The University of Tasmania (UTAS) was founded by an Act of the Tasmanian Parliament in 1890, and today stands as one of the oldest universities in Australia.

UTAS is committed to the creation, preservation, communication and application of knowledge, along with achieving excellence in all aspects of education – teaching, research and scholarly activities. Research at UTAS is vital to its identity and it remains one of the top 10 research universities in Australia.

The university has an underlying ideology to further far-reaching educational, economic and cultural contributions to Tasmania and the world.  It proudly maintains a strong and distinctive identity, yet an education at Tasmania combines flavours of international scope, vision and standards.

The university has a very strong environmental focus and is particularly proud of providing a holistic learning environment for students.

Pic: University of Tasmania.

Academics
With a diverse range of degree options to choose from, students at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) develop a strong understanding of their surrounding environment through extensive field-based work. They examine whole organism biology and ecology, working with Tasmania’s unique flora and fauna amongst truly wild regions of the planet. Students are gifted with the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area at their doorstep, covering approximately 1.4 million hectares and representing 1/5 of the area of the island state of Tasmania.

The ethos for understanding and solving environmental problems is captured through the university’s Centre for Environment, which was established in 2005 to encourage research collaboration between the University’s Schools and institutes and community organisations, industry and government. The centre has the following goals:

  • Provide solutions for real-world environmental problems.
  • Be guided by end-users in setting priorities.
  • Support interdisciplinary research, including science, humanities, government and law.
  • Contribute to training and education of the next generation of environmental scientists and managers.
  • Communicate its work in ways that increase public understanding of environmental issues and their potential solutions.

Schools and Institutes currently collaborating with the Centre for Environment in applied research projects include the  Geography and Environmental Studies, Plant Science, Zoology, Agriculture, Economics and Commerce and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.

Options are available to students at various levels of study and include science (environmental studies & geography), environmental management, environmental planning, zoology, plant science and agricultural science.

Students not only receive strong training through the use of field trips, but develop their scientific studies with state-of-the-art techniques in UTAS’s world-class laboratories. Internationally recognised, industry-relevant training gives graduates highly competitive skills ready for work anywhere in the world while fostering an interest in postgraduate research studies, both at UTAS and elsewhere.

Working with world-leading professors on the cutting edge of environmental issues, students are faced with real-world problems in conservation biology and wildlife management. For example, key researchers and their students lead the international team seeking answers to the devastating disease affecting the unique Tasmanian devil. Further, Tasmania and UTAS offers outstanding opportunities to study climate change and its effects on pristine biological systems with one of the most advanced fine-scale downscaled prediction systems of climate change available.

UTAS is able to offer these unique environmental courses because of its location, in southern Australia, which is unlike any other part of world. UTAS has two main campuses, both of which have high-value natural areas of coastline, alpine regions and extensive wilderness locations less than an hour’s drive away. Many other universities simply do not have this level of access to natural areas.

All areas of environmental study produce highly employable individuals that enter a diverse range of careers. These can range from private industry including environmental consulting, outdoor education and nature guiding, biotechnology research and development, forestry, agriculture and horticulture. Many graduates enter the government sector working in environmental policy and management, research or education. By having world-class researchers teaching at UTAS, as recently judged by a national assessment of Australian research, students are exposed to the latest thinking in environmental science.

Students at all levels are supported by UTAS’s small class sizes, a multicultural student body, dedicated international staff and services to ensure all international students complete their studies in a supportive and a caring environment.

Scholarships
UTAS has a recognised history of rewarding excellence and improving access to higher education. The Scholarships Program at UTAS captures that spirit as it provides over 900 awards worth AUS$7 million to its students. The program reflects the incredible support that UTAS receives both from the government and businesses. This financial support helps enhance student experience at the university and also provides networking and career opportunities.

Living in Tasmania
Tasmania, the island state of Australia, is located 40 degrees south of the equator and is an archipelago of more than 300 islands. It is home to dramatic coastlines, rugged mountains, a stunning countryside, beautiful lakes and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

As well as the stunning scenery, the vibrant cities of Hobart and Launceston offer plenty of cafes, restaurants, pubs, nightspots, and markets, ensuring that Tasmania provides a breathtaking experience for anyone looking for an education abroad.

