The (also abbreviated as UTAS, UTas or Tas Uni) is a well-regarded
Australian University , with three campuses in
Tasmania . The university is one of the four original 'sandstone' universities in Australia, and has a century-long tradition of academic excellence. It was founded in January, 1890, and is a member of the international
Association Of Commonwealth Universities . The university's influence now extends across Australia and around the world. It works with overseas universities to offer students an international experience, with exchange arrangements in place with over 40 institutions throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
Its two main campuses are the
Sandy Bay Campus, about 5 minutes from the centre of the larger, picturesque, and historic city of
Hobart , and the
Newnham Campus, about 10 minutes from the smaller but equally inviting city of
Launceston . The third is the small Cradle Coast Campus, located in
Burnie , which allows students from that part of the state to complete the first year of certain courses without moving away from home.
It and
The Australian Maritime College are the main institutions of higher education in Tasmania apart from the Institute of
TAFE Tasmania.
The University of Tasmania was officially opened on January 1, 1890. The first degrees to graduates admitted ad eundem gradum and diplomas were awarded in June 1890. Referred to as one of the original sandstone universities, it was the fourth university to be established in Australia, and today maintains a strong reputation as a small to medium-sized university. The first campus location was in the Queen's Domain near
Hobart , but as enrolment numbers grew and study interests expanded, the new campus at
Sandy Bay was developed in the early
1940s .
The university was reorganised in 1991 when it merged with the
Tasmanian State Institute Of Technology , which became the Newnham Campus. The centre at Burnie was opened in
1995 .
There is a sizeable international student population, and
Professor Daryl Le Grew , the current vice-chancellor announced in 2004 that the university would not increase HECS (
Higher Education Contribution Scheme ) fees for the 2005 and subsequent academic years.
- Conservatorium of Music
- Riawunna (a centre for Aboriginal studies)
- School of Asian Languages & Studies
- School of English, Journalism & European Languages
- School of Government
- School of History & Classics
- School of Philosophy
- School of Sociology & Social Work
- School of Visual & Performing Arts
- Tasmanian School of Art
- School of Accounting & Finance
- School of Economics
- School of Information Systems
- School of Management
- School of Human Life Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing & Midwifery
- Tasmanian School of Pharmacy
- Rural Clinical School
- Department of Rural Health
- Centre for Legal Studies
- School of Law
- School of Agricultural Science
- School of Aquaculture
- School of Architecture
- School of Chemistry
- School of Computing
- School of Earth Sciences
- School of Engineering
- School of Geography and Environmental Studies
- School of Mathematics and Physics
- School of Plant Science
- School of Psychology
- School of Zoology
While the University of Tasmania retains a strong liberal arts focus, it is a comprehensive university covering most subjects in the arts and sciences. Academic strengths include Law, Medicine, Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies, Animal & Plant Science, Visual Arts, Journalism and Literature, Geography, Philosophy, Politics, Geology, Engineering, Sociology, Aboriginal Studies, Women's Studies, Psychology, Antarctic Studies, and Education.
The university has a particularly notable and long-standing reputation in examining the practical and theoretical challenges involved in addressing social and environmental concerns.
In
Hobart , student life is largely coordinated by the
Tasmania University Union or the TUU. The
Student Association (SA) is the equivalent body on the Northern Campuses. The TUU is well-regarded for its organisational skills in creating a wide range and concentrated list of student-focused events, services, and activities.
The President of the TUU and the President of the SA both sit on the University Council, which is the governing body of the University of Tasmania.
The University and the greater Tasmanian community are characterised as friendly, respectful, and socially-supportive which in turn is condusive to the development of student life in general. Thus, students form long-lasting friendships and ties to the university long after their tertiary studies.
Tasmania itself is blessed with a clean, green environment and a safe and friendly atmosphere. The scenery is stunning and includes mountain wilderness, temperate rainforests, star-filled nights, and large, unspoiled, and wide-open sandy beaches with turquoise coloured seascapes. It therefore should come as no surprise that the state is famous for having established the world's very first Green Party. Its main cities of Hobart and Launceston offer a full range of urban services and entertainment, and reflect a high quality of life that is indicative of cities that have preserved their natural surroundings and architectural history whilst also ensuring modern amenities. The climate is largely Mediterranean, though it does receive snowfall at higher mountain elevations, and as a consequence there is a brief and rudimentary, but nevertheless, enthusiastic ski season.
