James Cook University
Welcome to study in Australia at James Cook University!
JCU is a world-class university ranked in the top 300 globally. JCU develops graduates who have the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed and thrive in a global workforce.
James Cook University is Australia's leading tropical research university. The University takes its name from the eighteenth-century British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook, whose epic voyages contributed to the world of science. The University was proclaimed in Townsville on 20 April 1970, two hundred years after Cook charted the eastern seaboard of Australia, including northern Queensland.
Home to more than 21,000 students, JCU offers internationally-renowned teaching and research excellence that makes a difference. We boast an impressive calibre of teaching and research staff who are passionate about passing their expertise on to the next generation.
Our career-focused courses are designed to prepare graduates for the workforce by experiencing real-life scenarios while learning from leading industry professionals. JCU students graduate job-ready, equipped with the practical skills and confidence required to face the challenges of the future.
JCU’s unique campus locations means that students can complete practical experience in some of the most interesting places on Earth. Our Cairns and Townsville campuses are surrounded by the spectacular ecosystems of the wet tropics, the savannahs and the Great Barrier Reef.
Students can undertake professional placements in regional, rural and remote areas, or even overseas. There is also the opportunity to complete a placement or research project at one of JCU’s field stations. These include:
- JCU Fletcherview Research Station – a working cattle station in the iconic Queensland outback
- JCU Orpheus Island Research Station – a secluded island on the Great Barrier Reef that is home to the most diverse and beautiful marine, estuarine and terrestrial ecosystems in the world
- JCU Daintree Rainforest Observatory – where students can explore the World Heritage listed Daintree Forest, the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Australia.
Programs
Accommodation
Life is so much more chill in North Queensland. We’re super committed to study and academics, but we balance our lives with exercise, sport, recreation, great friends, good food and a little relaxation in the warm tropical sun.
Living on-campus in North Queensland is way more affordable than living at Universities down South. Just ask anyone that has lived on campus before. They’ll tell you what a great experience it was, and just how many friends they still catch up with
Impressive university. The lecturers are very good. Very helpful. Good facilities - not so much of a social aspect however.