Overview: 

The University of Queensland (UQ) is a prestigious Australian university located in Brisbane, Queensland. It is recognized as one of Australia's leading research and teaching institutions and is consistently ranked among the top universities globally, currently sitting within the Top 50. UQ fosters a supportive teaching community for all students and has a vibrant culture. 

The University of Queensland contains 3 campuses at these locations: St Lucia, Herston and Gatton.

The St Lucia campus is where the majority of students are located. A variety of facilities are located on campus, including UQ Res, residential apartments located on campus for students. The Herston campus is a hub for UQ's clinical health teaching and research. The Gatton Campus is a rural campus for students studying Agriculture and Food, Veterinary Sciences and more. 

UQ's Main Website | Student Exchange Website 

Academics: 

GPA Requirement

For international students starting a full degree, the GPA requirement will depend on the programme you choose. Search for the programme name on the Degree Finder page, and you will find the list of requirements. The requirements for admissions may include:

• ​​a previous degree or professional experience

• a minimum grade point average (GPA)

• English language requirements

• other program-specific requirements.

To learn about the full entry requirements, check out UQ's official page here. 
 

Language

Classes are taught in English.

Flying Chalks' Tip

The University of Queensland offers English classes to prepare for the Academic IELTS test. Learn more about the English courses offered here. 

English Requirements

Academic English 5. The minimum English language requirements are overall IELTS of 6.5 and 6.0 in all sub-bands or equivalent.

Courses

UQ offers a wide variety of courses, the full course list can be seen here. 

Course Registration Process

UQ uses mySI-net for students to enrol in courses. 

These are the steps you need to take to enrol in courses:

1. Choose program

2. Check program requirements

3. Check UQ requirements

4. Apply for the courses

To learn more about enrolling in courses at UQ, check out the official website link here. The process of signing up for courses is straightforward with clear directions through the website. 

Attendance Policy

O-week attendance for international students is compulsory. Otherwise, courses will highlight what is compulsory and what is not. When in doubt, there are discussion boards for most courses and coordinators that are willing to clarify details.

Flying Chalks' Tip:

Always read over the Electronic Course Profile (ECP) before commencing the course, to ensure you haven't missed any important information about attendance or assessment.

My Campus: 

The University of Queensland is made up of 3 campuses: St Lucia, Gatton and Herston. 

St Lucia Campus

Campus map

The campus map for St Lucia can be found here. 

Flying Chalks' Tip:

Familiarise yourself with where your classes are, prior to the actual class to avoid the stress of finding it in a hurry. Also, most people around campus are very friendly and will happily give you directions if need be. 

Facilities

• UQ Art Museum

• Sporting facilities (gym, pool)

• Food court

• Great Court

Food on Campus

Heaps of on-campus food options, including food chains like Subway and Guzman Y Gomez and coffee shops like Merlo.

Campus Transportation

• Intercampus bus between the Gatton, Herston and St Lucia campuses

• Public transport is most common and very accessible

  • Ferry at UQ St Lucia Terminal

  • Bus stops; UQ Lakes and Chancellor Place

• Driving is also an option, with cheap daily parking costs, and carparks stretching the surrounds of the campus. 

Flying Chalks' Tip:

If you plan to commute to the university by car, make sure to arrive early in the day, preferably between 8-9 am, as the parking spaces tend to fill up rapidly. It's worth noting that the more affordable parking options, priced at $5 per day and located in the blue or pink zones, tend to reach capacity faster than others.

Gatton Campus

Campus map

Facilities

• Fitness centre
• Aquatic centre
   

Food on Campus

Coffee shops such as Walkway Cafe and Coffee pod. The campus also has an all-you-can-eat dining hall which students can dine in for $13. 

Campus Transportation

• Intercampus bus between the Gatton, Herston and St Lucia campuses

• Driving to the Gatton Campus would be the most common option

• Public transport: you can take the train to Rosewood and catch a Greyhound bus to the center of the campus

Herston Campus

Campus map

To learn more about the Herston Campus, check out the campus website here. 

