The Complete Guide To The University Of Canberra (UC)

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

The University of Canberra (UC) started as the Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) in 1967. During that time, CCAE had 955 students under its wings.

Fast forward to 1992, UC gained its university status. Moreover, “Canberra” means “meeting place” in the local language, which shaped the institution we know today.

An Australian university that is “Open, Authentic and Collaborative at all levels.”

By staying true to itself, UC has

• Offers over 200 courses in 11 study areas
• Hit the milestone of 100,000 graduates in 2021
• Placed #403 on the 2025 QS Ranking

Total student population	11,000+
% of international students	Around 25% from over 100 different countries (2023)
Teaching faculty-to-student ratio	Approximately 1:11

1.2 University of Canberra Rankings 2025

According to the 2025 QS World University Rankings, the University of Canberra ranks #403 globally. Among all its courses that ranked on the  QS Subject Rankings:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Sports-Related Subjects	#51 – 100
Nursing	#151 – 225
Communication and Media Studies	#251 – 275
Politics	#301 – 400
Education and Training	#351 – 400
Law and Legal Studies	#351 – 400
Medicine	#651 – 700
Computer Science and Information Systems	#751 – 850

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University of Canberra Campuses

Being open and well-connected at the University of Canberra is the key.  UC has it all, whether with yourself, the community or the city.

Need a place to chill? Check.
– UC has open spaces, eateries and sporting facilities for relaxation.

Need someone to bounce ideas with? Check.
– There are over 60 clubs and societies of different interest groups here.

Need gorgeous views for inspiration and social media updates?  🤳🤳Check, check!
– The Bruce suburbs envelop this Australian university with greeneries and natural wonders. Furthermore, Canberra has snowy mountains, sandy beaches, gorgeous wineries and beautiful countryside.  

Bonus: Canberra has yearly festivals like the Floriade Skyfire and the Canberra Balloon Spectacular!

Bruce Campus

Key Highlights

• UC’s buzzing primary campus was founded in 1989.
• Key subject areas: Science & Tech, Health, Arts & Design, Business, Education, Law, Communication & Media, Sports, Social Sciences, Built Environment
• You can find plenty of tall native trees and wildlife here. Lake Ginnindera surrounds the campus.
• Bonus: Regular kangaroo sightings on campus!

How To Get Around?
🗺️about 10 km from Canberra’s Civic Centre

• Travel by bus, car or by bike.
• The Thynne St after Traeger Ct bus stop is an 8-minute walk away.
• Over 18 bus routes travel to the College Street stations during the week and 8 on weekends.

Sydney Hills Campus

Key Highlights

• UC’s new secondary location is designed by one of Canberra’s top universities.
• Key subject areas: Nursing, Early Childhood Education
• Small class size for personal guidance and support.
• A mixture of new homes and greenlands surround the campus.

How To Get Around?
🗺️about 9 km from Parramatta

• Travel by bus, metro or car.
• The Castle Hills Bus Station is 700m from campus.
• Castle Hill Metro Station is 600m or a 9-minute walk away.

Student Diversity: Canberra placed QS #29 on the Best Student City rankings with around 26% of the locals born overseas. At UC, there are 2,870 international students enrolled in 2023 and they hailed from over 100 nations.

2.2 Learning Resources

The University of Canberra is all about your Skills, Knowledge and Opportunities. So, they developed facilities that help you learn, connect and grow!

2.3 Recreational Facilities

The University of Canberra is all for connecting. Thus, it created many recreational facilities to open up more engagements. Tip: Visit UCX, where a directory of sporting shebangs, eateries, lounges and event venues await.

2.4 Student Activities

There are many leisure activities to UnCover at UC. Not just Clubs and Societies but Sports and Lifestyle activities too! You can enjoy live music, compete in sports, enjoy great food or even spend your time helping others.

• 60+ Clubs and Societies
• UCFitx (for sports-related)
• Sporting competitions
• Concerts, UCLivex/ Live Music
• Trivia Night
• Musical Bingo
• Stitch & Bitch (Hey now, we’re not cursing. Promise!)
• Bottomless Brunch
• Esports Events
• Volunteer
• UCLifex /events
• Improv Classes
• Exhibitions and Workshops

Our tip is to explore your options at UCx, try them and then decide whether you want to continue with it. Oh, remember to check in with yourself and plan your day based on your energy!

