The Complete Guide To The University Of Queensland (UQ)

1. Introduction To The University Of Queensland

1.1 Background

Since 1909, the University of Queensland (UQ)  has devoted itself to ensuring quality research, education, and innovation. Aside from the plain old textbooks and slides, lecturers add other elements to their lessons. They do it in smaller groups, at places related to your studies. Moreover, they actively partake in research projects before sharing the latest inside scoops with you.

Furthermore, UQ has many facilities and activities across 4 campuses to inspire long-term learning. With that, students can enhance their knowledge and scratch any itching questions.

Total student population	57,000
% international students	40% from 137 different countries
Student-to-Teacher Ratio	19:1
Graduate employability rate	81%

1.2 The University Of Queensland Ranking In 2025

According to the 2025 QS World University Rankings, UQ ranks #40 globally. It is also highly ranked in the world for the subject category of Sports and Mineral & Mining Engineering as listed below.

Below is the University Of Queensland’s Top 50 QS Subject Rankings:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Sports-Related Subjects	#2
Engineering – Mineral and Mining	#6
Engineering – Petroleum	#12
Agriculture and Forestry	#15
Environmental Sciences	#15
Hospitality and Leisure Management	#26
Pharmacy and Pharmacology	#28
Psychology	#34
Veterinary Science	#35
Dentistry	#36
Life Sciences and Medicine	#37
Engineering – Chemical	#39
Geology	#40
Education and Training	#41
Earth and Marine Sciences	#44
Development Studies	#45
Nursing	#45
Chemistry	#46
Geophysics	#46
Archaeology	#47
Anatomy and Physiology	#48

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1  The University Of Queensland Campus

If you think the University of Queensland is all about books and labs, the university is here to bust that misconception.

Tucked in Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland, this academic leader has jaw-dropping campuses close to city centres and famous beaches. A bus ride is all you need to enjoy the natural beauty and action-packed modernity. Be it a picnic on Mount Coot-tha or vibing to the music scene at Brisbane’s Chinatown precinct.

Like Brisbane, UQ is an institution of diversity, with 38.91% of its student body hailing from foreign lands. Out of the 137 nations, most of its students come from China, Singapore, and India. Moreover, the UQ International Student Society (UQISS) celebrates cultural events alongside other clubs and societies.

St.Lucia Campus

Key Highlights

• The university’s main campus.
• Has a union of majestic architecture and natural beauty.
  (A lake, garden and Jacaranda trees galore for your Instagram feed.)
• Home of Great Court and Queenland’s largest research library.
  • Fun Fact: Did you know that the St.Lucia campus has 6 libraries?
• There are many sporting facilities, museums, and cafes nearby. 

How To Get Around?

🗺️7km from Brisbane’s city centre

• Tour St.Lucia by car, bus, bike, or train.
• Intercampus buses take you to St Lucia and Gatton campuses. Meanwhile, the free shuttle buses run along locations from St Lucia to Long Pocket.
• There are 3 train stations nearby with bus stops to take you back to the university.
• Believe it or not, you can also travel by ferry.
  (Campus CityCats terminal 📍 Sir William Macgregor Drive)

Gatton Campus

Key Highlights

• Established in 1897.
• Facilitates research and teaching in agricultural, environmental, as well as veterinary sciences.
• Fun Fact: It is also a 1,000-hectare working farm! You can find homesteads and community gardens here.

How To Get Around?

🗺️87km west Brisbane’s city centre; 5km outside the Gatton town
🗺️Halfway between Ipswich and Toowoomba

• Take a bus from Gatton to St. Lucia and Brisbane.
  (Intercampus: Gatton – St Lucia campuses | Private bus lines: Greyhound, Murray)
• You can also catch a train with the rail bus service (Brisbane-Gatton). 
• If you choose to drive, the campus is 10 minutes away from the heart of Gatton.

Herston Campus 

Key Highlights

• Houses UQ’s health science schools (Medical, Public Health, Dentistry), the UQ Oral Health Centre and clinical research centres.
• Lives in the same area as the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

How To Get Around?

🗺️7km from Brisbane’s city centre

• We recommend taking a bus or a train. Alternatively, you can drive too.
• Over 12 direct bus routes from the Brisbane CBD at your service.
• There are 4 train stations near the campus.

