James Cook University

James Cook University is Australia's leading tropical research university. We take our name from the eighteenth-century British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook, whose epic voyages contributed to the world of science. The University was proclaimed in Townsville on 20 April 1970, two hundred years after Cook charted the eastern seaboard of Australia, including northern Queensland.

JCU is a vibrant, multi-campus university with our main sites in the tropical Queensland cities of Townsville and Cairns. We also have modern campuses in Brisbane and Singapore. There are smaller sites in Mackay, Mount Isa and Thursday Island, and we deliver our courses through education partners in Asia and the Pacific.

In a recent ranking of the world's top 500 universities, JCU was one of only 17 Australian universities listed (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Academic Ranking of World Universities 2007).

Comprehensive study options

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses span the Arts, Business, Creative Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science, Information Technology and Social Sciences. We aim to give graduates the qualifications and skills they need for the global workforce. Local industries and professions contribute to course content, and many courses include work placement schemes.

Leading research

JCU’s vision is to be one of the world’s leading tropical research universities. JCU is home to more than 20 specialist centres and institutes, and maintains island, rainforest and outback research stations. More than $23 million in research funding is received annually. Areas of research focus include: biodiversity, sustainable management of tropical ecosystems, global warming, tropical agriculture, tropical health care in remote communities and cultural diversity.

Tropical Northern Queensland – a natural place for study

Tropical northern Queensland is a remarkable region. Townsville and Cairns are thriving coastal cities, each with populations of more than 130 000. More than two million visitors a year come to experience the World Heritage listed natural wonders in our region – the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of the Wet Tropics. These ancient environments offer rich teaching and research opportunities for our students and staff. More and more Australian and international students are discovering the advantages of tropical Queensland as a study location.