The Complete Guide To The University Of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1992 is not just the New Year, it is also the birth of the University of Southern Queensland.

UniSQ started as the Queensland Institute of Technology (Darling Downs) in 1967. A.k.a the Darling Downs Institute of Technology (DDIT). Back then, it offered courses in

• Business and Management
• Biological Sciences
• Mechanical Engineering

At present, this Australian University has over 140 degrees across many disciplines. Moreover, it is home to over 22,000 students and is among the top 2% of universities worldwide.

Keen to start studying abroad? Then, learn more about how UniSQ creates a place for you to excel.

Total student population	Over 21,000
% of international students	Around 10% (2023)
Teaching faculty-to-student ratio	1:21

1.2 University Of Southern Queensland Rankings 2025

According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the University of Southern Queensland ranks #396 globally. These are UniSQ’s courses that ranked on the  QS Subject Rankings:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Agriculture and Forestry	#301 – 350
Environmental Sciences	#351 – 400
Materials Sciences	#351 – 400
Engineering – Mechanical	#401 – 450
Economics and Econometrics	#551 – 700
Business and Management Studies	#601 – 650
Computer Science and Information Systems	#701 – 850
Medicine	#701 – 850

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University Of Southern Queensland Campuses

At first glance, you might think you arrived at a luxurious island or resort. Or at least, we did.

The University of Southern Queensland has jaw-dropping surroundings. Its main campus lives in Toowoomba, Queensland’s ‘Garden City’. Hence, it is also tree-studded and decorated with stunning gardens. (Bonus fact: Toowoomba has over 240 public gardens and parklands. –gasps-)

If bright open spaces are your thing, you may vibe more with the Springfield campus. Otherwise, enjoy the charming historic architecture and the “tropical-like” Ipswich campus.

UniSQ Toowoomba

Key Highlights

• The founding campus since the 1900s. It has 3,608 students and most of its courses there.
• Like the Toowoomba city, it has scenic gardens and lakes.
• This campus is close to many residential localities.
• It hosts Queensland’s only professional astronomical research facility, the Mount Kent

How To Get Around?
🗺️8 km from Toowoomba

• Travel by public transport, car or by bike.
• Cyclists can enjoy dedicated cycle lanes and 70km of pathways.
• The Intercampus bus will take you to the Springfield and Ipswich campuses.
• The nearest bus stop is a 6-minute walk away, at the Allison Dickson bus stop.

UniSQ Springfield

Key Highlights

• Opened in 21/8/2006 with 1,788 studying there.
• UniSQ Springfield is a techy, bright and open campus.
• Key subject areas: Arts & Humanities, Aviation, Business & Management, Engineering, Law, IT & Communication Technology, Media & Communications, Surveying & Built Environment, Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts
• It has Queensland’s first Boeing 737-800 flight simulator.

How To Get Around?
🗺️6-minute walk from Springfield Central

• Travel by public transport, car or by bike.
• The Intercampus bus will take you to the Toowoomba and Ipswich campuses.
• The nearest bus stop, the Health Care Dr at UniSQ, Springfield Central stop, is a 10-minute walk away.

UniSQ Ipswich

Key Highlights

• Officially established in 2015.  It currently has 1,682 students.
• It carries a tropical vibe with charming historical architecture.
• Key Subject Areas: Nursing & Health, Law, Psychology & Human Services

How To Get Around?
🗺️2 km from Ipswich

• Travel by public transport or by bike.
• The Intercampus bus will take you to the Toowoomba and Springfield campuses.
• It takes a 5-minute walk to reach the UniSQ Upwich bus stop.

2.2 Learning Resources

Be Daring and explore the grounds of UniSQ. Many hidden gems help you excel, including

2.3 Recreational Facilities

All UniSQ experiences are different. Hence, taking things slow and embracing the journey at your own pace is a-okay. 🧘

If you need to switch things up, here are some of the places worth visiting:

2.4 Student Activities

You have seen the chill and athletic side of UniSQ. Now, it’s time to add spice to your off days.

You can volunteer at food pantries, learn to be a D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) Master or simply start your fitness journey!  Go on, check out what’s on and indulge in the University’s

• Clubs and Societies (C&S)
• Sports Activities (including social sports, competitive sports and recreational sports)
• Fitness Classes
• MATE Culture Change Workshops
• Social Painting
• Food Pantries
• Volunteering

*P.S: First-time gym goers get 1 FREE Consultation upon joining!

