Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a publicly funded university, open to all. It comprises of six campuses based in Brisbane, Sydney (North Sydney and Strathfield), Melbourne Canberra, and Ballarat, and provides programs in five faculties throughout Australia and overseas.
The University’s inspiration, in the 2,000 years of Catholic intellectual tradition, commands it to attend to all that is of concern to human beings. It brings about the distinctive spiritual perspective to the common tasks of higher education.ACU has experienced considerable growth in student and staff numbers, research output, campus facilities and course offerings over the past few years.There are currently above 22,000 students at the University, which is growing according to a comprehensive Enrolment Plan which will see approximately 25,000 students enrolled in 2016.
A particular area of growth is students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Aimed pathways programs have been developed to engage the low SES and disadvantaged students in the higher education.
To manage the considerable growth in student numbers, the University is dedicated to an extensive capital program of more than $200 million. Projects in progress include $18 million worth of improvements at the Brisbane Campus, the eight storeys National Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Melbourne is new, and the purchase of a twenty two storey office tower in the North Sydney.Corresponding growth in staff numbers will ensure that ACU continues to have a favorable student to academic staff ratio.The University’s traditional operations lie in the areas of health and education. Whereas the health offerings are set to expand with the introduction of occupational health speech therapy, and public health, the introduction of a Faculty of Law in the year 2013 will signify an entire new suite of programs.
The new international growth and global studies courses will also generate overseas work and study opportunities for students, and benefit from the vast network of Catholic aid agencies around the world.
The single area of the University which is likely to witness the biggest growth over the next few years is research. Since the year 2009 the research budget has almost doubled, and will continue to rise. In 2010 there was a 30 per cent increase in publications and a 100 per cent rise in research income across the University.
Campus Locations
Ballarat – Aquinas
Brisbane – McAuley at Banyo
Canberra – Signadou
Melbourne – St Patrick’s
Nor th Sydney – MacKillop
Strathfield – Mount Saint Mary
Contact Details
40 Edward Street
Nor th Sydney NSW 2060
Majors Courses Offered
Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Environmental/Environmental,Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, Astrophysics, Planetary Astronomy and Science, Chemistry, Geology/Earth Science, Geochemistry, Geophysics and Seismology, Health Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Humanities/Humanistic Studies, Biology/Biological Sciences,Social Sciences, Economics, Political Science and Government, Philosophy of Science and Technology
Minors Courses Offered
Aerospace,Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Philosophy of Science and Technology,Computer Engineering, Humanities/Humanistic Studies, Philosophy,