2.5 Student Services

“R U OK?” and “Do you need help?” are the hardest questions to ask ourselves. Hence, UC prepares to support you in times of need. For example,

• Study Skills Advisors and Sessions
• Studiosity 24/7 online support
• UC Health Clinics, including a Cancer Wellness Centre
• Health Services (Counselling, Occupational Therapy. Optometry, Physiotherapy, et al)
• Telehealth Services
• Targetted events, programmes and peer mentoring at UC Thrive
• Alumni mentoring for Student Mentors
• Financial Support
• Career Services at Career UC
• Disability services at InclusionUC
• UCX Food Pantry📍UC Hub, Bruce Campus

UCX Meal Plan📍 UC Hub, Bruce Campus 
*From 29/7/14 – 9/11/24 at The Global Kitchen, The Noshery and The UCBarx

2.6 University of Canberra Accommodation

Calling all future students, we have good news! This Australian university has both on-campus and off-campus stays.

These options are

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

Before you decide on a place, be sure to have these points of reference marked down. You will need them when you run out of tissue paper or get hungry.

For Bruce Campus Students

Off-campus

Nearby suburbs – Bruce, Aranda, Belconnecn, Lawson, Kaleen

For Sydney Hills Students

Off-campus

Nearby suburbs – Norwest, Baulkham Hills, Cherrybook

Cost of Living In Canberra and Sydney

Here is an estimated living expenses based on your basic needs and lifestyle. They include rent, food/ groceries, utilities (gas and electricity), transportation, and telecommunication services (wifi and phone).

• Canberra: AUD 292  – AUD 730 weekly
• Sydney: AUD500 – AUD 1,115 weekly

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 Canberra

UC has many Foundation, Diploma, and Degree options to build your career. Here are courses you can start connecting with!

Fields Of Study	Courses
Arts	Creative Writing, Digital Media, Global Studies, Arts & Design, Film Production, Culture & Heritage
Built Environment	Building & Construction Management, Interior Architecture, Built Environment, Landscape Architecture
Business	International Business, Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Accounting & Finance, Business Economics
Communication & Media	Journalism, Marketing Communication, Corporate & Public Communication
Design	Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, Design, Interaction Design
Education	Primary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education (ECE) – Birth to 5, Health & Physical Education
Health	Nursing, Psychology, Human Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Vision Science, Midwifery
Law	Law, Justice Studies
Politics, Economics and Society	Politics & International Relations, Social & Economic Policy (Economic Policy, Sociology)
Science	Medical Science, Biomedical Science, Science, Environmental Science,
Sports	Sports Media, Physiotherapy, Health Science (Human Movement), Exercise Physiology & Rehabilitation
Technology	Engineering, Software Engineering, Business Informatics, IT

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Canberra

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

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Canberra Scholarships

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

UC International Alumni Scholarship	Value: 10% off your tuition fee throughout the course. For new commencing students who completed a Bachelor’s at UC and are applying for a Master’s degree at the Bruce Campus.
UC International High Achiever Scholarship	Value: 10% off your tuition fee for throughout the course. For commencing international students at the Bruce/ Spring Hills campus. Applicants must achieve the set academic requirements: – GPA 5.0 – 70% or higher for Bachelor’s degree  – 65% or higher for Masters degree
UC International Merit Scholarship	Value: 10% off your tuition fee throughout the course. For commencing international students at the Bruce/ Spring Hills campus. Applicants must achieve the set academic requirements: – GPA 5.0 – 70% or higher for Bachelor’s degree  – 65% or higher for Masters degree

3.4 Popular Courses At The University of Canberra

Sports Courses

Sports is a way of life for the University of Canberra. In the classroom, it has quality courses with accreditations from the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). They open up career pathways into 6 disciplines:

• Sports and Exercise Science

• Physiotherapy
• Human Movement
• Sports Management
• Sports Media
• Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation

Outside, the University’s Sports Neighbourhood hosts exciting facilities that enhance your studies. Take the Sport and Fitness Centre as an example. It has gym facilities, labs, sports courts and ovals! These places allow you to study the human body and work with the community up close.

