It is hard to sum up my feelings about the University of Queensland in a few short sentences. I…read morecould almost right a novel about the my experiences here but I thought I would write a little about my first impressions of the University and then give some tips and hints. Now the first time I walked around the St Lucia campus I was struck by the beauty of the sandstone buildings that create the Great Court area. This is what you see in all the pretty pictures of the university but it really is breathtaking in real life. The more you look the more detail you realise is in each individual carving in the buildings and the meanings they have for the faculties within them. The Great Court is what I always imagined a university would be like. I soon ventured into the classrooms inside. Being in the humanities, these classrooms were old and in desperate need of repair. There were broken tables, dodgy air conditioners, peeling paint but it all added to the idea of the struggling arts student. Having also had classes in engineering buildings I can say that some of the newer ones are pretty swish and clean and you are lucky if you are in there. The student union complex is a little bustling centre with shops, a salon, pharmacy, dentist, bakery, refectory, and much much more. I almost did not know what to do with all the choice in food. There are also Wednesday Markets held here offering everything from bargain books to sunglasses. There is plenty to do on campus that doesn't involve classes, like drinking a few jugs at the Red Room, going to the Schonell Cinemas, perusing the UQ Art Museum, or just chilling with friends over coffee. There are few libraries on campus as well and rooms full of computers for your use. The university really is like a mini world of its own, one I could easily live in. Now I could gush about this place that has been such a massive part of my life over the past 5 years but I will stop here and just give a few hints and tips. 1. The UQ Art Museum is free and the perfect quiet spot to escape the hustle and bustle of campus. 2. The Fryer Library has some great spots for postgraduate students to study with plenty of room on the desks to spread your books out. 3. The line for the computers in the SS&H Library goes quick about 10 mins before the hour as a good portion of the people will leave for their next class. 4. Subway is open late :-) 5. You can get jugs of beer at the Pizza Caffe and they have a student discount and often have other deals on that you get from their pizza box. I could give you a hundred and one other tips and hints but I think the best part is finding these things out for yourself...

Well, UQ certainly has a good reputation--I'm told it's one of the best (/most prestigious?)…read moreuniversities in Australia. Without knowing anything about other universities, all I can give is my personal experience, as a student who has completed her undergraduate in the Faculty of Arts and is going on to do honours. In terms of the quality of teachers and resources at UQ, I've had a pretty good experience. As a student of the Writing major, in the school of English, Media Studies and Art History (EMSAH), however, I would advise potential writing students to think twice before enrolling. It depends on what you're looking for, but QUT could probably offer a broader range of writing courses with more focus on the creative side of things. When I look back on all the courses I took at UQ, the ones I got the most out of where not the writing courses, but the English Literature and French courses. That may just be a personal thing, but I feel the quality of some of the writing courses wasn't up to UQ standard. Aside from the very specific example I have given regarding my experience at UQ, everything about life on the St Lucia campus is pretty great. Nestled in a bend of the Brisbane river, it's kind of secluded from the outside world. There's a healthy atmosphere with people jogging or cycling the UQ loop and sports happening on the numerous ovals and courts dotted around campus. There are cafes galore, places to eat, a cinema, an art gallery, a hair dresser, book stores...pretty much anything you could need. So, in terms of the overall university experience, UQ St Lucia makes for a pretty good package.

Cromwell College is not the prettiest residential college at the University of Queensland's St…read moreLucia campus. However, everyone I have ever known that went here loved it. Cromwell really focused on forming a tight knit community through their o-week induction program and other events throughout the year. The building are pretty plain and the rooms small but how much room do you really need to study and have fun. Most rooms come fitted with a single bed, desk and wardrobe. If you do want something more luxurious then there are deluxe bedrooms with ensuites but they normally go to the third and fourth year students. Cromwell College is in a small group of colleges on the other side of the uni than most university housing. It does not have the riverfront position of Emmanuel or King's but it is nice and close to the university. There are also playing fields close by for the more sporty of us. Cromwell has a tennis court as well and nice gardens to chill out in. Like most colleges there are common rooms with pool tables and TVs but the best thing about Cromwell is the people and the sense of community that you get from all the staff and students there.

During semester, the QUT Creative Industries Precinct becomes my second home. I'm sure in its time…read moreit has witnessed some amazing creativity, teamwork and tears, and that's just from me. I find it a fantastic place to study, and (as geeky as this sounds) hang out. The facilities at Z Block (as it's lovingly referred to by people who spend too much time there) are second to none. There are numerous computer labs, the studio for the fashion students as well as editing suites for Film & Television studies. There's also opportunity to hire spaces for exhibitions, fashion shows and events. I've been to a launch party and a fashion graduate show in the facilities in the precinct, and they were fantastic venues with plenty of space. I love studying at QUT, and I especially love being a Creative Industries student so I can utilise the world class facilities on offer at the Creative Industries Precinct on Musk Avenue. If you're toying with the idea of studying in a creative stream at QUT, know that the spaces available are incredible.

