Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a leading public university committed to delivering high-quality education with a focus on social justice, ethical principles, and the common good. With seven campuses across Australia, ACU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields such as business, education, health sciences, humanities, law, and theology. ACU is also recognized for its research excellence, particularly in areas such as health, theology, education, and social justice.

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1. QS World University Rankings 2025: Top global universities

ACU is a research-focused university with a commitment to social justice and practical learning. Offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, the university emphasizes industry partnerships and community engagement, providing students with valuable experience and professional development opportunities.

Rank	Australian University
576	Southern Cross University
741-750	Victoria University
901-950	Australian Catholic University
851-900	Charles Sturt University
1001-1200	University of New England Australia

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2. Get to Know Australian Catholic University: Key Statistics at a Glance

Here is a table summarizing key statistics for ACU, including its year of establishment, location, campuses, academic staff, student population, number of courses offered, and alumni.

Category	Stats
Year of Establishment	1991
Location	New South Wales Victoria Queensland South Australia Australian Capital Territory
Campuses	North Sydney (NSW) Strathfield (NSW) Melbourne (VIC) Ballarat (VIC) Canberra (ACT) Adelaide (SA)
Academic Staff	2,000+
Student Population	35,000+
Number of Courses	​500+
Alumni	110,000+

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3. Australian Catholic University: What Makes It Stand Out

ACU is a leading academic institution in Australia that stands out for its commitment to social justice, practical learning, and industry engagement. Below are some key elements that make ACU unique among other universities.

Feature	Description
Commitment to social justice	ACU is dedicated to making a positive impact on society and addressing issues of inequality and injustice.
Practical learning opportunities	ACU offers practical learning opportunities such as internships, clinical placements, and industry partnerships to prepare students for their future careers.
Strong industry partnerships	ACU collaborates with a range of industry and community partners to provide students with hands-on experience and opportunities to network with professionals.
Interdisciplinary research	ACU's research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to addressing real-world problems, such as health disparities and climate change.
Diverse student community	ACU attracts a diverse student population, with students from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

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4. Application Dates at Australian Catholic University

Applying to university can be a daunting process, and understanding the application deadlines is an important step. Below are the standard semester start dates and application closing dates for many courses at ACU. It is recommended to check the specific dates for each course with the Australian QEAC consultant.

Note: Some courses may have earlier closing dates and research degrees may have separate research periods.

Semester	Application Close	Start Dates
Semester 1	31 October	Mid February
Semester 2	​30 April	Mid July

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5. Admission Requirements at Australian Catholic University

This section provides information on the admission requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate programs at ACU. Please refer to the following table for the general admission requirements.

Note: the actual requirements may vary depending on the specific program and faculty.

Qualification	IELTS	Admission Requirements
Bachelor's degree	6.0 (no band less than 6.0)	Year 12 with ATAR Program-specific requirements
Master's degree	6.5 (no band less than 6.0)	Bachelor's degree Program-specific requirements

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6. Pathways to Australian Catholic University: English, Foundation Studies and Diploma

Australian Catholic University (ACU) offers various pathways for international students who want to improve their English proficiency and prepare for university studies. The English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) helps students develop academic English skills, with courses designed to enhance reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities. The EAP also offers practical support for adapting to life in Australia, such as orientation activities, student advising, and cultural events.

English Program	Duration
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)	​5 weeks 10 weeks 20 weeks 30 weeks

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ACU provides Foundation Studies and Diploma programs for international students who need additional academic preparation before pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. These programs offer a range of subjects to ensure students meet the academic requirements for their chosen course of study. With experienced teachers and small class sizes, the programs offer comprehensive academic and social support to help students succeed in their university studies in Australia.

Foundation Program	Duration	Intake	IELTS	Entry Requirements
Foundation Studies	52 weeks	Mar, Sep	​5.5 (5.0) 6.0 (6.0) (If required 7.0)	Year 11
Tertiary Preparation Program (Health Sciences)	52 weeks	Feb, May (Brisbane)	6.0 (6.0)	Year 12 with ATAR (50)

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Diploma	Duration	Intake	IELTS	Entry Requirements
​Business	52 weeks	Feb, Jul	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Information Technology	52 weeks	Feb, Jul	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Biomedical Science	52 weeks	Feb	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Exercise Science	52 weeks	Feb, Jul	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Nutrition Science	52 weeks	Feb	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Educational Studies (Tertiary preparation)	52 weeks	Feb	7.5 (W/R 7.0, S/L 7.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Liberal Arts	52 weeks	Feb, Jul	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Visual Arts and Design	52 weeks	Feb, Jul	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50
Youth Work	52 weeks	Feb	6.0 (5.5)	Year 12 with ATAR 50

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7. Study Areas at Australian Catholic University

The following table provides an overview of the different study areas available for undergraduate and graduate programs at Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Study Areas	Undergraduate Degree	Postgraduate Degree
Allied health	Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy Social Work Speech Pathology	Rehabilitation Social Work (Qualifying)
Business	Accounting and Finance Business Administration Commerce	Business Administration Professional Accounting
Creative arts	Creative Arts Visual Arts and Design International Development Studies	​None
Humanities and social sciences	Arts	​None
Information technology	Information Technology	Information Technology
Law and criminology	Criminology and Criminal Justice Laws Laws (Graduate Entry)	​None
Nursing	Nursing Nursing (Enrolled Nurses)	​None
Nutrition and biomedical science	Biomedical Science Nutrition Science	Dietetic Practice
Professional education	​None	Education Educational Leadership
Psychology	Psychological Science Psychological Science (Honours) Psychology (Honours)	Professional Psychology Psychology (Clinical) Psychology (Educational and Developmental)
Public health and administration	Applied Public Health	Health Administration Leadership and Management in Health Care Public Health Public Health (Global Health and Advocacy)
Sport and exercise science	Exercise and Sports Science High Performance Sport	Clinical Exercise Physiology
Teaching	Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) Education (Specialisations) Educational Studies	Teaching (Specialisations)
Theology	Theology	​None
Youth work and community development	Youth Work	​None