James Cook University (JCU) combines excellence in teaching and research with a unique tropical setting on the coast of northern Queensland. It is considered one of the state’s strongest universities and is Australia’s leading tropical university. JCU has been ranked in the world’s top 5% of universities by two independent ranking systems.

STUDYING AT JCU

JCU’s main campuses are in the safe, fast-growing coastal cities of Townsville and Cairns, near two World Heritage-listed natural wonders – the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Wet Tropics rainforests. Both of these provide living laboratories for many JCU courses. Both campuses enjoy a tropical climate, with more than 320 days of sunshine a year and average temperatures of 31°C in summer and 26°C in winter.

QUALITY DEGREES

JCU offers flexible degrees in a wide range of subject areas. It offers over 170 undergraduate programmes and more than 120 postgraduate courses in areas including arts and humanities, business, commerce, accounting, engineering, creative arts, IT, education, health and biomedical sciences, science, social sciences, tourism, hospitality management, psychology, and sport and exercise science.

LEADING RESEARCH

The University is world renowned for its research in several areas relating to its tropical location. Key international research strengths include tropical science, marine science (particularly marine biology and including coral reef ecology), tropical biology and conservation (including rainforest science), earth sciences, tropical health and medicine and tourism. Six JCU academics are among the top ten cited scientists in marine science – four work in the School of Marine & Tropical Biology. One of JCU’s two Federation Fellows researches in the School of Marine & Tropical Biology – Federation Fellows are considered world-leaders in their field of research. The second, one of the world’s leading experts in environmental geochemistry, is based in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences.

Australia’s first department of tourism was established at JCU and four of the world’s top 50 tourism scholars work at the University, giving it an exceptionally high concentration of top research in the tourism area. JCU has excellent research facilities – including island and rainforest research stations – which it uses to develop all of these areas. It has a unique partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), and established the Centre of Excellence – Coral Reef Studies at Townsville.

A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

JCU is renowned for its friendly campus atmosphere, good staff-to student ratios, support services and highly qualified teaching staff. There is a comprehensive network of support services to help students make the most of their time at the University and to ensure that their studies are successful. These services include academic support, accommodation services, childcare facilities, careers counselling, employment services, medical facilities, technology training, 24 hour computer labs, sport and recreation centres, and student clubs and societies. International students at JCU are also supported by the International Student Centre, which provides arrival services, an international student orientation programme, and personal support whenever it is required.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation options on the Townsville campus include eight halls of residence, while Cairns students have purpose-built, privately operated accommodation available very near the campus. There are also many off-campus, privately rented accommodation options for students. Additional information can be found at www.jcu.edu.au/office/accom

 

SCIENCE AT JCU 

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology (SEIT) at James Cook University is among the best in Australia and is recognised internationally for its key areas of strength. These include tropical and conservation biology, earth science, environmental science, fluid dynamics, advanced materials and marine science.

JCU’s situation is unique for the study of science and environment. In addition to its global reputation in the sciences, the Cairns and Townsville campuses enjoy easy access to the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient rainforests of the Wet Tropics as well as to dry tropic environments, savanna and wetlands. 

The Faculty operates at both the Cairns and Townsville campuses of JCU and is organised into four multidisciplinary schools: Earth & Environmental Sciences; Engineering; Marine & Tropical Biology; and Mathematics, Physics & Information Technology

INTERNATIONAL STANDING

The Faculty’s expertise, facilities and research are world renowned, as shown by some of its rankings: One of Australia’s top ten universities for Science (Melbourne Institute 2006); Number 1 internationally for citations on coral reef ecology; Highest ranked Australian university for citations in ecology/environment over a ten year period; Leads Australia for articles in the top 15 journals in the field of marine and freshwater biology.

In 2006 the School of Engineering received professional accreditation by Engineers Australia for the maximum five year term, and the Bachelor of Marine Science gained a five year accreditation from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST).

TEACHING AND LEARNING

A defining characteristic of studying science at JCU is the level of opportunity for hands-on practical experience, including field trips to spectacular natural environments. In addition, students can access modern laboratories, field stations and research facilities, and enjoy close links to both industry and government agencies. Students are taught by lecturers who are prominent researchers in their specialisations. Study areas include:            

Applied modelling

Aquaculture

Astronomy

Biotechnology

Botany

Computer sciences

Conservation biology

Earth sciences

Ecology

Economic geology

Engineering (chemical, civil, computer systems, electrical and electronic, environmental, mechanical)

Environmental and urban planning

Environmental science

Fisheries science

Geography

Geology

Information technology (business computing, computer technology, entrepreneurship, general computing, industry professional, multimedia game development)

Marine biology

Marine science

Mathematics

Natural resource management

Physics

Protected area management

Spatial analysis/GIS

Tropical agricultural science

Wildlife biology

Zoology

Graduates work around Australia and overseas in industry, research organisations, government departments, schools, universities and consultancy firms.

RESEARCH AND TEACHING FACILITIES

SEIT operates several major teaching and research facilities.  These include the Canopy Crane (Cape Tribulation), the Orpheus Island Research Station, the RV James Kirby research vessel, the Aquarium Complex and the Cyclone Testing Station. For more information, visit the Faculty’s web page at www.jcu.edu.au/fse

The Faculty is the acknowledged research leader at JCU, accounting for around 50% of publications and 65% of research income. It hosts a number of leading research groups and centres, including: the Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research (ACTFR); the Centre for Disaster Studies; the Economic Geology Research Unit (EGRU); the Fish and Fisheries Research Centre; the Structure and Metamorphism Research Institute (SAMRI)

The Faculty is a partner in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies and the Advanced Analytical Centre, and hosts a node in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Antimatter-Matter Studies.

PARTNERSHIPS

A key feature of the Faculty’s research and teaching profile are its partnerships with leading external research organisations. These include joint venture partnerships with the Australian Institute of Marine Science – AIMS@JCU – and the newly established Tropical Landscapes Joint Venture (TLJV) with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). From 2007, the TLJV has provided for the co-location of JCU and CSIRO staff in new research facilities – the Australian Tropical Forest Institute (ATFI) and the Australian Tropical Sciences Innovation Precinct (ATSIP). In 2007, JCU and BHP Billiton formed the Engineering Alliance – an industry linkage designed to support teaching and research excellence in North Queensland. The School of Engineering also has significant industry partnerships with Uninet and Xstrata. Xstrata also partnered with the Economic Geology Research Unit in 2007 to establish collaboration around mining and exploration projects for copper resources in the Mt Isa district.

The Faculty also collaborates with other key organisations, including the Museum of Tropical Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Wet Tropics Management Authority and Geoscience Australia.