One of a number of residential colleges available near the University of Queensland St Lucia…read moreCampus, King's college is alright. Mainly because it has a pool. Being female, I did not actually go to this all boy's college but I did date a guy from here for a while and spent enough nights sleeping over that the security guard started to know me. King's boys get a bit of a bad wrap around the uni, mainly for being a bunch of rowdy lads. They certainly are that but there are also plenty of nice guys there. The rooms at King's are ok and range from a small little room with nothing but a single bed, desk and wardrobe to ones that have en-suites and can fit double beds. The buildings are all pretty tall and nice. This one time a friend of mine had had a few too many beverages and decided to climb the building spiderman style. He fell from the second story into the concrete car park. Luckily he had no more than a few scratches that I helped patch up with a bandage or two. Oh the good old days. College is not college without some crazy stories. Overall, the time spent at King's was pretty relaxed, especially when we were just chilling in the pool or walking along the river. The College is right on the Brisbane River, a short walk from the university and an even shorter walk from Hawken Village shops. I have all too many memories of this place but you haven't experienced college properly if you leave without a single story.

Having spent a number of years at King's and having friends at other colleges for comparison I can…read morehonestly say it would be the college I'd send my son(s) to. It has a relaxed yet socially disciplined atmosphere (i.e. you can do what you want just don't be a dick about it and annoy others). Rooms are larger than that at other colleges with the option in later years to live in wings that resemble proper apartments to ease out of the dormitory life style. King's has a number of well respected "old boys" whom lived there during their time at university, among which are Australian sports stars, major businessmen and entrepreneurs. Although it has dominated in the Inter-College Sports for a number of years (even holding the record for consecutive wins of 8 years in a row) King's has in recent years proved its grit in the cultural realm as well - most notably winning top prize at the ICC One Act Play by performing "The Vagina Monologues" with an all-male cast. For those questioning whether an all-male college is good or not, consider my train of thought, being surrounded by guys doesn't mean there won't be women gracing the halls... because that happens... every day, not having them around 24/7 means you can relax and not have to worry about keeping up appearances which ultimately makes uni life easier. Also not having a local female population means more college events organised with the other all-female colleges which there are more of than all-male, so meeting some lovely ladies is a lot easier than you think. TLDR; All-male doesn't mean no women, in fact it's the opposite. The best food out of all colleges. Great admin staff (the headmaster (G Eddy at the time of writing) is a legend). It's a well-known sporting college so you basically go in with an already established notoriety (great for the lovely ladies). Rooms are big.

Truly a 0 star uni.. This university had the lowest quality education I've ever come across…read more(nursing/paramed) and having been to 2 different universities for a bachelor and a masters, I know what good education looks like, and this is 100% not it! .. Extremely rude teachers who don't give the slightest shit.. During covid, they'd smash in over 1,300 students in a class that's supposed to be no more than 300.. The teachers were tapped out, didn't care and provided incredibly low quality education, especially for what they charge. Don't study here!! Trust me.. You'll save yourself tens of thousands in poor quality education and shitty experiences.. A 0 star university..

This is the university I attend. In academic circles its known as the university for the real…read moreworld. QUT stands for Queensland University of Technology, this campus in particular is in Kelvin Grove. Built on top of what is known as education hill, QUT Kelvin Grove is home to the study areas of Creative Industry, Education, and Health. The campus is ultra modern in look and has a couple of awards under its belt. It has plenty of facilities some include, a bar, library, pools, parking, 24 hour Internet lounges, a theatre, multimedia video and music recording facilities. The campus has been designed around the principles of the urban village. From the top of the hill to the bottom students, business professionals, innovative institutes, cafés, parks and restaurants coexist side by side. There is range of quality eateries and shops, business is completely dictated by the university semester though. As an education facility, the lecturers and spaces for learning are of the highest standard and students who attend QUT are well looked after. There is also affordable student accommodation for those who need it.

Started by John Martin Cass in 1982, JMC Academy is a private college for the entertainment…read moretechnology industry. You gotta admit, there's a reason why some occupations were apprenticeships and the trend to turn every trade into a university degree is getting a bit silly. Entertainment is one of those fields where you learnt on the job. Even now, the media based bachelor degrees at university have a strong work experience component. JMC offers the best of both worlds. Their diplomas and bachelor degrees are accredited so therefore qualify for FEE-HELP. Their courses include animation, game design, film/ tv, audio engineering and entertainment business management. There's a strong industry practice component and best of all, they work on a three semester year. This means that a Bachelor degree will take a little less than two years and a diploma will take about half a year. This makes it perfect for mature age students who may have other commitments such as family or a demanding job and just can't appreciate the delights of prolonging the student lifestyle.

JMC is a private university committed to stealing your money. Their admin workers are terrible and…read moreoffer little to no support, often they don't even know what day it is. I started at JMC Brisbane only to be completely disappointed that I had wasted my time. When you start JMC you sign a piece of paper stating that they can change their course on you and give you NO NOTICE. They change your courses frequently and pick all of your subjects for you. They don't even have a library. Their "library" is one row of books. Not kidding. That said, some of their lecturers are great and offer some really good insight. The students you meet there are lifelong friends. This however, is ALL that is good about JMC. Their facilities are absolute shite, they have 3 rehearsal rooms and 3 studios...that's it. Each student pays a whopping $7,000 PER TRIMESTER! A Bachelor's degree can cost $40,000! It's honestly not worth it. Half the time the equipment provided in rehearsal rooms, e.g. pianos and amps is BROKEN! It's a wonder as to why anyone still goes there.