Dutton Park Campus

Key Highlights

• UQ’s primary hub for health and biotechnology with a strong network of industrial partners.
• Was once the Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence (PACE).
• The Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) and the Cornwall Street Medical Centre (UQ Health Care) also reside here.

How To Get Around?

🗺️Across the river from St Lucia

• You have the choice of taking public transport, driving or cycling.
• Multiple bus train stations are within 15-20 minutes walk away.
• Dedicated cycleways and on-campus storage rooms are available.

2.2 Learning Resources

The academic excellence at the University of Queensland takes the form of world-class facilities. Interestingly, some of its research and educational centres enrich the student experience by serving as learning and recreational platforms. 

In this university, your courses can include fieldwork at places with beautiful views and intriguing wildlife. For instance, to deepen your marine and terrestrial research at Moreton Bay Research Station, you engage with the Quandamooka people. They share their traditions and their knowledge of the island. 

The next time you head to class, remember to snag a chance for a breather and take in your surroundings. Here are a few other destinations you can do so:

2.3 Recreational Facilities

Are you an “Einstein”, “Usain Bolt”, or a “Leonardo Da Vinci”? Whoever you are underneath, the University of Queensland welcomes everyone to spend their time here. Hence, we recommend these campus spots to get away from your busy schedule:

2.4 Student Activities

Student Life At the University Of Queensland
While this Australian university is about academic excellence, UQ students also “play hard” too. Thanks to the 300 days of warm climate, you can find them filling their time with various activities, including

• Clubs and Societies
• Cultural events
• Day Trips and Nature Tours
• Sports (Both on land and in the waters)
• Live music
• Food adventures

Did we mention that there will be a Speed Friending event, a Multilingual campus tour and a Lunar New Year celebration this month? 

Fun Fact: You can find whacky clubs on campus that facilitate interesting pastimes, including the UQ Mahjong Society and the UQ InterCollegiate Meat Judging (UQ ICMJ).

2.5 Student Services

Because U matters to them, the University of Queensland is all about Supporting U. If you have any struggles, these services will aid you during your studies.

• International Student Support
• Student Adviser
• Student Advocacy and Support (SAS)
• Health Clinics
• UQ Counselling
• Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser.
• Workshops
• UQ Mentoring
• Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)
• UQ Multi-Faith Chaplaincy service

2.6 The University Of Queensland Student Accommodation And Cost

Besides that, ‘Belong and Thrive’ matters to UQ, which is why the university heavily focuses on getting you settled. Across St. Lucia and Gatton, there are many places for you to call “Home”. No matter where you are, you will be

• Safe and secure (round-the-clock services for peace of mind)
• Well-assisted by on-site staff
• Welcomed by enriching activities
• Able to socialise and make new friends

Take a scroll and find one that matches what you are looking for.  

St. Lucia

On-campus	Off-campus: Purpose-built student accommodation (*Private rentals in shared houses are available too)
Kev Carmody House (From AUD 339 /week)	Colleges ⚬ Durrack College ⚬ Raymont Residential College
48 Walcott Street  (From AUD 234/week)	Iglu  ⚬ Brisbane City ⚬ Kelvin Grove
UQ Residential Colleges ⚬ Cromwell College (AUD 650/week) ⚬ Duchesne College (AUD 513/week) ⚬ Emmanuel College (AUD 585/week) ⚬ Grace College (AUD 495/week) ⚬ International House (AUD 460/week) ⚬ King’s College (AUD 513/week) ⚬ St.John’s College (AUD 625/week) ⚬ St.Leo’s College (AUD 574/week) ⚬ The Women’s College (AUD 720/week) ⚬ Union College (AUD 536/week) *Food & utilities included. *Each college has its dormitory.	Scape ⚬ Merivale Street  ⚬ Regent Street  ⚬ South Bank ⚬ Toowong  ⚬ Tribune
UQ Residence	Student One ⚬ Adelaide Street (From AUD 299/week) ⚬ Elizabeth Street (From AUD 409/week) ⚬ Wharf College (AUD 585/week)
UQ Res Homes ⚬ Small homes for students and families. ⚬ For students who live far from Queensland,  have struggles getting around.	UniLodge ⚬ Herston ⚬ Macquarie  ⚬ The Manors  ⚬ Park Central  ⚬ Toowong  ⚬ Twelfth Avenue

