Canberra City Overview - Study Options, Local Scene, Highlights

Canberra is the capital city of Australia and is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). As the capital city, Canberra is home to several national attractions and was purposely built to incorporate expansive parks and innovative architecture, both of which help to make this lakeside city appealing to residents and visitors. Canberra has all of the amenities and conveniences expected in a major city; however, the population of just 300,000 and the exceptional planning that went into building the city give it a much smaller, more intimate feel.

Opportunities to receive a Canberra education are highly sought after by students from around the world who find the blend of exceptional educational institutions, capital city living and close proximity to mountain sports, as well as various other outdoor activities, appealing.

Study Options

Canberra education options include three well-respected universities, as well as a number of vocational and language schools that welcome international students.

The three most popular Canberra education options are:
• University of Canberra
• The Australian National University
• Australian Catholic University

Each of these schools offers a distinct educational opportunity that appeals to both domestic and international students. Students who choose the Australian National University have the opportunity to attend a Group of Eight school, centrally located in the ACT, offering a broad range of courses, including arts and social sciences, Aboriginal economic policy, Asian studies, business and economics, engineering and computer science, law, medicine, biology, environmental studies and physical sciences.

Those who choose the University of Canberra will study in a natural campus setting where just over 9,000 students from 80 countries meander through native vegetation between classes on a campus they share with kangaroos, cockatoos and a range of other birds and wildlife, while still being in close proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment.

The Australian Catholic University offers an intimate education experience that is open to students of all religions and creeds. Just a few miles from Canberra's central district, this university offers programs in theology, education, social work and arts in a setting where the 600 students and 40 staff work together closely to achieve educational goals.

Local Scene

Canberra offers visitors and residents four distinct seasons that include colder winters and hot summers. This allows for varied outdoor activities throughout the year that include boating on Lake Burley Griffin or hiking and camping in nearby Namadgi National Park in the warmer months, and skiing and snowboarding in the Snowy Mountains during the winter. While Canberra is an inland city, beach-loving students still enjoy sunbathing and surfing with sparkling white sands and crystal clear waters just a two-hour drive away on the New South Wales South Coast.

The city of Canberra is surrounded by parks, bushland, agricultural areas, nature and wildlife reserves and varied landscapes that will appeal to students who enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle. For those who prefer city amenities and modern conveniences, Canberra has exceptional multi-ethnic cuisine, bars, clubs, restaurants, trendy cafes and a lively nightlife. There is also an enticing live music scene, including StoneFest, which is hosted by the University of Canberra each year and is Australia's largest campus-based music festival.

Canberra has a well-established public transportation system that makes travel between home, school and attractions easy and convenient. The combination of spectacular city planning and a good public transportation system allows for easy access to all that Canberra and the surrounding area has to offer, including:

• Parliament House
• National Gallery of Australia
• Australian Reptile Centre, Canberra
• Canberra Railway Museum
• Questacon
• National Portrait Gallery
• National Botanic Gardens
• Lanyon Historic Homestead
• National Aquarium Australian Wildlife Sanctuary
• Deep Space Communication Complex, Tidbinbilla
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Accommodations

Students choosing a Canberra education have a variety of accommodation options from which to choose, including on-campus housing options available from the University of Canberra and the Australian National University. Students who choose to live on-campus will have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in student life and will find that on-campus living can be a convenient option that avoids long commutes to school, while still allowing for easy access to nearby attractions and amenities. The Australian National University offers guaranteed undergraduate on-campus housing for first-time students who live outside of the ACT region, including international students.

Off-campus housing options include private and shared studios, apartments and houses that can be rented during your term of study, as well as university-managed off-campus lodging options. Hostels are sometimes the perfect choice for international students taking part in short courses, while students in search of a full Canberra education, including living like a local and learning about local culture, may want to consider a homestay with an Australian family. International student services offered at each Canberra university can assist you in locating the on- or off-campus accommodations that best suit your needs and meet your preferences.

Canberra Highlights

Canberra is home to just over 300,000 inhabitants and is the capital city of Australia. Located in the ACT region, Canberra is a center of political and business activity, and is surrounded by natural attractions that provide the perfect balance of opportunities for city life, as well as getting away from it all. Canberra is Australia's only major city located inland and was planned specifically to take on the role of the country's capital. This came about when neither Sydney nor Melbourne could be agreed upon to become the capital of Australia, and is the reason that Canberra was built essentially midway between these two cities.

Canberra is a uniquely designed city that offers modern big city amenities without the traffic and crowded atmosphere present in most major metropolitan areas. With so much to offer in a warm, welcoming environment, international students cannot go wrong when opting for a Canberra education.