← Universities

QLDPublicEst. 1992

CQUniversity Australia

A national dual-sector regional university based in Rockhampton with campuses across regional Queensland and metropolitan Australia.

Bruce Highway, Rockhampton QLD 4701

  • Largest regional university footprint in Queensland

What student life looks like

CQUniversity is a national dual-sector regional university with campuses at Rockhampton (the main site), Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville (TAFE), Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Most campuses are compact regional sites embedded in their local towns, with the Mackay marine and ports precinct, the Bundaberg agricultural precinct and the Emerald rural school the more specialised sites. The Rockhampton campus, on the Bruce Highway, is the largest single site and houses the School of Engineering and Technology, the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences and the CQUni Australia Library. Accommodation runs through residential colleges at Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay and Emerald; metropolitan campuses are commuter sites with no on-campus accommodation. CQUni Connect runs about 30 clubs across campuses. The university has a major online cohort delivered through CQUniversity Australia online platform. The brand is regional access and dual-sector pathways with strong industry partnership across the resources, agriculture and aviation sectors. CQU runs Australia's only undergraduate aviation degree with on-site flight training at Bundaberg.

Known for

  • National multi-campus regional and metropolitan footprint
  • Dual-sector with TAFE-to-bachelor pathways
  • School of Engineering and Technology with rail and ports research
  • Australia's only undergraduate aviation degree with on-site flight training
  • School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences
  • Centre for Tourism and Regional Opportunities
  • Strong online and remote-learning footprint

Research strengths

  • Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (Gladstone)
  • Centre for Tourism and Regional Opportunities
  • Centre for Indigenous Health Equity Research
  • Institute for Future Farming Systems
  • Centre for Intelligent Systems
  • Centre for Railway Engineering
  • Centre for Regional Advancement of Learning, Equity, Access and Participation

Cost of living (student estimate)

$18,000 - $26,000 per year

Regional Queensland towns are among the cheapest student locations. Includes shared rental in Rockhampton, Bundaberg or Mackay, groceries, transport and utilities. Excludes tuition.

Source: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-studies/living-costs. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.

Student support

  • Office of Indigenous Engagement
  • Disability Service
  • Counselling Service
  • Student Connect student services hub
  • Academic Learning Centre
  • Financial Assistance and emergency loans
  • Safer Community team

Is this the right uni for you?

You probably thrive here if

  • You live regionally and want a national multi-campus pathway
  • You are aiming at aviation, rail engineering, marine or rural health
  • You want a fully online or blended degree
  • You want a TAFE-to-bachelor dual-sector pathway
  • You want low cost-of-living in regional Queensland

It is probably not for you if

  • You want a Brisbane CBD inner-city campus and lifestyle
  • You want a sandstone Go8 prestige brand
  • You want a tight single-campus residential community
  • You depend on a major train network at the campus door

The year at a glance

Term 1 runs early March to early June with exams in mid-June. Term 2 runs early July to mid-October with exams in late October. Term 3 runs early November to mid-February for selected online and accelerated programmes. Each term is around 12 weeks of teaching plus exams. Some health and engineering programmes use a traditional semester calendar. Results release follows around three weeks after each term's exams. Orientation sits in the week before each main term.

Faculties and courses

15 undergraduate courses across 9 faculties.

Sources

TEQSA registered Australian University.