Gatton

On-campus	Off-campus
Halls of Residence  ⚬ Pitt Hall ⚬ Riddell Hall ⚬ Shelton Hall ⚬ Thynne Hall	*Private rentals in shared houses are available.   📍Brisbane, Gatton, and suburbs. ⚬ Entire 1-room apartment   (From AUD 530/week) ⚬ Sharing a 2-bedroom apartment   (From AUD 330/week) ⚬ Sharing a 3-bedroom house/ apartment   (From AUD 250/week)
UQ Res Homes   ⚬ Small homes for students and families. ⚬ For students who live far from Queensland or have struggles getting around.

*Not all accommodation cost information is available. If you are interested to know more, our Study Abroad Consultants can assist and help you retrieve exclusive information! 

Living Cost: Since 1 October 2023, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs has required students to prepare a financial record of the amount when applying for a visa. During your time in Brisbane, you need approximately AUD 2,237  – AUD 3,995 per month.

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships 

3.1 Courses You Can Study At The University Of Queensland

As the frontier of knowledge, UQ ignited transformation through its courses, from healthcare to education. Here are the various types of courses you can consider:

Fields Of Study	Courses
Diploma	Languages; Music Performance
Foundation	Foundation Programme (Extended, Standard, Accelerated)
Agriculture,  Animal Sciences and Environment	Agribusiness; Environmental Science; Veterinary Technology, Wildlife Science (and more)
Architecture, Design and Urban Planning	Architecture Design; Design; Regional and Town Planning
Art, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences	Arts; Music; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Communication; International Studies; Journalism
Business, Economics and Law	Advanced Finance and Economics; Business Management; Economics; Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management; Law; Politics, Philosophy and Economics; and more.
Education	Education (Primary, Secondary)
Engineering, Computer, Science and IT	Computer Science; Engineering; Information Technology
Health, Behavioral Science and Medicine	Dental Science; Nursing; Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy; Speech Pathology;  Exercise and Nutrition Sciences; Doctor of Medicine (Provisional Entry); Pharmacy (and more)
Science and Mathematics	Advanced Science, Science, Biotechnology; Mathematics

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Queensland

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

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Queensland Scholarships

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

Excellence Scholarship  (UQ Academic Scholarship Program)	Value: AUD 6,000 per year (up to 4 years). For students with good academic results, UQ as their first QTAC and have not completed their tertiary studies.
International High Achievers Award	Value: AUD 5,000 every semester (for 2 semesters). For Malaysian students who have good academic results and met all entry requirements (course and English).
International Onshore Merit Scholarships	Value: AUD 5,000 – AUD 10,000 tuition fee reduction For students with good academic results.
The Neil Brice Memorial Fund	Value: Around AUD 1,000 for 1 year. Fields: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics For students with financial difficulties.
UQ International High Achievers Award – Malaysia	Value: 20% tuition fee per semester reduction throughout your degree (up to 4 years). For Malaysian students who have good academic results and met all entry requirements (course and English).
UQ Lifelong Learner: reduced fees for UQ alumni	Value: Yearly 10% tuition fee reduction throughout your degree (up to 4 years). For students with good academic results and have completed at least 2 semesters (16 units) of full-time study.
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship (UQ Academic Scholarship Program)	Value: AUD 12,000 per year (up to 5 years). For students who have good academic results and have not completed any tertiary studies
UQ International Excellence Scholarship	Value: 25% tuition fee per semester reduction (up to 4 years and based on your course). For students with good academic results

3.4 Popular Courses At The University Of Queensland

Sports-related Courses

The University of Queensland is a sporting captain with a diversity of courses and industry network. Its dedication to research placed it #2 on the QS ranking and #1 in Australia.

On campus, UQ’s courses cover many disciplines that set you up to be

• An expert of health, physical education and sports.
• Coaching people to better performance and well-being through exercise.
• Explore the relationship between nutrition and physical activity.

Off-campus, the university has a strong industrial network that provides hands-on experience in unique ways. For example, the collaboration with Paralympics Australia sees students learning about supporting para-athletes. Through professional programmes and work placements, they will also learn to make physical activities enjoyable for everyone.