2.5 Student Services

Despite the different journeys, everyone belongs at UniSQ. Hence, the University has many support services to help you thrive, including

• International Student Support
• iconnect
• Peer Mentoring
• Advisors for learning and student success
• Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)
• Students as Partners (SaP)
• Counselling Services
• Disability Support
• Elite Athlete Program
• Student Ombudsperson 
• Career Advisory
• The Ignition Program (entrepreneurship and innovation development)
• Leadership Excellence Academy (for leadership development)

2.6 University of Southern Queensland Accommodations

On-campus? Off-campus? This Australian University has both.

UniSQ offers accommodations that are 

• Safe and secure
• Welcomed by enriching activities
• Easily accessible 
• Well-connected to the university, nearby amenities, and public transport!

During your time there, remember to explore these nearby locations. They help you find your way around, especially if you are new to the area.

For UniSQ Toowoomba Students

On-campus	Off-campus
Concannon College Cost: From AUD 205 – AUD 275/week Steele Rudd College Cost: From AUD 155 – AUD 275/week McGregor College Cost: From AUD 195 – AUD 275/week *The cost covers for a 1-person stay.	Nearby suburbs – Darling Heights, Centenary Heights, Middle Ridges, Kearneys Springs, South Toowoomba, D

For UniSQ Springfields Students

Off-campus

Nearby suburbs – Springfield Central, Springfield Lakes

For UniSQ Ipswich Students

Off-campus

Nearby suburbs – Ipswich, West Ipswich, North Ipswich, Eastern Heights, Raceview, One Mile, Leichhardt

Cost of Living in Australia

According to UniSQ, your weekly expenses can cost AUD350 – AUD 1,525 (depending on your lifestyle). This estimated range includes 

• Rent,
• Food/ groceries, 
• Utilities (gas and electricity), 
• Transportation (car and public transport), and 
• Telecommunication services (wifi and phone).

To be safe, have at least AUD 24,505 ready and submit a financial record during your visa application.

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can Study At The University of Southern Queensland

UniSQ has Foundation, Diploma, and Degree options for your dream career. Be brave and tap into the options they have! 

Fields Of Study	Courses
Agriculture & Environment	Animal Science, Agricultural Science, Food & Wine Science, Environmental Science
Arts & Humanities	English Literature, Social Justice & Entrepreneurship, International Relations, Arts, Anthropology
Aviation	Aviation Management, Flight Operation
Business & Management	Accounting, Marketing, Finance, HR Management, Management & Leadership
Engineering	Civil, Computer Systems & Automation, Mechanical, Engineering Technology, Electrical & Electronic, Mining
Information & Communication Technology	AI & Data Science, Design & Interactive Technologies, Cyber Security, Software Application Development, IT
Law & Criminology	Law, Criminology & Criminal Justice
Media & Communication	Communication & Media, Creative Writing, Journalism, Digital Media, Film, TV & Radio Production
Nursing & Health	Clinical Exercise Physiology, Physiotherapy, Allied Health, Sport & Exercise Science, Nursing
Psychology & Human Services	Psychology
Sciences	Astronomical & Space Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Mathematics & Statistics
Visual & Performing Arts	Creative Arts & Community Wellbeing, Visual Art, Music, Theatre

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of South Queensland

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of UniSQ’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of South Queensland Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by UniSQ to international students. Check out the full list here. (Coming Soon)

International Student Support Scholarship

Value: 10% reduction of the tuition fees For commencing International students who are enrolled on-campus and received an offer to study within a 2024 study period.  *Must not receive other sponsorships or scholarships. *Must meet academic and English requirements.

3.4 Popular Courses At The University Of South Queensland

Healthcare Courses

UniSQ’s health courses captured the hearts of 4,208 students in 2023. Here is how they did it.

First, they offer various disciplines, such as

• Allied Health
• Biomedical Sciences
• Medical Lab Science
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Speech Pathology
• Sport and Exercise Science

Next, they grant access to a simulated learning environment. For instance, the simulated house and ambulance mimic emergency scenarios in a home setting. There, you familiarise yourself with the essential skills and tools for the field. See it for yourself!

“But they are different from the real thing, right?” 

Worry not. These health degrees come with over 500 hours of clinical placements. If you are pursuing Physiology, you can work with actual patients at UniSQ’s Exercise Physiology Clinic. 

*P.S: Check if your degree is recognised in your home country.

