University of Queensland

The university has a longstanding reputation for quality that is reinforced by affiliations with prestigious national and international groups, including the Australian Group of Eight (Go8) - a leading group of Australian universities - and Universitas 21, a select international network of comprehensive, research intensive universities committed to world-best quality and practice.

UQ also consistently performs well in respected rankings of university academic and research performance. In 2007, the University ranked 33rd in the world in a ranking compiled by the prestigious Times Higher Education Supplement. At the national level, UQ was awarded the maximum five-star rating in five major categories by the Australian Good Universities Guide 2008, including getting a job, staff qualifications, research grants, research intensity and toughness to get in (St. Lucia campus).

UQ has more than 2,400 academic staff dedicated to teaching and research. Many are recognized internationally as leaders in their fields. Their ability and dedication is proven by the fact that UQ academics have won more Australian Awards for University Teaching than any other university.

UQ is also one of the leading research universities in Australia and leads industry collaboration and research funding. UQ researchers constantly push the boundaries of research to achieve world-acclaimed research breakthroughs, including the recent development of a vaccine for cervical cancer, pioneered by UQ researcher and 2006 Australian of the Year, Prof. Ian Frazer. UQ’s impressive research portfolio includes more than 130 research centres, including the Queensland Brain Institute, Sustainable Minerals Institute, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, UQ Diamantina Institute for Cancer, Immunology and Metabolic Medicine, and the Institute for Social Science Research, as well as many teaching and research sites throughout Queensland.

Today, more than 37,700 students, including 6,957 international students from approximately 120 countries, study across three superb southeast Queensland campuses at St. Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton. UQ St Lucia – the university’s largest campus - is situated in Brisbane, a dynamic capital city known for its excellent climate, safe environment and affordable quality of life.

Students choose from a comprehensive range of high quality programs, with more than 350 programs and 4,000 courses available.

Location: Brisbane

Brisbane offers everything you would expect from a cosmopolitan capital city while retaining the friendliness of a smaller town. The capital of Queensland, Australia's "Smart State", Brisbane is considered the country's most liveable city, offering a safe, multicultural environment.

It is Australia's fastest-growing capital with a population of more than 1.7 million. Brisbane’s lower cost of living (compared to cities such as Sydney and Melbourne) attracts new residents, as does the weather. The clear skies, warm, sunny days and mild nights promote an outdoor lifestyle.

Summer maximum average temperatures hover around 29 degrees Celsius and these months (December to February) do feature some hot and humid days. Winter months are mild and pleasant with average maximum temperatures of around 22 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in winter averages of around 9 degrees Celcius.

Sporting pursuits are highly valued in Brisbane. While opportunities to watch or play sports are not lacking, the city has a rich cultural side to explore, too. The easily accessible South Bank precinct houses the Gallery of Modern Art, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. In the city, the Museum of Brisbane celebrates Brisbane's contemporary culture, history and people.

The inner city is also characterized by the Brisbane River, parklands and botanical gardens, convention centres, a casino, malls, shopping districts, a host of multi-ethnic restaurants and cafés and other recreation areas. It’s a great area for cycling — you can easily ride from The University of Queensland campus at St. Lucia to the city via the dedicated riverside bike path.

Brisbane is surrounded by beaches. A short boat trip will take you to Stradbroke Island, with its lovely lakes and secluded, pristine beaches. The theme parks and surf beaches of the Gold Coast are just an hour's drive south. Or, drive north for an hour to visit the beautiful Sunshine Coast beaches. If you want to go to the swimming in the city, you can visit the unique man-made beach at South bank.

National Park rainforests and tourist attractions such as the Australia Zoo are within driving distance. Other local wildlife parks also provide opportunities to view Australian native animals and birds.

Brisbane's reputation as a friendly, modern city makes it a popular tourist destination. It’s also a great starting point for visiting Queensland’s many other attractions.

Why Canadians Enjoy Studying at UQ

Students from Canada choose UQ primarily for its international reputation as an outstanding academic institution, as well as its location in the vibrant city of Brisbane. UQ offers Canadians a wide range of programs for which to choose and the university has won more awards for excellence in teaching than any other university.

Almost all OzTREKK students note that the St. Lucia main campus at UQ is stunning. It is renowned as one of Australia’s most attractive campuses and is located just seven kilometres from Brisbane’s city centre. Students can get to campus on foot, by bike, or by catching public transportation via the modes of bus or ferry (city cat). The campus has sandstone buildings and is surrounded by parklands and the Brisbane River.

Some Popular UQ Programs for Students from Canada

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science
• Graduate-entry Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery
• Master in Public Health
• Doctor of Psychology
• Graduate Diploma of Education
• Bachelor of Pharmacy
• Master of Counselling
• Master of International Studies
• Master of Speech Pathology Studies
• Master of Physiotherapy Studies
• Master of Occupational Therapy Studies
• Master of Exercise Science