What to say about Western

Western Sydney University is distinguished by our achievements in research, rankings, innovation and teaching. As part of Australia's third largest and fastest growing economy, Western Sydney has unique ties to our community and to the world. You can find a snapshot of our student and staff population in the Pocket Profile [PDF, 99.49 KB]. (opens in a new window)need to know about us

Rankings

Western Sydney is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide. We have 5-star facilities and teaching. Our research is among the best in Australia and the world. We're also ranked in the top 100 young universities in the world under the age of 50.

Want to know more? Find out more about THE and QS rankings on the Why choose Western Sydney page.

Student experience

Western Sydney University has outperformed some of NSW's more established universities across a number of areas, including the all-important benchmarks of student satisfaction and teaching quality, with the release of the latest data from the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) website.

Find out more about our student experience at the University excels at student experience page.

Location and accommodation

Western Sydney University has seven campuses (opens in a new window) in the Greater Western Sydney region, an area that stretches over nearly 9,000 square kilometres of residential, industrial and rural land.

Western Sydney is Australia's third largest and fastest growing economy, with a large multicultural population and expanding international reach. Through our strong ties to local business, industry and community leaders, our students have access to exciting study, work and community engagement opportunities within Western Sydney and across the globe.

Western Sydney University partners with Campus Living Villages to offer a wide range of on-campus accommodation, providing you with high quality, self-catered and fully furnished options and 24-hour support on Bankstown, Campbelltown, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Nirimba, Parramatta and Penrith campuses. Find out more about the student accommodation options on campus at the Campus Living Villages webpage. (opens in a new window)

Technology

Did you know that our students consider our learning resources higher quality than that of our competitors? Western Sydney University has outperformed some of NSW's more established universities across a number of areas (opens in a new window), including the all-important benchmarks of student satisfaction and teaching quality.

We're ranked second in Australia and 25th in the world Mathematics and Computer Sciences and have world class facilities to support learning, such as:

Social learning spaces
Online learning environments
Campus computer labs
State of the art research and clinical facilities
Hands-on engineering workshops
Unique environmental technology facilities

We strive to put the student experience at the heart of everything we do at Western Sydney University and we are proud to say that our students and graduates think so to.

High achieving students: The Academy

The Academy (opens in a new window) at Western Sydney University offers Advanced degrees that prepare you to thrive in the face of change and seize success at every opportunity. Whether your dream is to achieve as a professional, an entrepreneur or academic, you will learn to think differently and creatively in whatever you do. Find out more about The Academy by downloading The Academy brochure [PDF, 3482.5 KB].(opens in a new window)

Our alumni

Our graduates have gone on to become Oxford and Cambridge scholars, business and community leaders, world-renowned researchers, sporting stars and well-known personalities in the arts and entertainment industries. To name a few, they include high-profile museum director, Melissa Chiu; Archibald Prize-winning artist Ben Quilty; defence lawyer, Deng Thiak Adut; and Engineering Project Manager at Teslar Motors, Jay Manley. Hear their stories at our Stories of Unlimited webpage. (opens in a new window)

What to say about our disciplines

At Western Sydney University, we'll show you how to harness every asset you have to open up fantastic career opportunities. We'll give you the tools to build your future and go wherever you want to go.

With one of the most comprehensive range of courses in Australia, our curriculum and approach to flexible learning with real work experience is designed to be a springboard for the career success and life you've always dreamed of. You can find out more about our courses on the Find a course page. (opens in a new window)

Arts

Study in the humanities is designed to develop communication and personal skills, creativity and capacity for independent thought, adaptability to new situations and problem-solving skills. An Arts degree opens doors to a world of career options including arts administration, journalism, politics, diplomacy or social policy development. You might become a writer, author, community planner, librarian, historian, publisher, or researcher. And with a wide range of double degree options available you can also broaden your career options into Law, Teaching, ICT or Medicine.

Business

If you are driven to succeed in business, here is the place to start. The Bachelor of Business degree prepares you for future careers in money, markets, and management by offering industry-specific projects and placements. With expert staff, international profile and accreditation from leading Australian industry organisations, our Business degrees ensure you'll enter the workforce well equipped to make your mark. Our Advanced Business Leadership course and opportunities to complete a business double degree, provide the foundations for the development of Australia's future business leaders across fields including merchant banking, financial services, management and taxation consulting, property development, human and industrial relations, logistics and marketing.

Communication Arts

With our $2 million purpose-built media studio and community TV station at our Penrith campus, we provide unrivalled facilities, practical training and opportunities to engage with our multicultural community by working on live projects. Our courses are recognised and accredited by key industry governing bodies, giving you the skills to pursue a career in fields including journalism, digital media and web design, content production, corporate communications, advertising, graphic design, film and television, photography, music and the creative arts.