Education Studies

The next popular discipline in UniSQ is Education, with 3,539 enrolments in 2023, second to Health. This is because it covers various teaching areas outside the core subjects. For example, the Secondary Education course prepares you to conduct lessons on

• Agriculture Science
• Aerospace Systems
• Legal Studies
• Psychology

Meaning, you can still go after what you like. Just in a different form.

Furthermore, your degree provides up to 110 days of professional experience, i.e. placement to boost your confidence. You can complete it in Queensland, interstate or even abroad! One of the countries you can go to is Indonesia.

And, the best part? The university is recognised for its high standards. It received accreditations from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority and the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Plus, it sits on the top 400 of the QS Ranking for Education and Training.

Engineering and Related Technologies

Are you into tech? So are 3,188 others who enrolled in 2023.

UniSQ has various engineering facilities, including a hypersonic research lab, a transport modelling laboratory and geomechanics & heavy structures labs. We heard that the Springfield campus had an AUD 5.8 million upgrade.

If you say “Huh?” when you read about the facilities, don’t worry. You may come across them when you study at UniSQ. Among specialisations it offers are

• Aerospace
• Agricultural and Environmental
• Civil
• Computer Systems and Automation
• Electrical, Electronic and Power
• Engineering Management
• Mechanical and Mechatronic
• Mining
• Structural

Bonus Fact: UniSQ is the only Aussie uni that teaches Agriculture Engineering AND Agriculture Technology.

Moreover, it has over 40 years of teaching in this field and is recognised by Engineers Australia. This means that your degree also meets the standards of the Washington Accord as Engineers Australia is part of the accord’s signatories. Hence, you can become a registered engineer in your home country or overseas.

Creative Arts Courses

Creative Arts come in many forms at UniSQ. Among them are music, media, theatre, publishing and visual arts. You can be in the spotlight or express your creativity behind the scenes. 

But what happens if you don’t know what to specialise in? You can pursue UniSQ’s flexible art degree. It has 20 majors available, such as

• AI and Data Science
• Business
• Creative Writing
• Legal Studies
• Psychology

In addition, the university has various resources to fuel those bright ideas. Take the Media Centre for example. It has

• studios,
• a Green Room,
• a make-up room and
• production offices!

Bonus Fact: The University of Southern Queensland had 1,741 students enrolled in this discipline.

3.5 Industry Partners

The University of Southern Queensland’s industry partners are nothing short of interesting.
Among them are

Through its collaborations, the university has worked on exciting projects, such as

• conducting cotton disease research
• developing quantum computing educational programmes
• creating the iLAuNCH program to build Australia’s sovereign space capability
• hosting drought management workshops

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1 University of Southern Queensland Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for a Diploma:

• STPM – GPA 2.0 for best 4 principle subjects, including BM and General Knowledge
• UEC – Grade B5 in 6 or at least 5 subjects. (Includes either Chinese or BM)

Minimum entry requirements for a Degree:

• STPM – GPA 2.0 for best 4 principle subjects, including BM and General Knowledge
• UEC – Grade B5 in 6 or at least 5 subjects. (Includes either Chinese or BM)
• A-levels – CCC Grades
• SACE/WACE –  ATAR 62.70
• Canadian Programme (OSSD) –  60% overall average

Minimum English requirement (IELTS)

• Diploma: 5.5
• Degree: 6.0

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2 University of Southern Queensland Intake Periods For 2025

If you plan to apply, these are important periods to note.

• Diploma: February, May, September
• Degree: February, May, September
• Postgraduate: February, May, September

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process To Australia

Studying in Australia can be tedious, especially when applying to various universities before their application deadlines and ensuring proper documents are submitted to procure your student visa.

Here are some more helpful articles to help you navigate:

• Your Essential Study In Australia Guide For Malaysian Students
• Education Consultants And The 8 Steps To Study Abroad
• Top 10 Benefits Of Engaging A Higher Education Consultant

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

6. Conclusion

The University of Southern Queensland is where passions become actions. This is because this Australian university has been growing since 1967. From 3 courses on a single campus, it flourished into an institution with

• 3 vibrant campuses across Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich
• 14 exciting study areas
• a supportive and enthusiastic community

As such, UniSQ is ready to support your ambition, wherever you are. So, be brave and embark on your education journey today!

SEE OTHER UNI GUIDES

We took the liberty to compile all our University Guides and Course Fees Guides so you don’t have to go anywhere else!

And if you’re still not sure what to study, we have many Course Guide articles that will shed more light on the subject matter. Share with your friends!

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