Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University, also known as ACU, is Australia’s largest Catholic university and a public university established in 1991. The university is known for high-quality education, professional placements, strong graduate employment outcomes and programmes across health sciences, education, law, business, theology, philosophy, arts and research.

According to the provided source, ACU ranks among the top 2% of universities worldwide and has more than 31,200 students, including over 3,400 international students from 90 countries. The source also lists a larger student figure of 34,834 total students and 4,601 international students in the highlights table, so student numbers should be verified before publication.

Australian Catholic University offers more than 110 degree programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. The source also mentions 125 programmes in the highlights table, including 84 undergraduate courses, 32 postgraduate courses and 3 postgraduate research degree programmes.

ACU is especially strong in nursing, education, psychology and law according to the ranking information in the source. Shanghai subject rankings mentioned in the source place ACU 18th globally and 7th in Australia for nursing, among the top 50 globally and 3rd in Australia for education, top 150 globally for psychology and top 200 globally for law.

For Indian students, ACU can be a strong option if they are interested in nursing, physiotherapy, education, health administration, business administration, accounting and finance, creative arts or research pathways. The university’s professional placement model can be useful for students who want practical career exposure during the degree.

Accommodation planning is important because ACU has eight campus locations across Australia and a Rome campus. Students may choose private rentals, student apartments, Iglu Student Accommodation or other verified student housing depending on campus. The source lists weekly accommodation rent between AUD 160 and AUD 300 and total living cost in Australia at around AUD 20,040 per year.

Admistay can help students compare verified student accommodation near Australian Catholic University campuses, including private rooms, shared flats, student apartments and fully furnished options near ACU Brisbane, Melbourne, North Sydney, Strathfield, Canberra, Ballarat, Blacktown and Adelaide campuses.

Australian Catholic University offers programmes through four faculties: Faculty of Education and Arts, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Law and Business and Faculty of Theology and Philosophy. Students can enrol in full-time, part-time, online and short courses across a wide range of disciplines.

The source states that ACU offers disciplines such as business, creative arts, humanities, information technology, public health and administration, philosophy and global studies. It also mentions 84 undergraduate courses, 32 postgraduate courses and 3 postgraduate research programmes.

Popular programmes listed in the source include Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Creative Arts, Bachelor of Education Primary and Secondary, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Master of Education, Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership.

The source lists tuition fees for ACU programmes from AUD 19,500 to AUD 26,800 per semester in the overview. Course-level annual fees include Bachelor Accounting and Finance at AUD 29,080, Bachelor of Nursing at AUD 29,520, Bachelor Creative Arts at AUD 24,104, Bachelor of Education at AUD 24,104, Bachelor Physiotherapy at AUD 39,472, Master of Education at AUD 24,104, MBA at AUD 32,000 and Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership at AUD 12,052.

For Indian students, ACU may be especially relevant for nursing, education, physiotherapy, business and health administration. These fields are closely connected to professional placements, employability and practical training, but students should verify registration and placement requirements for health and education programmes.

Students should plan tuition fees alongside living expenses. The source lists cost of living for international students in Australia at AUD 20,040 per year, with weekly costs including accommodation, food, transport, phone, internet, electricity, gas and other expenses. Admistay can help students compare verified student accommodation near ACU campuses to manage total cost more clearly.

International students applying to Australian Catholic University can choose from undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, research degrees, diploma and certificate degrees, pathway programmes, executive education, single units, vocational and short courses, language courses and online courses.

The source states that international students may apply through an international agent, submit in person at the office or apply directly online. Students should choose the application route that matches their location, support needs and programme type.

Common admission requirements include academic transcripts, work, project or academic experience where applicable and degree or diploma documents for postgraduate admissions. Additional requirements may include official bank statement, letters of recommendation, passport photo page, health and security checks, portfolio for selected courses and statement of purpose.

Research applicants may need a research proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words, professional recognition if applicable and referee reports. Students applying for research should also check supervisor availability, proposal fit and faculty-specific requirements.

English language proficiency is required for international students. The source lists IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79, TOEFL CBT 213 and TOEFL PBT 550 as accepted scores. Some courses may require higher English scores, such as education courses where the source lists IELTS 7.0 in reading and writing and 7.5 in listening and speaking.

Accommodation planning should be connected with the campus and course selection. ACU has campuses in Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney, Strathfield, Blacktown and Rome. Admistay can help students compare verified student accommodation near ACU campuses, including private rentals, student apartments and furnished housing options.

Australian Catholic University has eight campus locations across Australia along with a Rome campus. The Australian campuses listed in the source include Adelaide, Ballarat, Blacktown, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney, Strathfield and Brisbane.

ACU campuses combine historic and modern buildings with lawns, hang-out areas, research centres and learning hubs. The Brisbane campus, McAuley at Banyo, is located near the heart of the city and surrounded by natural lifestyle attractions such as rivers, parks and beaches.

The Melbourne campus, St Patrick’s, is located near Fitzroy’s shops and Carlton Gardens, while the North Sydney campus, MacKillop, offers facilities and peaceful grounds. The Strathfield campus, Mount Saint Mary, is located near the Blue Mountains and Central Coast, with education facilities and access to beaches, parks and cafés.

Student facilities include libraries, technical facilities, health clinics, learning hubs, communal areas and campus-based support depending on location. Students also benefit from professional placements as part of degree programmes, especially in career-focused fields such as health and education.

Accommodation options depend on the campus. Students in Brisbane may consider Iglu Student Accommodation, which the source describes as stylish, fully furnished, secure and inclusive of water, electricity or gas bills. Students may also choose private rentals, but these usually do not include furniture, utilities or food in rental fees.

Career development is a strong part of ACU student life. The source mentions that 91% of ACU graduates were placed, 77% were in full-time employment and ACU career hub provides part-time, full-time and casual jobs, graduate programmes, volunteer opportunities, internships, work experience and tutoring roles.

Admistay can help students compare verified student accommodation near ACU campuses, including fully furnished rooms, shared flats, private rentals and student apartments close to transport, campus facilities and city amenities.

Australian Catholic University provides scholarships and financial aid to support talented students during their course of study. International students may also apply for external scholarships depending on eligibility and funding availability.

The source lists several ACU scholarships, including ACU Academic Excellence Scholarship, ACU Centre for Liturgy Postgraduate Scholarship, ACU Equity Scholarships, ACU International Student Scholarship, ACU Law Equity Scholarship, Allianz Global Assistance Scholarship, Global Excellence Scholarships, Future Leaders Scholarship and a recently added ACU International Student Scholarship.

Scholarship values vary. The source lists ACU Academic Excellence Scholarship at AUD 5,000, ACU Equity Scholarships at AUD 2,000, ACU Law Equity Scholarship at AUD 5,000, Global Excellence Scholarships at AUD 5,000 and Future Leaders Scholarship at AUD 120,000. Some scholarships offer partial fee waivers.

The source notes that ACU recently introduced the ACU International Student Scholarship, rewarding academic excellence with a 50% tuition fee waiver for international students starting undergraduate or postgraduate studies in Semester 1, 2025. Students should verify whether this scholarship is still available for the relevant intake before relying on it.

Scholarships can reduce tuition pressure, but students still need to plan living and accommodation costs. The source lists annual cost of living for international students in Australia at AUD 20,040, with weekly costs including accommodation rent, food, transport, phone, internet, electricity, gas and other expenses.

Admistay can help students compare verified accommodation near Australian Catholic University campuses so students can understand rent, utility inclusions, commute and total monthly cost before arrival. This is especially important for students studying in higher-cost cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.