Tasmanians are famously resourceful, and apply their creativity and design skills to artistic endeavours and scientific research. The island is home to more poets, musicians, writers and artists per head of population than any other state of Australia. It is truly the creative capital of the continent.

Pic: University of Tasmania.

Why UTAS?
There are several reasons why UTAS is widely recognized for its excellent standards of education. The university is a comfortable size, never intimidating students. Local residents are friendly and always eager to help; a factor that is greatly appreciated by international students who find this a soft landing pad to life abroad. Along with the education available at the university, students are also urged to explore ideas and activities they might never have otherwise. The university website lists a few reasons they feel UTAS is such a popular choice:

  • Prestige - one of the oldest universities in Australia.
  • Tradition - strong research record, top 10 in Australia in terms of Australian Research Council Grants.
  • Education - Friendly, helpful staff, access to teachers, strong support = the ‘highest completion rates for international students in Australia’ (Carrick Institute 2008)
  • Value - tuition fees set at affordable levels and frozen at starting levels for duration of a student’s course.
  • Lifestyle - Tasmania is becoming one of the most popular destinations for holidays, living and studying in Australia.
  • Cost - living costs and tuition fees add up to a very appealing option when compared to most other study destinations.
  • Convenience - most students can walk to campus from their accommodation; lecturers and tutors can be consulted without difficulty; computers are accessible 24 hours a day.

Testimonials
Students from UTAS have gone on to experience a wide range of successful professions and are grateful for the experience they had while at university.

“I chose to study with UTAS because of its world-renowned Environmental Studies Faculty and being tempted by the idea of undertaking nature studies in “The Natural State”. After more than a year’s study now, I can say that my choice has proven to be a life changing experience.

My studies here are providing me with the opportunity to learn and interact with some of the greatest minds in my area of focus. Given my background in electronics engineering, I had very little understanding on many aspects of environmental science. But with a highly informative coursework and truly motivating lectures, my learning curve was steeper than I had initially anticipated. The commitment and involvement of the teaching staff in this faculty played a key role in my understanding of the fundamentals and then moving into an advanced learning program at the post graduate level.

One of the commendable features of study here has been the flexibility to choose and pick the units I want to do and build my expertise in a chosen area of interest. There is also a high flexibility to undertake study units across different schools, including political science, zoology, plant science, fine arts, sociology, and law.

Tasmania is a natural paradise which supports a high degree of bio and geodiversity, also with a high degree of endemism (such as the Deciduous Beech in picture). Any person who admires nature and wilderness is sure to be captivated by the enchanting beauty of the land and life-forms that Tasmania is endowed with. This in itself is inspiration enough to study natural sciences here at UTAS. Tasmania is also a place of several environmental battles (both in the past and in the present) and is a good setting to witness these issues first hand and gain a deeper understanding of the nature conservation and resource management issues in the contemporary society.

From my personal experience, I can say that UTAS is a great place to learn about the environment and issues facing it; and what we can do professionally and personally to solve these issues. Hence, I highly recommend UTAS to students considering studying environmental studies in Australia.”

Vishnu Prahalad Nandagopalan – India – Master of Applied Science (Environmental Studies).

But it is not all hard study. Tasmania also provides the opportunity to have a lot of fun.

Tasmania is well known for its unique and unspoiled wilderness. I have taken up several outdoor sports since arriving. With the excellent equipment available to students through the University’s clubs, I have become a white water rafting guide, been rock-climbing and enjoyed bushwalking in remote conservation and wilderness areas. Not to mention sailboarding and surfing on white sandy beaches with turquoise water. Besides the outdoor activities, I also enjoy the relaxing lifestyle of living in Tasmania, including the occasional coffee at Salamanca Place, famous for its weekly market, and purchased some of the unique range of crafts from the local artists. My weekends are frequently started on a few cold beers in one of the various pubs.

I can happily say that I do not intend returning to Germany in the near future. I plan to continue postgraduate studies in chemistry. Everyone from Germany that I’ve met in Tasmania has had a ball and often prolonged their stay way past their expected departure dates.

David Schaller – Germany – Chemistry 2005

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