CQU ended 2003 with 55,000 staff, students and alumni from 121 countries, according to figures submitted to the federal government recently.

The figures from the August 31 census showed student numbers of 21,351, including 12,436 Australians and 8915 international students. CQU had around 1500 staff and 33,000 alumni.

There were small cohorts of students from places like Uganda, Tuvalu, Turkmenistan, Suriname, Oman, Madagascar, the Maldives and Afghanistan.

There were large cohorts from places like Bangladesh, China, Fiji, England, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

CQU had 7264 students studying off-campus and the rest based at 11 campuses and delivery sites within Australia and a further four delivery sites overseas.

CQU Sydney International was the largest campus in terms of student numbers (with 3632), with the University's original campus in Rockhampton in second place with 2646 students. However, many distance education students also use facilities at CQU Rockhampton.

Campuses at Bundaberg (935 internal), Gladstone (365 internal), Emerald (35 internal) and Mackay (1022 internal) also support distance education students from their local area.

CQU's international campuses at Brisbane (806), the Gold Coast (371) and Melbourne (2412) are also significant parts of the network.

Meanwhile, CQU also delivers to students via operations in Fiji (903), Hong Kong (303), Malaysia (18) and Singapore (483).

Male students (11,195) slightly out-numbered females (10,156) and mature-age students outnumber school leavers by a ratio around 4:1 across the network.

CQU had 15,818 undergraduates, 4511 postgraduates, 267 research students and 755 others in non-award and enabling programs.