Where You Study Matters Just As Much as What You Study

Where you study matters just as much as what you study

Your years of study aren’t just about the assessments you do, or the units you complete; they’re about how you set yourself up for the next stage of your life. Building your career is like growing a plant from a seed. As any green thumb would tell you, the right location and environment can make all the difference in helping your hard work pay off. So, how do you find a place with the right support, resources and environment to help you make the most of uni?

If you’re studying at The Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, you’ll find all of that in one place. Don’t believe us? Let’s take a look at what makes studying at ANU so special.

Canberra is one of the best cities in the world to live in right now

Canberra is the #1 city in the world for quality of life, beating out Paris, Oslo, Singapore and Luxembourg for the top spot (Oxford Economics Global Cities Index, 2026). Quality of life is about the overall wellbeing and satisfaction felt by the people who live there, which taps into all parts of what makes a city great. ANU is nestled right into the heart of Canberra, positioned a quick walk or bike ride away from some of the city’s best-known sites.

If that’s not compelling enough for you, let’s break down what quality of life really means and why it makes ANU the place to be:

At ANU you can train your mind and your muscles like nowhere else

If you want your brain to work at its best, then you need to take care of your body too. ANU students have excellent sports facilities right on campus, with affordable gym memberships, free fitness classes, sports clubs and even a reformer Pilates studio. If the gym isn’t your thing, you can always make use of some of Canberra’s gorgeous walking and cycling tracks all around the city. You could have a go at the 5km ‘Bridge to Bridge’ loop or truly fill your cardio craving with the full Lake Burley Griffin circuit, which takes you past the National Museum of Australia, National Library of Australia, High Court of Australia and Captain Cook Memorial Jet.

Launch your career before you even graduate

Did you know Canberra has the highest employment rate in the country? (ACT Wellbeing Framework, 2026)

There are plenty of opportunities to work while you study and even launch your career right where it all happens. Living in the capital means you’re living among leading companies, facilities and organisations across government and policy, science, the arts and international affairs. If you’ve ever dreamed of working where the big decisions are made, ANU is the only university in the country that offers the hands-on Australian National Internships program. Through it, you complete a research-orientated internship in the offices of MPs and senators and help to shape national policymaking.

Your future starts the moment you arrive

One of the most underrated parts of choosing where you study is the network you build while you’re there. Canberra is home to Australia’s highest-educated workforce on average (Informed Decisions, 2021). You’re surrounded by researchers, policymakers, scientists, artists and public servants, including your lecturers and tutors. Many ANU lecturers and researchers are active leaders in their fields, which means the connections you make during your degree can follow you well into your career.

Canberra and ANU take care of you

If you’re moving out of home for the first time to study, Canberra and ANU are set up to help you feel safe and supported. Canberra is the #1 city in the world for quality of life, beating out Paris, Oslo, Singapore and Luxembourg for the top spot (Numbeo Safety Index by City 2026). If you take a look around, you’ll see people walking around at night, going for early morning runs or catching one of the many accessible public transport options. Plus, ANU offers support to help students with accessibility, academic skills, health and wellbeing, technology, administration and navigating their academic programs.

Begin planning your next big step

In a lot of ways, ANU is like a miniature version of Canberra. It has world-class resources, a tight-knit community and everything you need to thrive – all within walking distance. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels like home from day one, then ANU is the place to start your next chapter. If you want to hear more about what ANU students have to say about their experiences living, studying and working in Canberra, head to Stories | The Australian National University.