Welcome

Congratulations on your decision to study at The University of Western Australia, and welcome to the UWA community. I hope you find your time at UWA rewarding, challenging and exciting.

The University of Western Australia is one of Australia's leading universities and has an international reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and research, reflected in the high standard of our students, staff and graduates.

In 2012 we welcome the first cohort of students into our New Courses 2012, the greatest change to the University's curriculum in our 100-year history. Our undergraduate courses have been reshaped to ensure our graduates continue to be equipped for success in a global, knowledge-based environment. This change will be instrumental in raising UWA's international profile, positioning this University amongst the world's finest educational institutions.

We recognise that to foster international excellence we must contribute to international learning and research and play a vital role in scholarship and discovery of global significance. The momentum of research and technology has created a world where you must be equipped for further learning in order to succeed. With postgraduate qualifications increasingly becoming an expectation, our courses will give you the opportunity to build knowledge and skills or to extend the understanding of your subject.

Intellectual excellence and critical thinking provide the foundation for all UWA degrees and our graduates are well-equipped to operate in a global society. They are highly competitive internationally, achieving success in higher study and in wide-ranging fields of employment. Many have risen to prominence in leadership roles in industry, government, education and the professions, in Australia and overseas.

Studying at UWA is, however, about much more than just preparing for employment. It is about enjoying an outstanding student experience. Our University is widely acclaimed for its national heritage listed grounds, its vibrant social, cultural and sporting life as well as its beauty, providing the perfect backdrop to a world-class education. We also offer a wide range of support services that complement the university experience and contribute directly to the welfare and wellbeing of students. As a UWA graduate, not only will you be equipped with outstanding skills and knowledge, you will have made lifelong friends and have precious memories and a sense of achievement that will empower you for the rest of your life.

I wish you all the very best for your time at The University of Western Australia.

Professor Paul Johnson
Vice-Chancellor