University of Wollongong facts for kids
Crest
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Former name
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Stands for purpose
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| Type | Public research university | ||||||||
| Established |
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| Accreditation | TEQSA | ||||||||
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Academic affiliations
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| Budget | A$913.15 million (2023) | ||||||||
| Visitor | Governor of New South Wales (ex officio) | ||||||||
| Chancellor | Michael Still | ||||||||
| Vice-Chancellor | John Dewar | ||||||||
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Academic staff
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1,103 (2022) | ||||||||
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Administrative staff
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1,388 (2022) | ||||||||
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Total staff
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2,491 (2022) | ||||||||
| Students | 31,908 (2022) | ||||||||
| Undergraduates | 22,741 (2022) | ||||||||
| Postgraduates | 6,994 coursework (2022) 1,482 research (2022) |
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Other students
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691 non-award (2022) | ||||||||
| Address |
Northfields Avenue
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2522
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34°24′24″S 150°52′46″E / 34.40667°S 150.87944°E |
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| Campus | Urban, regional and parkland with multiple sites, 82.4 hectares (203.6 acres) | ||||||||
| Colours | Dark blue, white, bright blue and red
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Baxter the Duck | ||||||||
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The University of Wollongong (UOW) is a large public university in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Sydney.
In 2023, UOW had over 33,000 students, including more than 12,300 from other countries. Over 176,000 people have graduated from UOW. The university also has more than 2,400 staff members.
UOW started in 1951 as a part of the University of New South Wales. It became its own independent university in 1975. Since then, it has given out over 120,000 degrees and diplomas. Students now come from over 150 countries around the world.
The university has many campuses. The main campus is in Wollongong. There are also campuses in other parts of Australia like Bega and Sydney. UOW also has campuses in other countries, including Dubai, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Contents
A Look at UOW's History
Over 60 years, UOW has grown a lot. It started with only 300 students. Now, it is an international university with over 33,000 students. These students are spread across many campuses in Australia and other countries.
How UOW Started
The University of Wollongong began in 1951. It was first a part of the New South Wales University of Technology. This university is now known as the University of New South Wales (UNSW). In 1962, this part became the Wollongong College of UNSW.
On January 1, 1975, the New South Wales Parliament made UOW an independent university. It started with five main study areas: engineering, humanities, mathematics, sciences, and social sciences. In 1982, UOW joined with the Wollongong Institute of Higher Education. This helped the university grow quickly in the 1980s.
Important Moments in UOW's History
In 1972, the university library was three stories tall. It could hold 280 students. By 1976, the library got bigger and could fit 530 students.
In the late 1970s, UOW helped develop important computer software. This software was used by Tim Berners-Lee. He later created the World Wide Web.
In 1981, Ken McKinnon became the Vice-Chancellor. He helped the university join with the Wollongong Institute of Education in 1982. This merger helped create the university we know today. In the 1980s, many new buildings were constructed on campus.
Growing Around the World
In 1993, UOW opened a campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was first called the Institute of Australian Studies. This made UOW the first foreign university to open a campus in the UAE. It was also one of the first universities there.
At first, this center taught English. By 1995, students could start business or IT degrees there. They would then finish their studies in Australia. In 1999, it became the first foreign-owned university to get a license from the UAE government. It was officially named the University of Wollongong, Dubai Campus in 2000. Today, it has over 4,000 students from nearly 100 countries.
UOW Campuses and Buildings
The University of Wollongong has nine campuses in Australia. It also has campuses in other countries.
Wollongong Campus
The main campus is in Wollongong, on the New South Wales coast. It is about 3 kilometres (2 mi) from the city center. The campus is easy to reach by train.
Students can study many subjects here. These include arts, social sciences, humanities, business, law, engineering, information sciences, science, medicine, and health. Nearly 33,000 students and 2,400 staff are on this campus.
The campus has teaching buildings and research centers. It also has places for students to live. There are also cafes, restaurants, a supermarket, and sports centers.
UOW Liverpool Campus
In 2017, UOW opened a new campus in Liverpool. This campus is in the growing South West Sydney area. It is expected to get bigger in the coming years.
Innovation Campus
The Innovation Campus, or iC, is also in Wollongong. It was created to help businesses and researchers work together. It has received support from the government and local council.
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Sydney Business School
The Sydney Business School started in 1997. It offers special business programs for students who have already completed a first degree. It has a campus in Sydney's city center and also uses the Wollongong Campus.
