First established in 1938 as a constituent college of Sydney University, UNE became autonomous in 1954. Since then it has earned a sound reputation for teaching and research
Situated in the picturesque town of Armidale, New South Wales, the University of New England (UNE) has established a sound reputation in the sixth continent as a provider of outstanding teaching and centre of research excellence. The first Australian university to be established outside a state capital, UNE has four faculties: arts; economics, business and law; education, health and professional studies and the sciences. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, diploma, Masters and doctoral study courses in the general (arts, science) and professional (accounting, teaching, nursing and law) fields to 18,863 students including 1,800 students from over 50 countries.
“The University of New England has a long and enviable reputation as a provider of quality education and combines a commitment to excellence in teaching and advanced research. We have established formal links with many overseas institutions and maintain a strong relationship with our alumni. The presence of international students at UNE allows the university community to gain a greater understanding of different countries, languages, cultures, religions and customs,” says Prof. Ingrid Moses, vice-chancellor of UNE.
First established in 1938 as a constituent college of Sydney University, UNE acquired autonomous status in 1954. Since then it has pioneered distance education where technology is used to provide programmes to students studying at home. More than 12,000 of its 18,000 plus students study via the internet, making UNE Australia’s largest provider of distance education. On campus the student-staff ratio is 10:1 and students benefit greatly from access to individualised tuition. Moreover UNE has signed partnerships with more than 33 universities and colleges overseas for collaborative research, course articulation arrangements and staff and student exchanges.
Armidale. This picturesque town is situated in the New England tableland region of northern New South Wales. An hour by air from the metropolitan cities of Sydney and Brisbane, Armidale (pop.25,000) is the region’s commercial and educational hub. The city offers excellent transportation facilities for air, rail and road travel. Armidale also provides first-rate shopping, recreation and cultural facilities.
The New England region is famous for its magnificent gorges, waterfalls, rivers and streams and for its four distinct seasons that have earned it the descriptive ‘a city of all seasons’. Summer temperatures rarely climb beyond 33oC. Winter nights are often frosty but the days following are sunny and clear. Autumn and spring arrive with spectacular bursts of flora which attract thousands of tourists.
Campus facilities. UNE has a number of libraries which together subscribe to more than 9,600 journals in print and electronic form, contain comprehensive reference collections and have a combined stock of nearly 1,000,000 volumes. The main library is the Dixson Library, centrally located on campus. The law library is located in the faculty of economics, business and law with the curriculum centre sited in the faculty of education, health and professional studies.
UNE’s information technology division provides computing facilities and support to meet the research and academic requirements of students. Each student is provided access to the internet, PC laboratories and desktop publishing.
The scenic campus is well equipped with its own childcare, medical and dental facilities, a post office, credit union, shops and restaurants. Sports facilities include 15 hectares of playing fields, an international standard synthetic hockey ground, numerous soccer and rugby fields, a gymnasium and heated swimming pool, six squash and eight tennis courts and an indoor stadium. A regular bus service links the campus to town. Moreover the UNE Union and students association offer a wide range of student centred services on campus and host social and cultural events round the year.
Admission. The qualification for admission into UNE’s undergrad programmes is successful completion of class XII or a pre-university certificate with a minimum 60 percent average. International students also have to demonstrate proficiency in English by way of IELTS or TOEFL test scores. For overseas applicants who don’t meet the minimum entry requirement, UNE in conjunction with the New England Institute of TAFE has developed a Foundation Studies Program to provide international students a structured pathway to university level studies.
For admission into UNE’s postgraduate courses, eligibility criteria include a first class bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and IELTS or TOEFL scores. Additionally certain postgrad programmes may require specific entry requirements. The closing date for applications is December 15 for the semester beginning in February and May 15 for the semester starting July. For further information write to the general manager, International Services, International Office, the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia. Tel: 61 2 6773 2135; fax: 61 2 6773 3325; e-mail: ioadmit@pobox.une.edu.au.
Accommodation. Residential facilities are available through the univer- sity’s extensive on-campus residential college and university flats system or through Armidale’s private rental market. UNE has the highest proportion of students living on campus of all universities in Australia. On-campus accommodation options include seven residential colleges which provide housing to 2,000 students in single, furnished study bedrooms with shared bathrooms. College fees include three meals a day, seven days a week; cleaning services; computing and library facilities and tutorial assistants.
The university flats (Wright Village) offer 47 separate units for accommodation in either four, six or eight study bedrooms with shared cooking, living, bathroom and laundry facilities. While all flats are furnished with essential requirements, students have to do their own housekeeping and provide for linen and cooking equipment.
For students who prefer to live off campus, flats can be easily leased from the private rental market in Armidale. Flats may be furnished or unfurnished and tenants are responsible for paying all electricity, gas and telephone charges as well as a rental bond and weekly rent.
Degree programmes. UNE offers a wide range of undergrad and postgrad degree programmes across the faculties of arts; economics, business and law; education, health and professional studies; and sciences.
Scholastic options at UNE
UNE offers a wide range of undergrad, postgrad and doctoral degree programmes across four faculties. They are:
Faculty of arts. School of classics, history and religion; School of English, communication and theatre; School of human and environmental studies; School of language, cultures and linguistics; School of psychology; School of social science; music
Faculty of economics, business and law. School of economics, School of law and the New England Business School
Faculty of education, health and professional studies. School of education, School of health and School of professional development and leadership
Faculty of sciences. Biological, biomedical and molecular sciences; environmental sciences and natural resources management; mathematics, statistics and computer science; rural science and agriculture
For a detailed list of academic programmes visit www.une.edu.au.
Tuition fee (annual) range from A$12,000-17,000 (undergrad);
A$12,000-22,000 (postgrad)
Living expenses: A$12,000-18,500
NB. A$=Rs.24
Summiya Yasmeen