Engineering Courses

When it comes to popularity, Engineering deserves a spot at the University of Queensland. Firstly, its excellent quality placed 3 subjects in the top 50 of the QS Ranking. They are

• Engineering – Mineral and Mining (QS #4)
• Engineering – Petroleum Engineering (QS #17)
• Engineering – Civil and Structural (QS #47)

These courses come with accreditation from Engineering Australia and hands-on opportunities. You will be in the labs and studios honing your practical skills from the very beginning. Moreover, the faculty hosts extracurricular programmes that connect students with academics to work on various projects. 

Secondly, the university has 12 majors and 3 minors for budding engineers to find their interest. Join UQ’s introductory courses in your 1st year to explore 6 core specialisations from one of these majors. For final-year students, the EAIT Industry Mentoring Program bridges your university life and the workforce. Here, you will work with alumni and industry professionals who will guide you into becoming an engineer with their knowledge.

Hospitality and Leisure Management Course

Speaking of recognition, UQ’s Hospitality and Leisure Management also has its share. The QS #27 (and Australia’s #2) received accreditation from the United World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Its degree grants students placement opportunities with industrial friends (as they call it), like Tourism Australia, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, and Discova.

Furthermore, you can double your skillset by taking the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management and pair it with any of these degree below:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Business Management
• Bachelor of Human Movement & Nutrition Science

You learn about Business 101 and how to run an event. These additional skills will add more credentials to your CV, boosting your employability. Plus, it has field trips to museums, restaurants, cafes, and hotels as a sneak peek into your potential future career.

P.S: We hear that the lecturers are friendly too. So, feel free to pick their brains for industrial insights.

Biological Sciences

There is so much to say about UQ’s quality as QS #54 for Biological Sciences. Beginning with countermeasures against the Big C (No, we are referring to cancer and not COVID-19). From HPV vaccines to the world’s first 3D Melanoma Imaging, they spent over 30 years improving their cancer research.

Furthermore, patients’ experiences sparked inspiration for several research projects. Take a look at the Nanopatch. It is designed to deliver polio vaccines WITHOUT NEEDLES! Or the microbiopsy device. It collects small tissue samples without local anaesthetics or sutures. (So, if you are afraid of visiting the doctors or needles, you can now look forward to a pain-less future.)

Advanced Accounting and Finance

Studying Advanced Accounting and Finance at the University of Queensland makes every dollar count. In class, QS#61 teaches advanced topics like:

• How a policy can affect economic and social outcomes.
• What common monetary issues do companies face?
• Financial reporting and strategy.
• Costing systems and cost management.

These classes are typically smaller in size, allowing you to receive regular guidance from excellent lecturers. With a smaller group, it makes bonding and building your support system a bit easier too. As such, you can count on UQ, like 4,3,2 to prepare you for your first job.

3.5 Industry Partners

UQ’s diversity does not just refer to their students and courses; it applies to their industry partners! They partner with many professionals in developing courses, research, industrial projects and work placements. Examples of such collaborations include

3.4 University Partners

Among universities, the University of Queensland is also the popular kid in “town”. They formed strong relationships with leading research-intensive universities, such as

4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1  The University Of Queensland Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for a Foundation:

• SPM – 4B (excluding language subjects)
• UEC – 5B (excluding language subjects)
• IGCSE -Complete Year 12 or equivalent 

Minimum entry requirements for a Degree:

• UEC – 22 points (Best of 5 subjects)
• A-levels – Min. Score: 7.5 (CCD Grade)
• IB Diploma – 28 points 
• SACE/WACE –  ATAR 78
• Foundation Programme–  GPA 4.0 
• Canadian Programme (OSSD) –  66.27%

Minimum English requirement (IELTS)

• Foundation: 5.5
• Degree: 6.5
  

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

4.2 The University Of Queensland Intake Periods For 2025

If you are thinking of applying in 2025, these are important periods to note.

• Foundation: February, October
• Degree: February, July
• Postgraduate: February, 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

The process of 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

Every moment at the University of Queensland is valuable to your growth. Whether you are studying or enjoying a day off, every experience becomes a learning opportunity. You study under the same roof as skilled mentors and alumni who changed lives with their research efforts. Furthermore, you enrich yourself with youthful yet educational pastimes, like passion projects and sporting hobbies.

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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