University of Western Australia

Ranked among the top ten universities of Australia and listed in the top 100 worldwide, UWA’s research-driven study programmes are rated among the best in the sixth continent

The fifth oldest university in Oz, the University of Western Australia (UWA, estb. 1911) is ranked among the top ten universities of the sixth continent and is listed within the top 100 worldwide by the London-based Times Higher Education Supplement (2008). A member of the elite Group of Eight, a consortium of Australia’s top research universities, UWA attracts over AUS$71 million (Rs.2.68 crore) of external research funding and graduates over 300 research students, mostly doctorates, annually. Moreover this Perth-based university hosts over 80 research centres, including the Crime Research Centre, the Centre for Forensic Science, the Centre for Water Research and the Centre for Oil and Gas Engineering.

Given UWA’s strong focus on research and innovation, it’s unsurprising this varsity’s study programmes are rated among the best in Australia. The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research recently ranked UWA second in Australia for the quality of its undergraduate programmes offered across nine faculties. “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 acquisition of knowledge. Apart from regular delivery of information — lectures, tutorials, supervised research, field trips — the university also provides students with opportunities to apply their knowledge on collaborative projects with business, industry, government and the wider community,” says a UWA spokesperson.

Founded under the University of Western Australia Act 1911, the promoter chancellor Sir John Winthrop Hackett bequeathed a sum of over £425,000 (Rs.3.2 crore) to UWA, facilitating the construction of its magnificent campus buildings. Almost a century later, UWA boasts an aggregate enrolment of 19,520 students including 3,000 from 80 nations worldwide.

Its excellent teaching and research track record apart, UWA has acquired an enviable reputation for providing students international experience and facilitating academic linkages with higher education institutions worldwide. UWA has formalised academic collaboration agreements with nearly 130 institutions around the world including Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China; Stanford and California universities (USA); McGill University and the University of British Columbia (Canada); University College, London; and Uppsala University, Sweden. These academic partnerships facilitate lively exchanges of faculty, students, knowledge and ideas.

Perth. The capital of Western Australia, Perth (pop. 1.3 million) is the sixth continent’s gateway to major cities in Asia, Africa and Europe. As such Perth offers extensive international air links and sophisticated telecommun-ications. Scenically sited on the Swan River between the Indian Ocean and the Darling mountain range, boasting a strong economy with low levels of unemployment, and low crime rate compared to other cities in Oz, Perth offers hundreds of restaurants and cafes, parks, cinemas, nightclubs, and music venues as well as great shopping.

Moreover with its Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers and mild winters, this coastal city is perfect for sports and leisure activities — offering everything from tennis to golf, to whale watching and sailing.

Campus facilities. Nestling on a river bend in upmarket Crawley, just minutes from the business centre of Perth, the 65 hectare UWA campus is a charming combination of old and new buildings. Heritage-listed architectural marvels blend with contemporary buildings and state-of-the-art laboratories set in leafy grounds comprising open courtyards and discreet gardens. At the heart of the campus is the Reid Library, Western Australia’s largest academic bibliotheque housing over 1 million volumes. The Reid Library is complemented by numerous subject libraries across the campus.

Moreover computer laboratories around the campus offer students the latest in general and subject specific software. The state-of-the-art AUS$73 million (Rs. 2.75 crore) Molecular and Chemical Sciences building is ranked among the most advanced biomolecular sciences facility in Western Australia. Likewise the Centre for Medical and Surgical Skills is listed among the most modern medical technology complexes worldwide.

Taylor’s College, Perth delivers the university’s foundation programme on the Claremont campus, while UWA has another campus in the south-west town of Albany, about five hours drive from Perth. The main Crawley campus offers a range of sports facilities which include a fully-equipped health and fitness centre, swimming pools, tennis and squash courts. Other on-campus facilities include a bank, bookshop, hairdresser, travel agency and cinema.

Admission. The minimum eligibility requirement for admission into UWA’s undergraduate degree programmes is a first class pass in the school-leaving class XII exam and a first class bachelor’s degree for postgrad programmes. International students have to demonstrate English language proficiency and submit satisfactory IELTS or TOEFL scores (minimum 6.5 and 570 respectively). Students who don’t meet UWA eligibility criteria have the option to enrol in the university’s foundation programme delivered by Taylor’s College, Perth. The deadline for submitting application forms is December 1 for the semester beginning February and June 1 for the July semester.

For further information contact UWA International Centre, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth WA 6009; Australia; Ph: +618 6488 3939; Fax: +618 9382 4071; e-mail: ug-international@uwa.edu.au or international@uwa.edu.au; website: www.uwa.edu.au.

Accommodation. There are five residential colleges situated adjacent to the main UWA campus offering housing to over 2,000 students. St. Catherine’s College provides accommodation for female students only. The other four colleges (Currie Hall, St. George’s, St. Thomas More and Trinity) host both male and female students, who are provided their own furnished bedrooms but usually share bathroom facilities. All colleges offer full-board accommodation for the academic year and a supportive atmosphere with resident tutors on call to assist students. Those wishing to live off campus have the option of renting a flat or house.

Degree programmes. The university offers undergraduate, postgrad-uate and doctoral programmes across nine faculties (see box).

Summiya Yasmeen