In a world of mass production, ACU stands for meaningful education, rewarding research, and life-changing community engagement.
Top reasons to study here
- We’re a young university focused on embedding excellence. Learn how we’re growing towards our ambitions and meet our leadership team.
- We work with a range of industry, community, research and Catholic partners. Read how we collaborate, or get in touch regarding a potential partnership.
- As a university of service, we believe in celebrating life, enriching experiences and solving complex problems by giving back to those in need.
Master's Programmes
Business & Management (4)
- Postgraduate Certificate Business Administration
- Postgraduate Certificate Financial Planning
Education & Training (4)
- Master Professional Psychology
- Master Teaching (Primary)
- M.Teach/Grad.Cert. Teaching (Primary) - Religious Education
Medicine & Health (4)
- Master Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Master Professional Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma Psychology
- Master Psychology (Clinical)
Social Sciences (4)
- Master Professional Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma Psychology
- Master Psychology (Clinical)
Humanities (2)
- M.Phil. Philosophy
- M.Teach/Grad.Cert. Teaching (Primary) - Religious Education
Applied Sciences & Professions (1)
- Master Social Work
Arts, Design & Architecture (1)
- Postgraduate Certificate Financial Planning
Hospitality, Leisure & Sports (1)
- Master Clinical Exercise Physiology
About
History
Australian Catholic University (ACU) was opened on 1 January 1991 following the amalgamation of four Catholic tertiary institutions in eastern Australia:
- Catholic College of Education Sydney in New South Wales
- Institute of Catholic Education in Victoria
- McAuley College of Queensland
- Signadou College of Education in the Australian Capital Territory.
These institutions had their origins in the mid-1800s, when religious orders and institutes became involved in preparing teachers for Catholic schools and, later, nurses for Catholic hospitals.
Through a series of amalgamations, relocations, transfers of responsibilities and diocesan initiatives, more than 20 historical entities have contributed to the creation of the University.
Education
Within the Catholic intellectual tradition and acting in Truth and Love, Australian Catholic University is committed to the pursuit of knowledge, the dignity of the human person and the common good.
Our mission is at the heart of everything we do at ACU. It guides our approach to learning and teaching, our welcoming and engaging on-campus culture, and our commitment to building a better society by producing graduates willing to invest in this same commitment.
Research
We are a world-leading research university in our priority areas of education, health, and theology and philosophy. Our culture of research excellence is founded on the principles of social justice and attracts global experts, students and collaborators from across the globe.
Our research institutes collaborate with strategic partners across Australia and the world to create real impact in our key research areas. Their research focuses on health, theology and philosophy, and education, and is founded on the principles of social justice and the common good.
Career
We’re the university of choice for the new generation choosing to serve others. Connect with the next cohort through our Career Development Service. Share a job or placement opportunity with our students, check student qualifications, and see why recruiting from ACU is a move for good.
Our students see the world differently, looking past short-term gratification to focus on lasting, positive impact. Their future is bright. And you can give them their first big chance to shine.
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2019
GSSA 2019
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsUniversity Ranking
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2021
251 100
2020
351 50
2019
401
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2020
501
2019
501
2018
501
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2021
587 37
2020
624 29
2019
653
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2021
801
2020
801
2019
801
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Services
Student services
Your time at university shouldn’t just be spent in a lecture theatre. Take advantage of the many facilities spread across our campuses to ensure that your university experience is enriching and satisfying.
Housing services
University life can be fun, but busy. That’s why our off-campus student accommodation options are designed to make your home life easy.
Library services
One of your greatest assets in your quest for scholarly success is getting to know your library. Whether you’re browsing our online databases on a laptop at home or searching the stacks for that book you need, our campus libraries are powerful tools for teaching, learning and research.
ICT services
IT support staff are available in the library for students who are experiencing IT issues on campus. IT staff are usually only available Monday to Friday during the semester. Drop in times may vary.
Medical services
ACU has two on-campus medical centres in Brisbane and Melbourne. They offer comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services to ACU students, staff and the local community.
Key services
- General medicine
- Drug and alcohol-related issues
- Immunisations
- Men's health
- Referrals
- Sexual health
- Skin checks
- Travel medicine
- Wellness support
- Women's health
- Child Health
- Clinical Placement Vaccinations.
Student Life
Campus life
- To help maximise your uni days, we’ve equipped our campuses with the best teaching facilities we can offer. But that’s not all. We want you to reach your full potential, so there’s plenty for you to do outside of the classroom too.
- Across our campuses, you’ll find public art galleries exhibiting student work, moot courts where our law students hone their arguments and prepare for international competitions, and health science simulation labs where students get a full range of experiences before they go on placements.
- Plus you'll find many more facilities designed to make your campus life as fulfilling as possible.
Sports facilities
- The ACU Sport Gym, Brisbane is located on the ground floor of Building O. Aligned with the Exercise Science department on campus, this gym is decked out in the latest Synergy pin-loaded and functional based weights equipment.
- Life can get stressful, so it’s important you look after your health and wellbeing. But when you’re a busy uni student, it can be hard to find the time.
That’s why our on-campus fitness classes are perfect. Held right where you study, it’s one of the best ways to reduce stress, improve your health, and feel good. Join a yoga class, participate in pilates, try your hand at boxing or get an all-round circuit workout.
Student clubs
Student associations are run by students, for students. They provide services, activities and representation for all students.
There are three types of student association at ACU:
- ACU National Student Association (ACUNSA)
- ACU Postgraduate Student Association (ACUPGA)
- local campus associations.
Each of these groups has a particular role in supporting and representing our student bodies.
These groups also have one thing in common: they all rely on students getting involved and working to make the ACU experience great for everyone.
Student Reviews
If it wasn’t for COVID, ACU would’ve been an amazing university.
Anonymous rated 4 out of 5 stars
There was no help when COVID hit and us Victorians were in lockdown for 8+ months. Placements were cancelled and the university didn’t help us at all.
I found my purpose.
Anonymous rated 2 out of 5 stars
My experience was a good one. The relevant information related to my course of study was shared accordingly. The university made me to know more about the course, they made me love and choose Education as a career path and through it, I want to learn more and put it into practice. Thanks to the university, I was able to graduate with good grades and good behaviour. They...
Learn with ACU
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
I like the environment of the university. It is always easy to ask for help when you are not sure what you are supposed to do or what's best for you. The academic skills unit has helped me to learn how to effectively use my time to study. It was helpful for me to learn academic writing style and referencing. I like the resources available and like that there are many...
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