About the university

The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university in Canberra, ACT, Australia. It was established by the Parliament of Australia in 1946 and is the only university created by national legislation. The main campus is in Acton (145 hectares) with six academic colleges: Arts and Social Sciences; Asia and the Pacific; Business and Economics; Law, Governance and Policy; Science and Medicine; and Systems and Society (engineering, computing, cybernetics, environment). ANU is a member of the Group of Eight and consistently ranks among the top universities in Australia and the world. It offers over 50 single bachelor degrees, 600+ double degree combinations, and extensive postgraduate and research programs. Teaching is in English. Domestic undergraduates may be Commonwealth-supported; international and domestic fees are band-based.

Key information

• Location: Canberra, AU
• Ranking #30
• QS #30
• THE #73
• US News #85
• National ranking #4
• Institution type: public

Popular faculties

• Arts and Social Sciences
• Asia and the Pacific
• Business and Economics
• Law Governance and Policy
• Science and Medicine
• Systems and Society; Archaeology
• Politics and International Studies
• Anthropology
• Philosophy
• Development Studies
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Earth Sciences
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Computing
• Cybernetics
• Environment

Programs (35)

• Pharmacy
• Civil Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Architecture
• Nursing
• Dentistry
• Veterinary Science
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Economics
• Medicine
• Psychology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Business Administration
• Engineering
• Finance and Accounting
• Marketing
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Law
• Political Science
• International Relations
• Philosophy
• History
• Linguistics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Environmental Science
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Education
• Fine Arts
• Music

Student body

• Total students: 17,400
• Undergraduate: 10,250
• Graduate: 7,130
• International students: 35%

Campus life

ANU's 145-hectare Acton campus is located in the heart of Canberra, just minutes from Parliament House and national cultural institutions. The campus features lush gardens, Lake Burley Griffin nearby, and a vibrant student precinct with cafes, bars, and shops. With 18 residential halls housing approximately 6,500 students, ANU has one of the highest on-campus living rates in Australia. Guaranteed accommodation is offered to all commencing students. The campus hosts over 200 clubs and societies, from academic groups to cultural associations. Students enjoy proximity to national galleries, museums, and embassies, creating a uniquely cosmopolitan university experience in Australia's capital city.

Housing & accommodation

Housing cost: $550 - $1,200 / per week

Housing options

• On-campus residence halls (18 residences, ~6500 beds)
• Self-contained studio apartments
• Shared apartments
• Catered and self-catered options
• UniLodge off-campus lodges

Student clubs and organizations

• ANU Union
• Debating Society
• Film Group
• Mountaineering Club
• Photography Society
• Drama Society
• Chess Club
• International Students Association

Sports

• Rugby
• Rowing
• Cricket
• Football
• Basketball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Athletics

Career & internships

Employment rate: 93%

Partner companies

• Australian Government
• CSIRO

Internships: ANU runs the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP): 12-week research-oriented placements with Commonwealth Parliament, ACT Assembly, government agencies, embassies, NGOs, and think tanks (1–4 days/week). Washington Internship Program (7 weeks, US Congress) and Taiwan Public Policy Internship (6 weeks) are also available. Colleges offer internship courses (e.g. heritage, CBE industry programs). Students can pursue self-sourced internships. ANU Careers and CareerHub list graduate roles and internships; GradWISE supports students with disabilities. Apply: anip.anu.edu.au; careers: anu.edu.au/students/careers-opportunities.

Admission requirements

Required tests

• IELTS
• TOEFL

Required documents

• Application via ANU direct application or UAC/VTAC for domestic; for international: academic transcripts
• English language (e.g. IELTS
• TOEFL)
• passport
• proof of funds; offer acceptance via study.anu.edu.au. Contact: [email protected]
• [email protected] (offers). Requirements vary by program; see Programs and Courses and study.anu.edu.au.

Minimum GPA: 3

Tuition costs

• $30,000 - $38,000 / per year
• Acceptance rate: 55.00%
• Scholarships available: ANU offers ANU Residential Scholarship (for current residents in leadership/volunteer roles, GPA 5.0+, percentage of room tariff); Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship ( 7 , 500 p e r y e a r ) ; T u c k w e l l S c h o l a r s h i p ( o n e o f A u s t r a l i a ’ s l a r g e s t u n d e r g r a d u a t e a w a r d s , 7,500peryear);TuckwellScholarship(oneofAustralia’slargestundergraduateawards, 82,800–$138,000 over 3–5 years, living allowance, accommodation, travel); plus discipline-specific and international scholarships. Details on study.anu.edu.au/scholarships. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available for eligible domestic students.

Quick facts

• Founded: 1946
• Teaching languages: English, english
• Study formats: offline

Contact

• Website: https://www.anu.edu.au
• mailto:[email protected]
• +61 2 6125 5111