James Cook University

James Cook University is a premier tropical university of Australia. The James Cook University has campuses at Townsville, Cairns, Singapore and Brisbane. Some smaller educational sites include Mount Isa, Mackay and Thursday Island. The University also has educational partnerships with many Asian and Pacific nations. The James Cook University was ranked 17th in Australia in a recent survey of top 500 universities of the world. The James Cook University was set up in the year 1970 and derives its name from the eighteenth-century navigator, Captain James Cook.

The James Cook University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and undergraduate certificate courses as well. The undergraduate degrees are offered in a wide range of programs which include�accounting, archaeology, English, criminology, Asia Pacific community development, computing, GIS, geography, journalism, marine science, tourism, visual arts, tourism, social work, social science and zoology among many others. The postgraduate degree courses include programs like animal science, anthropology, astronomy education, environmental science, medicine, mathematics, information technology, nursing, creative arts, biomedical sciences, computer science and creative arts among many others. The undergraduate certificate courses are offered in ecotourism, legal studies, business, biomedical sciences, social science, tourism, youth work practice, indigenous studies and child and adolescent mental health among others. These courses are beneficial for students who cannot afford to do full-time classes.

The fee payments for graduate degrees at the James Cook University depend on the choice of subjects. In case of postgraduate studies, the fees for the courses may vary and some may even be tax-deductible. The variation of fees depends on the choice of subject and total number of credit points. The fees can be paid either in instalments on the fixed dates or students can avail of the FEE-HELP services as well. Only Australian students and humanitarian permanent resident visa holders can apply for this assistance. The students also need to pay Student Contribution amounts and New Zealand based students are not eligible for HECS-HELP loan options. The James Cook University also offer various scholarship options at the undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. At the undergraduate and postgraduate level various scholarships are offered in:

• Faculty of Law, Business and Creative Arts
• Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology
• Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences
• Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences

Apart from these facilities, scholarships are also offered by the Commonwealth Government. The Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships are provided to students who are economically weak. The Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships are provided to students who are practically from rural areas and wish to relocate their bases to the urban areas.

The James Cook University offers accommodation services at both the Townsville and Cairns campuses. The Townsville on campus has 8 residential campuses which provide accommodation facilities to more than 1400 students. The on campus residences include St. Mark�s College, George Roberts Hall, St. Raphael�s College, St. Paul�s College, Western Hall, Rotary International House, The John Flynn College and University Hall. The off-campus accommodation facilities at the Townsville campus include shared housing, guesthouses, private rented houses, youth hostels and boarding houses. The Cairns campus does not have on campus accommodation facilities but it offers off-campus accommodation at boarding houses, rented apartments, guesthouses and shared housing.

In order to get admission at the James Cook University, international students must follow the visa requirements as specified by the Australian government�s Department of Immigration services. The international students need to posses a valid student visa and fulfil all the requirements only after which are they entitled to study at the James Cook University.