Since its establishment in 1965, the University of Newcastle has dared to be different.

Problem based learning, pioneered by Newcastle some 25 years ago, forms the core of its programs in medicine, engineering, architecture, construction management, nursing and law. Newcastle was one of the first Australian universities to introduce the Master of Business Administration as well as the first integrated Professional Program for Law students.

With Centres of Excellence and highly cited researchers in many disciplines, the University of Newcastle is a dynamic, research intensive university ranked in Australia’s Top 10. It has great research strength in engineering, biological and bio-medical sciences and health. Individual areas of research excellence include materials handling, reproductive biology, health economics, control systems and bioinformatics. In addition, research in the arts, social sciences and education continues to intensify each year. In 2004, the University’s largest Australian Research Council linkage grant was in the area of education.

The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is a strategic partnership between the University, Hunter Health and the community established in 1998. It is Australia’s only regionally based, comprehensive health and medical research institute.

The University of Newcastle Research Associates (TUNRA Ltd) is the commercial arm of the University. It has operated since 1969 and translates research outcomes to commercial reality.

Commitment to and collaboration with Indigenous people inspired the establishment of the Wollotuka School of Aboriginal Studies over 20 years ago and more recently Umilliko, the highly respected Indigenous Higher Education Research Centre.

Close to 23,000 students are enrolled at Newcastle in over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate programs across five faculties as well as a number of enabling programs. Serving a combined regional community of more than 750,000, the University has campuses in the Newcastle central business district; at Callaghan, 12 kilometres west of the city; and on the Central Coast at Ourimbah. This year, the University is also offering several undergraduate programs at Port Macquarie.

The University enjoys significant research and teaching partnerships throughout Asia and the Pacific and in Europe, North America and Africa. This year almost 3,000 international students from 80 countries will study both on and offshore and online.

The University of Newcastle is committed to equity, ethics, innovation and excellence.