About UNSW Canberra
Our graduates shape Australia and the international community as leaders in defence, government and industry.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) has proudly provided education services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Canberra for more than 50 years. Through our experience in education and our achievements in research, we excel in teaching undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral research students across arts, business, cyber security, engineering, IT, logistics, management, space and science. UNSW Canberra is the only national academic institution with an integrated defence focus. Our strengths are in defence-related security and engineering research.
A second UNSW campus for Canberra
While UNSW Canberra is now at capacity, the new Canberra City campus allows the University to expand its offerings in Canberra and build upon UNSW Canberra’s achievements by creating a world class environment within the parliamentary triangle.
The new campus enables UNSW’s strategic priorities of academic excellence, social engagement and global impact to thrive providing a sense of place and pride in UNSW. Students, staff, alumni, members of the local community, and partners, will come together to innovate, transform, learn and contribute to society. A master plan will identify the campus development and provide UNSW the opportunity to shape the optimum development path.
View Draft Master Plan.
Key features of UNSW
We offer an intimate learning environment with the highest staff-to-student ratio in Australia. With world-class experts, resources and facilities we help students excel on their chosen career path.
UNSW has rocketed 26 spots in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.
Working at the intersection of a leading university and a military academy, UNSW Canberra has been educating defence leaders for half a century.
UNSW Canberra offers globally recognised, specialised engineering degrees with Engineers Australia accreditation.
UNSW is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight – a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
UNSW Canberra has state of the art facilities and resources including the fastest two-stage gas-gun in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest indoor UAV flight laboratories in Australia.
UNSW Canberra story
1949
The New South Wales University of Technology was created by an act of the state parliament with the main campus in Kensington with regional centres in Newcastle, Wollongong and Broken Hill. In 1958 the university was renamed to the University of NSW (UNSW).
ADFA
The University of New South Wales has a proud history of association with the Australian Defence Force, providing the best education for the best leaders since the Australian Defence Force Academy was founded in 1967.
1967
The faculty of Military Studies is established at the Royal Military College (RMC) at Duntroon to deliver degree programs on behalf of UNSW. The university demonstrated that it was possible to deliver an academic education in a military environment.
1984
UNSW established the University College, Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. In 1986 The University College enrols its first students and the Defence Academy its first new entry officer cadets.
2001
The ‘University College’ is renamed ‘UNSW Canberra’
2009
Signing of a new agreement between the Commonwealth and UNSW for the provision of educational services at ADFA until 2023. Two decades after the Defence Academy was opened the number of postgraduate and doctoral research papers had increased to 385 with income generated from external research activities raising to $5.1 Mil.
2017
In its 50th Year of operations, there were 978 undergraduates at UNSW Canberra. Over 15,000 defence and non-Defence civilians have graduated from UNSW Canberra since 1967 and they have contributed to both the nations defence and its material prosperity.
2020
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announces that the land on Constitution Avenue in the city’s east will be home to the new UNSW Canberra City campus and Launch at Canberra City. The new campus will provide the opportunity to expand on the courses currently offered at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
