University of New England (Australia)

The University of New England is located on several sites in Armidale. The northern campus of the University is five kilometres to the northwest of the city centre, in an attractive rural and bushland setting. Part of this campus includes the original property presented by the late Mr T R Forster to the University of Sydney for the establishment of a University College. This property comprised the old homestead, 'Booloominbah', together with several other buildings and 74 hectares of land.

The University of New England was formed in 1938 as the New England University College, a College of the University of Sydney. The University became fully independent in 1954 and pioneered teaching to external students by correspondence, making UNE Australia's most experienced provider of distance and now online education.

UNE is Australia's oldest regional university offering more than 200 courses at undergraduate, postgraduate coursework and higher degree research levels. UNE has more than 20,000 current students and 1,200 staff.

The University of New England was the first Australian university established outside a capital city. With a history extending back to the 1920s, UNE has a well-earned reputation as one of Australia's great teaching, training and research universities.

Through its leading role in the provision of distance education, UNE has contributed to the nation's development over more than half a century — while enhancing the lives of thousands of people who would otherwise have been unable to pursue university studies. Today, UNE is extending its global reach through the adoption of the latest communication technologies, and is recognised as an innovator in flexible online education.

More than 100,000 people have graduated from UNE, with many of them going on to hold senior positions around Australia — and abroad — in business, government, education, research, and community development.