Next Wave | Page 11

right for you? The University of the Sunshine Coast embraces its youthful status with a commitment to new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things, and its students appreciate the effort. USC graduates consistently rate the quality of teaching well above other institutions, citing smaller class sizes, one-on-one tutoring and a sense of community as some of its most valuable attributes. Huge new infrastructure projects such as the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital and Maroochydore City Centre development will provide USC students with learning and employment opportunities they may not get in a bigger city. Griffith was a small university once, and was very progressive in the programs it taught before anyone else, including environmental science and Asian studies. It has now grown to cover five campuses in Logan, the Gold Coast, Nathan, Mount Gravatt and South Bank. Griffith is known for its fine arts, with the Conservatorium of Music and the Queensland College of Art both now embraced under the Griffith brand. There is a broader focus on social change peppered throughout Griffith’s comprehensive range of degrees. So if you’re a budding artist, or you’re interested in challenging social norms, then Griffith might be the place for you. Positioned as a ‘university for the real world,’ QUT is dedicated to giving its students as much practical knowledge as possible. Queensland’s biggest and oldest university holds a prestigious reputation built on tradition and academic rigour. Situated in Brisbane’s CBD, the Gardens Point campus has a high ratio of students who work and study in the city, so it’s suited to those who enjoy the hustle and bustle. UQ retains a structured approach to learning that focuses on using more traditional methods and resources, so it’s suited to students who work well with this style of teaching. Many courses have classes between the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, and some QUT Caboolture students also travel to and from the Brisbane campuses. UQ suits confident selfstarters, as getting time with your lecturers can be tougher in a class of 400 other students. But in terms of prestige, it is difficult to compare UQ to another local institution. If you’re itching to hit the ground running, then QUT could be your pick. If you value tradition and the intellectual side of study, then UQ might be right for you. So if you’re looking for a personalised approach that places importance on ideas and co X