Address: Acton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
Science, Asia and the Pacific Studies, Law and Policy, Business and Economics, Arts and Social Sciences
The Australian National University was established on 1 August 1946 by the Australian National University Act 1946, passed under the Chifley government. It is the only university created by the Parliament of Australia. It traces its origins to Canberra University College, founded in 1929 and integrated into the university in 1960. Its founding figures included the economist Douglas Copland, the first vice-chancellor, and the former prime minister Stanley Bruce, the first chancellor. The Latin motto means first to learn the nature of things.
The main campus is in Acton, Canberra, on about 358 acres, or 1.45 square kilometres, mostly parkland, bordered by Black Mountain, Lake Burley Griffin, Turner and the city centre. Other sites include the Mount Stromlo Observatory, the Siding Spring Observatory, the Kioloa coastal campus and a research unit in Darwin.
In 2023 the university had 17,380 students, among them 10,252 undergraduates and 7,128 postgraduates, and 4,517 staff. In 2006 it was reorganised into colleges that lead both teaching and research. They include Arts and Social Sciences, Asia and the Pacific, Business and Economics, Systems and Society, Law, Governance and Policy, and Science and Medicine.
ANU belongs to the Group of Eight, the group of leading Australian research universities, to the International Alliance of Research Universities and to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. Six Nobel laureates are linked to it: Howard Florey, whose work led to penicillin, John Eccles in 1963, John Harsanyi, Peter Doherty and Rolf Zinkernagel in 1996, and Brian Schmidt, Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011.
Alumni include the former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd, the former premiers Annastacia Palaszczuk and Barry O’Farrell, the former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa and the New Zealand politician Don Brash. Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English.
Canberra is the capital of Australia, and the Acton campus lies close to the city centre and to the national institutions of the capital. The university runs research degrees and coursework programmes in all of its colleges, and its observatories give astronomy students access to working telescopes.
Domains taught:
Astroscience, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Finance, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics
Group of Eight, International Alliance of Research Universities, Association of Pacific Rim Universities, Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring observatories.
Research:
Astronomy and astrophysics, physics, earth and environmental sciences, Asia and Pacific studies, policy, economics and the social sciences, medicine and health.
Famous Alumnis:
Bob Hawke, Kevin Rudd, Annastacia Palaszczuk, Barry O’Farrell, Marty Natalegawa, Brian Schmidt
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
4517
Current students***:
17380
Foreign students***:
N/A%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Only Australian university created by an Act of the national parliament, research-intensive, parkland campus near the centre of Canberra, six Nobel laureates among staff and alumni.
Cons
Canberra is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, cold winters, high fees for international students.
Best For
Students and researchers seeking Australia’s national research university, strong in science, the Asia-Pacific region and public policy.
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Most Similar Schools Locally
University of Western Australia follows much the same lines as this university, with astroscience, chemistry and ecology and sustainability as common ground, and it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of chemistry, physics and mathematics can consider University of Adelaide, and it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
A good alternative in the same country is Curtin University, which likewise covers astroscience, chemistry and physics; it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
Both schools build their programmes around finance, chemistry and physics, and University of New South Wales is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
Think of University of Melbourne when chemistry, physics and mathematics is the priority: it also offers mba programmes and covers agriculture and microbiology and genetics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly finance, chemistry and statistics; it does not run the graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes found here and covers microbiology and genetics as well.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, where finance, chemistry and statistics also form the core, and it is slightly larger, at about 21,110 students against roughly 17,380 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Barcelona, in Spain, takes a similar route through finance, chemistry and ecology and sustainability; it covers microbiology and genetics as well, and is far larger, with about 62,995 students against roughly 17,380 here.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, based in Israel, is built around chemistry, statistics and physics much like this university, and it does not run the graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes found here and covers agriculture and microbiology and genetics as well.
University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom shares the astroscience, chemistry and physics orientation of this university, and it covers marine science as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 11,645 students against roughly 17,380 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the Australian National University?
In Acton, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.
When was it established?
On 1 August 1946, by the Australian National University Act 1946.
What makes it unusual?
It is the only university created by the Parliament of Australia.
What are its origins?
Canberra University College, founded in 1929 and integrated into ANU in 1960.
How many students does it have?
17,380 in 2023, including 10,252 undergraduates.
How large is the main campus?
About 358 acres, mostly parkland.
Which observatories does it run?
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring.
Which Nobel laureates are linked to it?
Howard Florey, John Eccles, John Harsanyi, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel and Brian Schmidt.
Which prime ministers studied there?
Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd.
What does it cost?
Fees differ for domestic and international students. Check the current tariff.
Astrophysics, Climate, Innovation, Physics, Research and Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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