Facilities

Contains an Oral Health Centre, Public Health building and Centre for Clinical Research.

Food on Campus

Cafe Dose and Subway are available on the campus.

Campus Transportation

Located just minutes away from Brisbane CBD, UQ Herston is easily accessible.

• Public transport: There are four nearby bus stops to the campus, offering plenty of options for students to take; namely the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital busway stop, Herston busway stop, Bramston Terrace bus stop and Herston Road bus stop.

• Train: Windsor Train Station, Bowen Hills Train Station and Fortitude Valley Station are near the campus.

• Car: There are very limited parking locations around Herston. 

Student Life: 

Orientation Program

Participation in O week is mandatory for all international students. It's an enjoyable week packed with events, introductions to various societies, and engaging games.

Buddy Program

Get Set programs: Get Set program pairs students into groups with similar studies with student mentors. Peer mentors will share firsthand insights drawn from their own experiences, offering valuable tips and information about UQ, including details about services and career support. The program additionally provides chances for connection through group meetups and social events organized within the program.

Check out the different faculty mentorship programs here.

Flying Chalks' Tip:

The Get Set mentoring programming is a great option to meet with students within your faculty on a weekly/fortnightly basis, giving you a head start when studying at UQ. 

Student Clubs

UQ has over 200 clubs and societies for you to get involved in. There are clubs for most degrees/faculties, sports and hobbies. A full list of the clubs can be seen here. 

University events

Each club and society hosts several events throughout the year. These range from, pub crawls, balls, sports games and study groups.

Flying Chalks' Tip:

While still possible to join clubs during the year, it’s generally easier to join clubs during O-week. So, it’s a good idea to attend the market day during O-week to see all the options. Take a look at what clubs are available before heading to O-week, so you can strategically plan to sign up!

Surrounding Environment: 

Food

Toowong Village is a shopping mall located 5 minutes from the St Lucia campus. It’s great for groceries and also has a couple of cafes and retail shops. Indooroopilly shopping centre is located 10 minutes from campus and has an abundance of retailers, restaurants and a movie theatre.

Around the university, there are plenty of food stalls located along Hawken Drive in St Lucia. 

Flying Chalks' Tip:

To get to Toowong Village, you can either jump on a bus or drive there. Like most shopping centres in Brisbane, there is a 3-hour free parking option.

Nightlife & Entertainment

The university is located west of Brisbane City, however, the CBD is easier accessible via car, public transport or bike. Within the city is plenty of restaurants, bars, etc. 

A more prominent nightlife spot would be along Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, located near to the CBD. Thursday night is often student night for most establishments, offering students affordable deals. 

Flying Chalks' Recommendations:

The Regatta and Royal Exchange Hotel are popular bars for uni students, as well as the Red Room which is located on campus.

Flying Chalks' Tip:

Liquor laws prevent you from buying liquor past 10 pm, so do plan beforehand!

Daily Necessities & Groceries (include closest outlets)

Toowong Village and Indooroopilly shopping centre have supermarkets such as Woolworths and Coles. These shopping centres also have Kmart, a well-known departmental store known to be affordable for household needs. 

Flying Chalks' Recommendations:

Groceries on campus tend to be more expensive. So, to find the cheapest groceries, Toowong or Indooroopilly are a great option.

Shopping

Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Queen Street Mall contain many big brands along the same stretch. 

Accessibility: 

Airport Welcome / Different means of transport & directions

Travelling to and from the airport can be quite expensive about other transport around Brisbane. Options are public transport via the AirTrain, driving (and paying for airport parking), Uber and Didi. 

Flying Chalks' Tip:

If you are an international student going to UQ, UQ provides free transportation from Brisbane International Airport. Individuals are required to sign up for the UQ Airport Shuttle at least 3 days prior to arrival. Sign up for the UQ Airport Shuttle here.