The University of Queensland
Queensland's oldest and largest university: a sandstone Great Court on a river bend, and the lab behind the HPV vaccine.
- Students
- 57,000
- Tuition
- A$56,800
- From · 2027 (international); 2026 (domestic)
- Founded
- 1909
- QS World Ranking
- #40
- 2027 edition
About UQ
The University of Queensland, established in 1909, is Queensland's oldest and largest university, with more than 57,000 students, 3,000+ academics and 365,000+ alumni. Its main campus at St Lucia in Brisbane sits inside a bend of the Brisbane River and is built around the Great Court, a semicircular sandstone quadrangle on the Queensland Heritage Register. Other major sites are the Gatton agricultural campus and the Herston health campus.
Teaching is organised into five faculties: Business, Economics and Law; Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology; Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences; Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; and Science. Research is strongest in the life sciences and medicine, supported by institutes such as the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Queensland Brain Institute. UQ is where Ian Frazer's team developed the technology behind the cervical cancer vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix.
UQ ranked joint 40th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 38th in TIME's world ranking. It suits students who want a traditional campus experience, strong science and health programs, and Brisbane's subtropical, outdoor lifestyle. It is also ranked 73rd in the world and 2nd in Australia in ARWU 2026, and UQ says its students learn from Australia's most awarded teachers.
Scientia ac Labore
“By means of knowledge and hard work” — university motto
Why students choose UQ
UQ publishes guaranteed ATAR thresholds for 2027 across most programs, for example Engineering (Honours) 85, Computer Science 84, Science 80 and Laws (Honours) 98.
The Provisional Entry pathway into UQ's Doctor of Medicine lets school leavers secure a medical school place before starting an undergraduate degree.
UQ's research record includes the HPV vaccine technology behind Gardasil and Cervarix and the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, both commercialised through UniQuest.
St Lucia has 10 affiliated residential colleges plus UQ-owned housing, with more than 4,500 purpose-built student places planned once current building work is complete.
Admissions
Semester 1, 2027 entry (classes start 22 February 2027)
Selectivity
UQ does not publish an acceptance rate. For 2027, applicants who put a UQ program first on their QTAC preferences and meet its guaranteed ATAR threshold (including adjustment factors) receive an offer up to the January main round. The final minimum entry ranks are set in the January round and tend to be lower than the guarantees.
Typical entry requirements
| ATAR (2027 guaranteed thresholds) | Laws (Hons) 98; Psychological Science (Hons) 93; Advanced Science (Hons) 92; Mathematics 92; Engineering (Hons) 85; Computer Science 84; Economics 82; Science 80; Arts 70 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites (Queensland Year 12 or equivalent) | Commerce: General English and Mathematical Methods (Units 3 & 4, grade C) |
| International qualifications | Minimum entry scores for IB, A-levels and other overseas qualifications are shown per program on UQ's program pages (select your country and qualification) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 87 Commerce and Engineering (Honours): IELTS 6.5 overall with 6 in each band; TOEFL iBT 87 (listening 19, reading 19, writing 21, speaking 19); PTE Academic 64 with 60 in all bands. |
Deadlines
- Direct application to UQ closes (Semester 1, 2027) Non-binding Next deadline · In 55 days30 November 2026
For applicants applying directly to UQ rather than through QTAC (typically students whose senior schooling is outside Australia). Some programs have earlier closing dates.
- QTAC applications close for major offer round Non-binding In ~2 months7 December 2026
QTAC applications opened on 4 August 2026. Some programs have earlier fixed closing dates.
- QTAC major offer round Non-binding In ~3 months14 January 2027
UQ makes offers between 1 October 2026 and 16 February 2027. The guaranteed ATAR applies to offers up to this round.
Dates from UQ's 'Submit your application' page for Semester 1, 2027: direct applications close 30 November of the previous year; QTAC applications close 7 December 2026 for the major offer round. Direct international applicants should apply well before the 22 February 2027 start to allow time for a visa.
How to apply
Students completing Australian Year 12 or the IB apply through QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) with up to 6 preferences. Students whose senior schooling is outside Australia apply directly to UQ, either themselves or through an approved UQ agent.
What admissions looks for
- An ATAR or selection rank at or above the program's threshold; UQ adjustment factors can add up to 5 points.
- Program prerequisites, for example General English and Mathematical Methods for Commerce.
- English language proficiency at the program's required level.
