Overview
The University of Western Australia is the oldest institution of higher learning in Western Australia and a member of Australia's prestigious
Group of Eight universities. Since 1911 UWA has helped shaped the careers of nearly 100,000 graduates. The University's strong foundation in research and teaching creates a scholarly environment, which promotes the pursuit and rigorous critical interpretation of new information as well as the acquisition of knowledge. Its dual strengths of research and research training set the University apart as one of Australia's leading research-intensive universities. Responsible for almost 70% of the university-based research and development in Western Australia, UWA is ranked third for research in Australia on a per capita basis. UWA is ranked second in Australia for the quality of its undergraduate programs with the highest quality undergraduates of any university in Australia. UWA has a tradition of thinking globally and preparing its students to be citizens of the globe. This spirit of internationalism promotes a lively exchange of staff, students, knowledge and ideas, and a multi-cultural and multi-faith community, which includes more than 3,000 international students from 80 nations.
Location
Situated on the banks of the Swan River only five kilometers from Perth city centre, UWA is among the most picturesque in the nation with its grand sandstone and terracotta buildings sitting among elegant heritage-listed gardens. It is a member of the Elite Athlete Friendly University network and a major sponsor of the UWA Perth International Arts Festival. UWA has 85 research, teaching and training centers with links into industry and government both locally and nationally. The presence on campus of researchers working on cutting-edge science and technology attracts outstanding postgraduate students, keen to hone their research skills under the guidance of these high profile researchers. UWA graduates are highly competitive internationally, achieving success in further study and in wide-ranging fields of employment. Many graduates have risen to prominence in leadership roles in industry, government, education and the professions, in Australia and in other countries around the globe. Notable graduates include a former Prime Minister and a Nobel Laureate.
Academic Highlights
UWA offers comprehensive learning programs for undergraduates and postgraduates across nine faculties and the School of Indigenous
Studies. These faculties are: Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts; Humanities and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering; Computing and Mathematics; Law; Life and Physical Sciences; Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services; Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Apart from the regular delivery of information (lectures, tutorials, supervised research, field trips and student placements), the University also provides students with opportunities to apply their knowledge on collaborative projects with business, industry, government and the wider community. UWA was the first university in Australia to offer a degree course in environmental engineering and, more recently, in ocean systems and climate studies. These courses are pioneering the education of sustainable development of the earth and its oceans. UWA joins a list of prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Kyoto in offering Integrated Human Studies or cognate courses through the Centre for Integrated Human Studies. The Centre brings together experts including psychologists, physiologists, anthropologists, medical scientists, human ecologists, economists, and marketing researchers to assess the mix and relative importance of different factors contributing to problems such as obesity.