Engineering, Information and Communications Technology

With a degree in Engineering, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) or in the area of construction and design, you will be able to pursue a career in the fields of design, construction and management, hardware and software development, structural design, system architecture, project management, environmental engineering, machinery design and development. You can also pursue a role as a building surveyor, site manager or property developer. Our robotic assembly systems are unique to any Australian university and one of the most advanced of its kind in the world.

Health and Sports Sciences

Designed to prepare graduates for a career as a health professional, our programs provide a solid grounding in the evidence-based practice and skills that are highly regarded by the health industry. Our clinical health science programs cover physiotherapy, occupational therapy, paramedicine, podiatry and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Additional study areas include: health promotion, health services management, therapeutic recreation, sport, exercise, science, health, and physical education. All programs include valuable work experience – such as our student clinics at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine and UniClinic, located on our Campbelltown Campus.

Law

Our Law degrees are global in outlook with a focus on integrating academic content with professional skills development and clinical legal placements. As a graduate, you will have the skills to pursue employment as a solicitor or barrister in a legal practice; or in-house roles across the corporate, banking and finance, accounting, management consultancy, education, publishing, government and regulatory authorities, marketing, human resources and telecommunication sectors. Our Law programs also include options to combine your studies with another degree and work alongside practicing solicitors at the Parramatta Community Justice Clinic.

Medicine

As a graduate, you'll be highly skilled, ready for your internship and further specialist training and eligible for registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and some overseas countries. Our curriculum combines problem-based learning with leading research, intensive clinical practice in hospitals and communities across Western Sydney and NSW, and opportunities to experience rural medical practice. Most medical graduates undertake further postgraduate vocational training before starting independent practice in their chosen area such as: medical practice (either general or specialist), administration, research and education.

Nursing and Midwifery

Home to one of Australia's largest nursing education facilities, our courses are supported by a flexible learning approach that emphasises a balance of theory, clinical practice and interdisciplinary learning. Our graduates have very high employment rates, particularly in Western Sydney, working in areas such as: acute care hospitals, aged care services, child and adolescent health, community health, medical practice nursing, maternity, disability services, emergency or trauma, justice health, mental health services, forensics, drug and alcohol, occupational health, oncology, operating theatres, palliative care, rehabilitation services, nursing education and health administration.

Policing and Criminology

As the only metropolitan Sydney-based policing degree, we place an emphasis on modern policing methods and regular consultation with NSW Police recruiters. As a graduate you will be able to pursue a career in policing with the NSW or Australian Federal Police agencies, or other Commonwealth or state law enforcement agencies including criminal justice, intelligence, corrective services or border protection. You can also work in security or fraud management, investigation roles within the corporate or local government sectors, forensics and computer forensics.

Psychology

Led by internationally recognised psychology academics and practitioners, our Psychology program is ranked in the top 200 in the world. Combining evidence-based theory with statistical expertise and practical experience, the program has been designed to prepare psychology scientists and practitioners. You also have the opportunity to study electives from other disciplines, including applied leadership and critical thinking, law, and social sciences. As a graduate, you can work in fields such as psychology or research positions in government departments, the private sector, clinical and industrial sectors, organisational psychology, counselling, vocational psychology, forensic, health and sports psychology.

Sciences

Depending on the major and electives chosen, with a Science degree you can pursue a career in industry, research, forensics, patents, quality control, universities, product development, environmental analysis, scientific instrumentation, medical laboratories, and technical management. You will also have the option to become a secondary school science or mathematics teacher, or researcher. Stunning facilities, inspirational teaching and professional recognition await those undertaking our Science programs.

Social Sciences

Aiming to expand your knowledge of the social world through theory and research, Social Sciences provide a deep understanding of the complex, culturally diverse and dynamic social environment of the 21st century. All specialisations within the degree focus on what makes people in our societies and cultures tick. As a graduate, you can work in development and peacekeeping agencies, international aid, police work, investigative and intelligence agencies, organisations undertaking policy development, analysis and social research, social and community planning organisations, heritage and tourism organisations and centres, welfare and community development agencies.

Teaching and Education

With over 1,000 new graduates each year, we are one of Australia's largest providers of professional teachers. Designed so you hit the workforce career-ready, our courses have a strong balance of theory and practical skills. The practical experience you gain in our teaching programs also gives you the confidence to succeed from your first day at school. As a graduate, you can work as a teacher in an early childhood centre, government or non-government school, or college relevant to the postgraduate qualification and majors chosen in the undergraduate degree.

Tourism and Urban Planning

Our Tourism and Urban Planning programs are recognised as some of Australia's finest. The courses offer a balance of theory and practical field studies, broad subject choices, flexible course structures, industry-based projects and placements, and local and international work experience opportunities. The Bachelor of Planning pathway to the Master of Urban Management and Planning equips students to take leadership roles in urban management, strategic planning and policy development. Or as a Tourism Management graduate, you may build a career in tourism, hospitality, event management, destination marketing or government policy.