Tips for applying to UQ
- 1 To use the 2027 ATAR guarantee, list a UQ program as your first QTAC preference; the guarantee then also applies to eligible UQ programs lower on your list.
- 2 Order your six QTAC preferences as UQ suggests: two dream programs, two back-ups and two pathway programs.
- 3 The guaranteed threshold is not the cut-off. January minimum entry ranks tend to be lower, so keep a dream program high even if you're just below it.
- 4 Aspiring doctors can apply for Provisional Entry to the UQ Doctor of Medicine straight from school.
Costs & financial aid
2027 (international); 2026 (domestic) · figures in AUD
UQ says it offers more scholarships than any other university in Queensland, with varying application dates. Domestic students can use HECS-HELP to defer their student contribution.
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Semester 1 from 22 February 2027; Semester 2 from 26 July 2027)
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
UQ's highest guaranteed threshold for 2027 (ATAR 98).
Doctor of Medicine (Provisional Entry)
Lets school leavers hold a conditional place in UQ's medical program while completing a bachelor's degree.
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Four-year honours degree with a 2027 guaranteed ATAR of 85, taught in the faculty that also covers architecture and IT.
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)
A research-focused science degree with a 2027 guaranteed ATAR of 92.
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
One of UQ's most competitive programs (2027 guaranteed ATAR 93).
Research
- UQ Professor Ian Frazer pioneered the development of the cervical cancer vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix.
- UQ's research institutes include the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Queensland Brain Institute, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and the Sustainable Minerals Institute.
- UQ's commercialisation company UniQuest has licensed technologies including the cervical cancer vaccine, MRI image-correction technology and the Triple P Positive Parenting Program.
- UQ runs a research station on Heron Island.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
- Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science
Student life
St Lucia is a traditional campus with sandstone buildings around the Great Court and sports ovals, bounded on three sides by the Brisbane River. Ten affiliated residential colleges on campus run a busy inter-college calendar of sport and cultural competitions through the Intercollege Council, and UQ is building more university-owned housing. Brisbane's subtropical climate means a lot of study and social life happens outdoors. In total UQ has 11 residential colleges: ten at St Lucia and one at the Gatton campus.
- Ten affiliated residential colleges on the St Lucia campus, plus one at Gatton.
- Inter-college sport and cultural competitions coordinated by the UQ Intercollege Council.
- The Great Court, a heritage-listed sandstone quadrangle at the centre of campus.
- UQ Art Museum in the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre.
Housing. More than 4,500 purpose-built student places, across UQ-owned accommodation and 10 affiliated residential colleges, will be available once the current St Lucia residence project is complete.
Location
Brisbane is Queensland's capital and a subtropical city. The St Lucia campus sits southwest of the CBD, bordered on three sides by a bend of the Brisbane River, and the Eleanor Schonell Bridge links it by bus, bike and foot to the inner south suburbs. The Herston health campus and the Gatton agricultural campus complete UQ's main sites.
Nearest airport: Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Notable alumni
- PC Peter C. DohertyNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- QB Quentin BryceFirst female Governor-General of Australia
- GR Geoffrey RushOscar, Tony and Emmy-winning actor
- GB Gerard BrennanChief Justice of Australia
- AL Andrew LiverisFormer CEO and chairman of Dow Chemical
- SH Sam HawgoodChancellor of the University of California, San Francisco
- LB Lee Boon YangFormer Singaporean Minister of Defence and Manpower
- DI Dami ImSinger and Eurovision representative for Australia
Frequently asked questions
What is UQ's guaranteed ATAR for 2027?
UQ guarantees an offer if you put a UQ program first on your QTAC preferences and meet its threshold, for example Engineering (Honours) 85, Computer Science 84, Science 80, Psychological Science (Honours) 93 and Laws (Honours) 98.
When do QTAC applications close for UQ in 2027?
Applications for the major offer round close on 7 December 2026, the major offer round is on 14 January 2027, and classes start on 22 February 2027.
How much does UQ cost for international students?
UQ's indicative annual fees for international students starting in 2027 are A$56,800 for Commerce and A$60,952 for Engineering (Honours). Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
What IELTS score does UQ need?
Commerce and Engineering need IELTS 6.5 with at least 6 in each band, or TOEFL iBT 87.
Can you get into medicine at UQ straight from school?
Yes, through Provisional Entry to the Doctor of Medicine, which secures a place in the medical program while you complete an undergraduate degree, subject to meeting its requirements.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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