Canberra

Since the 60s, Canberra has expanded rapidly by the building of planned "new towns": Woden and Tuggeranong to the south, Belconnen and Gungahlin to the north. The University of Canberra is situated in Bruce, a suburb of Belconnen in Canberra's north-west.

The name Canberra means "Meeting Place" in the local Ngunnawal Aboriginal language. It has a population of some 325,000 which makes it small enough to be relaxed and sociable, yet it offers all the facilities and cosmopolitan lifestyle of a much larger city.

The countryside around the capital is perfect for outdoor activities such as bushwalking, horse riding, cycling or camping. In winter the snow and ski fields of the Snowy Mountains and the Kosciusko National Park are just a couple of hours drive away, as are the white sand beaches of the New South Wales South Coast for swimming, surfing, diving and fishing in summer.

There are excellent entertainment and sporting venues, schools, hospitals, great shopping, and affordable public transport, not to mention a wide range of clubs, cafes and restaurants offering dishes from a wide range of national cuisines.

The cost of living for international students is significantly lower in Australia than in the USA and the UK. The Australian Government now recommends that you allow AUD$18,000 a year while studying here. This figure includes accommodation, food, transport, clothing, fuel, power, telephone and entertainment.