Study in Australia Capital Territory

Studying in Australian Capital Territory can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Overseas students have the options of English Language courses, Foundation (University Preparation) courses and both undergraduate and post graduate courses.

Canberra is unlike any other Australian city. It is a planned city, the nation's capital, and the center of the Australian government. Canberra was established in 1911 to create a capital for the newly federated country of Australia. Learn more about the city, its location and surrounding regions and see yourself in Canberra, Australia's capital region.

Canberra, the urban centre of the ACT, is a thriving modern city of 320,000 people with stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping, fun for the kids and a busy calendar of events and festivals.

The surrounding rural areas and stretches of natural bushland are home to charming rural townships such as Tharwa and Hall, award-winning wineries, and stunning nature parks.

Just 45 minutes drive from the city is Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve which offers walking trails, ranger-guided activities, Australian animals in their natural habitat, delightful wildflowers during spring and rich Indigenous and pioneer heritage.

Namadgi National Park, also 45 minutes' drive from the city at the northern end of the Australian Alps, is perfect for a picnic or bushwalk on the numerous marked trails, or to experience native flora and fauna and enjoy spectacular wildflowers in spring. The Indigenous rock art and Aboriginal shelters are easily accessible. Camping is possible in pleasant bushland settings with fishing and horse riding permitted in designated areas.

Visit the unspoilt coastlines of the South Coast. Just two hours' drive away, try whale watching or kayaking, learn to surf or laze away a day on a beautiful beach.

Canberra is a centre for science and technology. Experience an earthquake or get close to a lightening bolt at Questacon -the National Science and Technology Centre, or touch giant stick insects, see a model wind turbine and wind tunnel at the CSIRO Discovery Centre, a showcase for achievements in Australian science and technology

From Canberra, students have easy access to Sydney and Melbourne as well as to a multitude of recreational and sporting opportunities in the city, such as boating, hiking, and skiing. The city is only a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the New South Wales coast.

Study in ACT - Australia Capital Territory

Area Overview

Nicknamed as Australia's "Bush Capital," the Australia Capital Territory or ACT is nestled in the south west corner of the New South Wales Territory. The smallest self-governing internal territory was formed in 1911 after a constitutional allowance in 1901.

Canberra was established as both the territory's and the country's capital city in 1913. Although the ACT is self-governed, it is a territory, and it does not have full legislative permissions granted to the Australian states. A 17-member Legislative Assembly forms and enacts laws, but the Australian Governor-General can overrule any decision, an allowance granted within Section 35 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act of 1988.

The ACT is home to 333,667 people as of 2006 with less than a thousand living outside Canberra. The ACT proudly holds the highest percentage mark of degree qualification as well as the highest weekly income above the national averages-giving evidence through those who study in Australia Capital Territory to the correlation between education and income.

Study Options

Students who study in ACT find varied career paths and multiple degree directions fully available in high quality and soundly accredited schools and universities.

The full list of possible career paths enabled by ACT degrees is almost endless, but popular choices include:

Family Counsellor

Mechanical Engineer

Hospital Administration

Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

Human Resources Manager

Attorney

Archaeologist

Chef

Social Services

Interpreter

Business Manager

And so many more.

The full array of levels of education available range from certificates and diplomas through associate's degrees, bachelor's, master's degrees, and doctorates. Specific specialities include:

Bachelor of Science

Associate's Degree of Culinary Arts

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master of Business Administration

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's of Arts in Culinary Sciences

Master's Degree in Education

Certificate of Completion in Automotive Repair

And many more.

Accommodations

Many housing options make it easy to study in Australia Capital Territory. Student dorms on campus are supplemented by privately rented studios, apartments, and houses. Sharing of accommodations may help defray living expenses.

If a student prefers particular arrangements, most universities and colleges offer assistance and recommendations for off-campus housing or help mediate arrangements on campus.

Regional Highlights

The seasonal variety in the territory mirrors the kaleidoscope of options of study in ACT. Because of the territory's geographical location and the surrounding countryside, the ACT enjoys four distinct and climatically diverse seasons unlike much of the country.

Canberra is well known for hot, dry summers and cold winters with fog and frost. The mountain ranges in the south-west are often snow-topped during the winter months. Rainfall in the ACT averages 623 millimetres (24.5 inches), mostly during the spring and summer months.

When not studying or attending classes, on campus activities may range from clubs, school sports, and intramural sports, art and theatre presentations, and more.
Off campus the Canberra area hosts museums, such as the National Institute of Sport and Science, historical exhibits such as the Old Parliament House and Parliament House, and a representation of Australia's talented artists in the National Gallery of Australia.

Festivals, hot air balloons, and hiking, biking, or motored tours ensure there's always something to see in the Australia Capital Territory.

Restaurants provide local specialities and international cuisine. Bars, pubs, and clubs provide virtually any atmosphere for the student needing a bit of relaxation following semester exams.

More Good-To-Know Information

When choosing to study in Australia Capital Territory, it's important to know and remember local ordinances and basic safety practices as logic would dictate.

Don't go places alone. Safety is in numbers. If solo time is needed, make sure someone knows the destination, departure, projected arrival time, and return time. Also, have a way to contact someone or have return contact as well.

Keep the original visa and passport in a safe place; carry only copies of each. It's much easier to make new copies than it is to replace originals.

Keep in touch with friends and family at home. If phone calls are too expensive, emails are quick and convenient. Most schools grant Internet access, and the majority assign a student email address through the university.

Have fun. Enjoy sightseeing, and relaxing in the Australia Capital Territory while obtaining your higher education degree and launch a long, satisfying, and rewarding career.