants - both are open to the public.
Blueprint for further study

6: Architectural technology
Susan Farrell  always knew she wanted to study architecture but getting there took determination. "I didn't have the marks to get into architecture [at university]," she says. "So I worked for a few years then applied to TAFE, intending to go to university afterwards."
Farrell enrolled in the two-year diploma of architectural technology at Ultimo College and was delighted to discover TAFE's architecture department had an exchange program on offer. "In second year, I did an exchange to a university town called Horsens in
Denmark ... our TAFE and their college had a direct swap deal so the application was easy."
With TAFE under her belt, Farrell was accepted for the bachelor of design in architecture at the University of Sydney.