Study in Canberra

Get to know Canberra

As the nation’s capital, Canberra is an excellent choice of study city. Featuring top quality institutions, amazing libraries and countless museums, it provides the ideal intellectual platform to succeed in your education. Add in cool cafés, exciting nightlife, diverse shopping and interesting small bars to make it a truly great place to live. Living in Canberra doesn’t come with the hassles of living in a big city but still has everything you need to enjoy yourself. The city’s proximity to Sydney, around three hours drive, means you can travel for large events without having too much hassle.

Key facts

State: Australian Capital Territory

Population: 400,000

Popular sports: Australian Rules Football, Rugby, soccer, cricket, netball, and basketball

Traditional owners: Ngunnawal people 

Famous Melbournians: Patty Mills, Carl Valeri, Mia Wasikowska

Things to see if you had 24 hours in Perth: Parliament House, Australian War Memorial, National Portrait Gallery of Australia

International student support: Study Canberra  and IDP, of course)

Public transport: Transport Canberra  

IDP office: (Link to office locator)

In and around Canberra

Central (Civic & Acton)
Civic is Canberra’s cultural hub and centre of the excitement. Bordering Civic to the west is Acton, where much of the action is focused around the New Acton precinct. As the nation’s capital, Canberra is packed with museums and activities to explore.

Braddon & Dickson
Braddon is Canberra’s trendy up-and-coming neighbourhood, it’s one of the most popular brunch, beer and dining destinations for Canberra’s hip youth. Keep heading north and you’ll arrive in Dickson, which known as Canberra’s Chinatown.

Bruce & Belconnen
Both Bruce and Belconnen are home to a large and diverse student population, with easy access to a shopping mall, exciting nightlife, and even a lake for outdoor activities. Add in top quality sporting facilities and you can see why the area is a popular choice.

Parkes & Kingston
When people think of Canberra, they think of Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin. From a coffee in Kingston, or for politics in action and serene lake views, the Parliamentary Triangle will have something to surprise you.