Regional Campuses in Australia
UOW has several smaller campuses in regional areas of New South Wales:
- Batemans Bay, New South Wales
- Bega, New South Wales
- Liverpool, New South Wales
- Southern Sydney (Loftus), New South Wales
- Shoalhaven, New South Wales
- Southern Highlands (Moss Vale), New South Wales
- The Southern Highlands campus opened a new building in 2007. It was designed by a famous Australian architect, Glenn Murcutt.
Overseas Campuses
Dubai Campus
The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) was opened by UOW Australia in 1993. It is in Knowledge Village in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of the oldest universities in the UAE. This campus has over 4,000 students from almost 100 countries.
Malaysia Campus
The University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOW Malaysia) was established in November 2019. It is located in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
Hong Kong Campus
The University of Wollongong College Hong Kong started in 2004. It was first called the Community College of City University. It was later renamed UOW College Hong Kong.
How UOW is Organized
Faculties and Departments
The University of Wollongong has four main faculties, which are like big departments:
Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
- School of the Arts, English and Media
- School of Education
- School of Geography and Sustainable Communities
- School of Health and Society
- School of Humanities and Social Inquiry
- School of Liberal Arts
- School of Psychology
- Early Start Research
Faculty of Business and Law
- School of Accounting, Economics & Finance
- School of Management, Operations & Marketing
- School of Law
- Sydney Business School, University of Wollongong
- Australian Health Services Research Institute
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security
Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
- School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering
- School of Physics
- School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering
- School of Computing and Information Technology
- School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering
- School of Mathematics & Applied Statistics
- SMART Infrastructure Facility
- Australian Steel Research Hub
- Sustainable Buildings Research Centre
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
- School of Biological Sciences
- School of Chemistry
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute
University Connections
UOW is part of many important groups and organizations:
- It is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- It is part of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
- It is connected to the Utrecht Network through the Australian European Network (AEN).
- It is a member of Universities Australia.
- UOW is also part of the University Global Partnership Network.
What Students Learn and Do
Research at UOW
UOW is known for its research. The Innovation Campus has the iAccelerate Centre. This center helps over 280 new businesses and ideas get started.
Main Research Areas
- The Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM)
- Early Start Research Institute (ESRI)
- Smart Infrastructure Research Facility (SMART)
- The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC)
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)
Paying for University
For students from other countries, the cost of studying at UOW can vary. For Australian students, the government helps pay for some of the costs. This is called a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Students can also get loans from the government to help pay for their studies. These loans are called HECS-HELP. UOW also offers scholarships. These can help students with their tuition fees or living costs.
UOW's Reputation
UOW is ranked among the top universities in Australia and the world.
- In 2024, it was ranked 9th among Australian universities by the Australian Financial Review.
- In 2025, it was ranked 184th in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings.
- In 2025, it was ranked among the top 201-250 universities globally by Times Higher Education.
Student Success
The Australian Government checks how well universities prepare students for jobs.
- In 2023, 86% of employers were happy with UOW graduates.
- In 2023, 77.5% of undergraduate students found full-time jobs after graduating. For postgraduate students, this was 90.1%.
- The average starting salary for undergraduates was A$70,000. For postgraduates, it was A$106,100.
- Students also rated their overall education experience highly.
Student Life at UOW
Student Groups
The Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association helps students. They publish a magazine called Tertangala. They also offer support and advice to students.
Wollongong UniCentre is an organization on campus. It runs the UniBar, student clubs, food places, and other services. The UniBar is a popular spot for students. It opened in 2001 and has won awards for its design.
Sports and Athletics
Rugby
The Wollongong University RC (also called UOW Mallee Bulls) plays in the Illawarra Rugby Union competition. Their home games are at the University Oval. The team wears red, white, and blue jerseys.
Places to Live
The university has several places for students to live:
- Bangalay
- Campus East
- Graduate House
- I-House
- Kooloobong Village
I-House is the oldest student residence at UOW. It is part of the International Houses Worldwide group. It provides rooms for about 218 students. Most residents are undergraduate students.
Exchange Programs
UOW has 180 partners around the world. This means students can study abroad or do internships in other countries.
- Popular Exchange Destinations
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Famous People from UOW
Notable Graduates
As of 2023, over 176,000 people have graduated from UOW. These graduates live in 199 countries around the world. Many live in Wollongong and Sydney. Many also live in other big cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and London.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Wollongong para niños
- List of universities in Australia
- University of Wollongong in Dubai
- List of University of Wollongong people
