Australian Catholic University

About Australian Catholic University

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a public Catholic university that opened on 1 January 1991, when four Catholic teacher and nursing colleges in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT merged. Its roots go back to Mount Saint Mary College, founded in 1908.

ACU is funded by the Australian Government and is open to students of all faiths. It is best known for education, nursing, health sciences, psychology, business, IT and law, and it has more than 32,000 students across its campuses.

Founded

1991 (roots from 1908)

Type

Public, Catholic

Students

32,000+ (2023)

Campuses

7 in Australia + Rome

Main cities

Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

Rankings & recognition

ACU is ranked 851–900 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 401–500 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. It is especially strong in nursing, education and theology.

Location: Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

ACU has seven Australian campuses: Sydney (North Sydney, Strathfield and Blacktown), Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Ballarat, plus a study centre in Rome, Italy.

Most international students study in Sydney or Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. Both have large South Asian communities, good public transport and many part-time job opportunities for students.

For international students

International students, including students from Pakistan, can apply for bachelor's and master's degrees. The main intakes are usually February and July. You will need your academic transcripts and an English test such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL; the required score depends on the course.

ACU offers scholarships for international students on many courses. Our counsellors can check your eligibility and prepare your application.

Frequently asked questions