Fun fact: Third-year Exercise Physiology students provide training sessions and advice to UC gym members. If you need a break, UC has many sporting ventures on campus! From clubs, and competitions to fitness classes. You might find a gym buddy or someone to view the badminton matches with.

Nursing Course

Sports aside, the University of Canberra is a leading university in health. As such, UC’s Nursing degree is among its top 10 courses in 2023, ranking among the top 150 on the 2024 QS Ranking.

The University developed a curriculum recognised by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). The degree builds the vital attributes that cover

• primary health care
• mental health
• acute and critical care
• policy development
• long-term and residential care
• rural and remote services

Moreover, you practice these theories within UC’s realistic simulation nursing labs. (We spotted a Neonatal Resuscitation System AND a “breathing” mannequin 🤯Look!)

*P.S: Do check if your degree is recognised by your home country‘s Nursing Board.

Science Studies

If you are a curious bean with a fascination for the world around you, then UC’s Sciences is for you.

For your core majors, you have the option of studying

• Biomedical science
• Environmental science
• Human movement
• Nutrition studies
• Chemical science
• Biological science

Moreover, the learning spaces on campus are places for your curiosity to run wild. This Australian university has

• a Freshwater Ecology Lab
• a Wildlife Genetics Lab
• a Biomedical Research Facility
• and many more (there are several others featured in the learning resource section)

These facilities are used in collaboration with UC’s partners, such as the Australian Federal Police and DArT (Diversity Arrays Technology).

Bonus Fact: The Faculty and the Institute for Applied Ecology maintain a fleet of vehicles! Among them are four-wheel drive vehicles, boats, remote-controlled electrofishing vessels and trailers. These vehicles transport the University’s researchers during the research collection period.

IT & Systems Courses

<Beep beep> Computers coming through.

IT and Systems are making heads turn at the University of Canberra. It extends its studies to the tech and business side of the field. You can study

• Engineering
• IT
• Software Engineering
• Business and Informative Systems

In addition, you can breathe life into your ideas at UC’s learning spaces! The University has

• a human-centred Computing Lab
• a Collaborative Robotics Lab
• a Human-Machine Interactive (AR/VR) Lab
• Internet-of-Things (IoT) Lab

Above all, UC received accreditation from the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

3.5 Partners

One of the University of Canberra’s key values is connecting with people from all walks of life. In recent years, the University has worked with

• governments
• non-profit organisations
• events
• businesses
• schools

Here are some of the UC’s amazing partners.

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1 University Of Canberra Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for a Foundation:

• SPM, UEC – Successful Completion

Minimum entry requirements for a Diploma:

• STPM – 2 Passes (Min. E Grade)
• UEC – CCCC Grades

Minimum entry requirements for a Degree:

• UEC – Aggregated 62 from 10 subjects max
• STPM – 3 in 3 best subjects (CCC grades)
• A-levels – 6 (CCC Grade in 3 A-level subjects)
• IB Diploma – 26 points
• SACE/WACE –  ATAR 60
• Sunway College Foundation
  • Foundation in Science – Complete with 50 credits and 2.7 GPA
  • Foundation in Arts – 69% overall average with no grade below D
• Canadian Programme (OSSD) –  67% overall average

Minimum English requirement (IELTS)

• Foundation: 5.5 Overall
• Diploma: 5.5 Overall
• Degree: 6 Overall

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

4.2 University of Canberra’s Intake Periods For 2025

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

• Foundation:  February, June, September
• Diploma: February, June, September
• Degree: January, July

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 Canberra welcomes and cares for anyone who wishes to study.

Since its establishment, UC settled across many locations and taught over 100,000 students. It also developed resources that help you thrive and encourage you to be yourself. 

That is just who UC is. A place that

• Fosters meaningful connections
• Celebrates differences and embraces similarities
• Encourages curiosity and innovation

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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