Universities In Canberra: Best Colleges & Universities In Canberra

If you ask the folks at best colleges in Canberra that rank in the list of best student cities in the world, they will tell you – 23rd. However, ask the same question to any student enrolled at a university in Canberra and you will be met with a resounding – 1ST! In this article, we will talk about the top universities in Canberra, replete with complete details regarding Canberra university ranking, student population, best courses, famous alumni and the top colleges in Canberra. 

About Canberra

Like any other major city in Australia, Canberra scores extremely well in the student mix index. This means that Canberra has a large and internationally diverse student population, which is crucial for the growth and development of young university students. While it’s true that Canberra is one of Australia’s few major cities which is not within walking distance of the beach, Canberra nonetheless has plenty of natural attractions. In this carefully crafted capital city of Australia, students can visit top tourist and cultural attractions like the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin… the list goes on! 

Many students have gone on record to say that universities in Canberra have a safe, welcoming and relaxed environment, and are the perfect learning environment for students. While other Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne are more chaotic and work-focused, Canberra has the balance of work and fun. This is true because festivals and community activities are held very frequently in Canberra. This city also has a high employment rate, which is why many international students prefer settling down here in Canberra. 

Here is a list of universities in Canberra for international students – 

• Australian National University
• Canberra Institute of Technology
• University of Canberra
• UNSW Canberra
• Australian Catholic University

Australian National University

Popular university ranking websites like TopUniversities and Times Higher Education have revealed that Australian National University is the best university in Canberra. Australian National University was established in 1946 as an open research university. The university operates from its 4 centres, namely –

• School of Physical Sciences
• School of Social Science
• School of Pacific Science
• School of Medical Research

There’s no denying the academic chops of Australian National University but this university also makes a case for being the best in co-curricular and cultural activities in Canberra. 

Australian National University is located in the plush region of Canberra Acton and has a sprawling campus that spreads across 358 acres of land. There’s so much greenery here at Australian National University, that the university’s campus was named the 2nd greenest university in Australia. There are plenty of private student accommodations available near ANU.

ANU offers students several undergraduate degree programs, postgraduate degree programs, and professional degree programs. Students are free to choose their subjects as per their interest. Subjects at ANU include Business and Commerce, Arts, Law & Legal Studies, Health and Medical Studies, Engineering, Society and Culture, Natural, Physical and Environmental Sciences and Computer Science.

As per the latest QS National Australian ranking, Australian National University is ranked #1 in Australia. The QS World University ranking has Australian National University pegged at #31.

Some of the famous personalities who have attended ANU are Don Brash (Former Governor of Reserve Bank of New Zealand), Jennifer Robinson (Human Rights Lawyer), Jane Halton (Finance Secretary) and Lisa Paul (Education Secretary).

Canberra Institute of Technology

Canberra Institute of Technology is one of the best colleges in Canberra because it is the largest technical and vocational education provider in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This university also has TAFE or Technical and Further Education Institutions certification. International students love Canberra Institute of Technology for its small class sizes, world-class facilities, practical hands-on learning, industry placement opportunities, and study pathways to leading Australian universities making it one of the best university in Canberra. 

Canberra Institute of Technology is an integrated university where students are the backbone of the campus. Students can enjoy the innovativeness of CIT’s hospitality, culinary and hotel management students at CIT Restaurant in the core of the city at Reid Campus. The CIT Restaurant offers great quality lunches and dinners during the semester and is the ideal spot to celebrate a special event or corporate function.

Despite being a government-funded institution, this university has superb facilities for students. The lecture rooms of CIT offer the most recent technology which gives a world-class academic experience to students. CIT has affiliations and partnerships with mega-corporations, guaranteeing enough industry introduction to students while they are pursuing their courses. The four campuses of CIT are located in Bruce, Fyshwick, Reid and Woden. Also, it has two learning centres located in Tuggeranong and Gungahlin.

University of Canberra Ranking

The University of Canberra is one of the most legendary universities in Canberra, whose roots can be traced back to 1967. Earlier, the university was known as the Canberra College of Advanced Education but only in 1990, did it change to University of Canberra. 

The infrastructure at the University of Canberra is massive with the campus spanning over 290 acres of land and comprising over 28 buildings. The campus features some amazing services and facilities like a salon, cafes, ATMs, a fitness centre and basket & football courts. Since the campus is located so close to the city centre, students are within walking distance to cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and private student accommodation.

The university offers globally recognised degrees from the following five faculties – 

• Arts & Design, Business
• Government & Law
• Health, Education 
• Science & Technology

Moreover, there are many research institutes and centres within the University of Canberra like the Research Institute for Sport & Exercise, Institute for Applied Ecology, Centre for Creative & Cultural Research, Centre Therapeutic Solutions, NEXUS Research Centre, News & Media Research Centre, and the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre. These centres are critical to the growth and development of students, as they have the opportunity to visit and learn about the fieldwork and gain experience and practical knowledge under the guidance of well-experienced faculty members. Currently, there are over 16,814 students that study at the University of Canberra.

If you were wondering about the University of Canberra ranking in Australia, it is 15th according to the THE-WUR National rankings and 26th according to the QS National rankings. On the global stage, the University of Canberra ranks among the top 200 universities in the world. 

UNSW Canberra

UNSW Canberra is located close to the Australian Defense Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra. With the motive to meet the demands of growing technology, this university was founded in 1949 as an open research university that was developed. This is one of the best colleges in Canberra to gain practical knowledge in your respective fields.

UNSW Canberra offers students comprehensive undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degree programs in various fields of study. The courses taught through various departments like – 

• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Art & Design
• Faculty of Business School
• Faculty of Art & Social Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Engineering and Science

The wide range of courses allows students to choose their preferred subjects according to their area of interest. In addition, the experienced faculty members make sure that students gain the best practical knowledge in their respective fields.

The long list of distinguished alumni of UNSW Canberra includes Bob Bellear (First indigenous judge), Mark Bouris (CEO of Yellow Brick Road), Dr Matthew Miles (CEO of MS Research Australia), Usman Khawaja (Cricketer) and Scott Morrison (Prime Minister of Australia).

Australian Catholic University

Most international students find it difficult to acclimatise to a new environment, but the Australian Catholic University (ACU), promises its students to make their journey a memorable one, from the first day itself! The pedagogy at Australian Catholic University is one where academic knowledge and skills are blended with practical experience employers’ demand on the work front. 

Australian Catholic University has state of the art facilities and activities that aim to bring about holistic growth in students. The best courses to study at Australian Catholic University are Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accounting and Bachelor of Information Technology. Australian Catholic University is also one of the best universities in Canberra to do theology.

Following are the categories of the center and institute – 

Health Sciences: environmental science, social work, speech pathology, paramedicine, exercise science, midwifery, mental health, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, counselling, nursing, public health and exercise physiology

Theology and philosophy: biblical studies, Christian thought, Christian practice, liturgy, moral theology, religious studies, philosophy of world religions, metaphysics, politics, ministry, bioethics, ethics and epistemology.

Education and arts: arts and humanities, education, social science, global studies and international development studies, media communications, youth work, visual arts and design.

Law and business: business administration, management, accounting and finance, human resource management, information technology, law, marketing, environmental management occupational health and commerce.

Famous alumni of Australian Catholic University include Matt Burke (Australian rugby union player), Morris West (writer), Justin Madden (former AFL player and Victorian state minister) and Peter Maher (CEO of St. Vincent de Paul).