For some time, there has been wide recognition of the need to attract more students into the Spatial Sciences. There are several regional and national initiatives underway that attempt to achieve this, focussing on both school leavers and mature age students. The predominant market for student recruitment is now GenY and many studies are available on the motivations of this demographic. Evidence from recent experience and formal studies at RMIT suggest that there are also some myths and misconceptions about this group and its homogeneity.

For the last few years, Geospatial Science at RMIT has pursued a more aggressive approach to the recruitment of students and also focussed more strongly on the retention of students. This has involved much more than direct marketing and extends into a process that considers recruitment as a continuum from initial contact through to successful transition into the university system.

This paper provides insights into the recruitment and retention of students into geospatial science higher education programs, drawing on evidence gathered from 1st year geospatial science students at RMIT University and a wide review of the literature available on 1st year student experiences.