Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an
Australian university located in
Sydney. It is ranked in the top 10 Universities in Australia, and 67th in the world by the UK's 2005
The Times Higher Education Supplement. More than a third of Macquarie University's students are enrolled in postgraduate programs, and just under a third of Macquarie's students are international students. The grounds of the University have creeks, grasslands, a lake, trees, a sculpture park and a
marsupial research facility. Macquarie University is a member of
Innovative Research Universities Australia.
University publications and material indicate that its campus is located in the suburb of
North Ryde, although the
Geographical Names Board of NSW indicates it is located in the suburb of
Macquarie Park. The University has its own postcode: 2109.
The grounds of Macquarie University contain the
Macquarie University Research Park. The Research Park is a joint venture between Macquarie University and Baulderstone Hornibrook and is designed to attract high-technology organisations to the area. North Ryde and Macquarie Park are often referred to as "Australia's Silicon Valley" and are home to more than 500 technology companies, which means Macquarie University is well placed for collaborative research in the technology field. The University is also located adjacent to
Macquarie Centre, a large shopping centre for the district.
Affectionately known as "club mac" for its laid back and casual atmosphere, Macquarie University has a long history of excellent sporting and academic results. With the rapid expansion of Sydney's size and population in the
1960s, there arose a need for a third tertiary institution in the Sydney metropolitan area (in addition to the more centrally-located
University of New South Wales and the
University of Sydney). A future campus location was selected in what was then a semi-rural part of
North Ryde, and - after much debate - it was decided that the future university be named after
Lachlan Macquarie, an important early governor of the colony of New South Wales.
The Macquarie University was formally established in
1964 with the passage of the
Macquarie University Act 1964 by the New South Wales Government, the university first opening to students in
1967. At the time the University was hailed as a "radical, bold experiment", with all students undertaking a single degree with a wide variety of subjects. While this is no longer the case, interdisciplinary study remains a defining feature of Macquarie University.
The
Macquarie Graduate School of Management was subsequently established in
1969. In
1990 the university absorbed the Institute of Early Childhood Studies of the
Sydney College of Advanced Education, under the terms of the
Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act 1989.
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The central courtyard at the heart of the campus, with the SAM building visible through the trees |
College of Commerce
*
Division of Economic and Financial Studies covers the fields of
Accounting,
Economics,
Business,
Statistics,
Actuarial Studies and
Finance. These distinct, but complementary academic departments are augmented by the Applied Finance Centre, Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre and the Centre for Japanese Economic Studies.EFS has enjoyed very strong growth in recent years and is the largest academic division at Macquarie and one of the largest commerce/economics divisions/faculties in Australia. Department of Economics is ranked top 6 among Australian universities' Economic Departments and top 25% around the world.
*
Macquarie Graduate School of Management is a
business school run by the university.
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
*
Australian Centre for Educational Studies includes the school of
Education and the Institute of Early Childhood.
*
Division of Humanities includes the departments of
Ancient History,
Modern History,
Languages and
Politics.
*
Division of Law includes the departments of
Law, Business Law and Environmental Law.
*
Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy. covers the areas of
Anthropology, Indigenous Studies, International Communications,
Media,
Sociology,
Philosophy,
Women's Studies, and
Cultural Studies.
College of Science and Technology
*
Division of Environmental and Life Sciences covers the fields of
Chemistry,
Biology,
Earth and Planetary Sciences,
Geography,
Environmental science and
Chiropractic*
Division of Linguistics and Psychology includes the departments of
Linguistics and
Psychology*
Division of Information and Communication Sciences which covers
Mathematics,
Physics,
Electronics and
Computer ScienceAffiliated Organizations
*
Sydney Institute of Business and Technology (SIBT) provides diploma (first-year university-equivalent) courses in economics, information technology and media studies for full fee-paying, mainly international, students. Upon graduation from the 1-year SIBT diploma program, SIBT graduates are eligible to enter Macquarie University degree programs directly at second year level, with full credit given for units completed. The SIBT compound is located in the center of the Macquarie University campus.
*
National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR) provides English language courses for international students. NCELTR is located within the SIBT compound.
*
Macquarie Christian Studies Institute provides
theology courses, recognized by the University for the purpose of accumulating credit points towards gaining a university degree. The MCSI is located underneath the Atrium, Macquarie Uni's social hub.
The
Macquarie University Library currently has over one million volumes.
Most students will atest that the Library at first sight induces sore eyes, despite being shining example of the "brutalist" architecture prevalent in the 1960-70's. Some say the library stands like a monolith in the University skyline. Made of concrete walls, the Library houses a dark forboding mood from the outset, but improves on the inside when you meet the friendly staff.
At present, the library holds a small amount of casual positions for university students. These hardworking staff members are a testament to the spirit of the Innovative university.
The library hosts some intriguing pieces of art. Pieces range from the most sublime portraits to the most vivid depictions of nature in full bloom.
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The university grounds, showing the lake and fountain |
The university offers many types of programmes, from
Bachelor's degrees through to
Doctorate level qualifications. Courses may be offered as full-time, part-time or through correspondence.
The
students' union Students at Macquarie (SAM) provides its members with services and facilities such as food outlets, the fully licensed SAMbar, entertainment such as live music gigs and themed Bar parties, etc. The
Macquarie University Students' Council Inc. (MUSC Inc.) officially represents students, and has Legal Aid Services, Accounting Services and Academic Services, along with other student services. Postgraduate students are represented by the
Macquarie University Postgraduate Representative Association (MUPRA), a member of the
Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.
Conception Day
The biggest event at the university is
Conception Day, an annual festival organised by SAM. Traditionally held on the last day of classes before the September mid-semester break, the day is supposedly named after the day the university's namesake, Lachlan Macquarie, was
conceived (although this is in fact impossible, since Lachlan Macquarie's birthday was on January 31). It features many big-name
bands, and a lot of
sun and
alcohol. Conception Day was open to all persons aged 18+, but in 2005, entry was for the first time restricted to Macquarie University students and staff.
Transport
Access to the university is primarily by means of bus and car, although students who live on or near campus will often walk or ride. The nearest
railway station is at
Epping; however the university will eventually gain its
own station with the completion of the
Epping to Chatswood Line set for
2008.
Parking is available, costing from $4 for one hour to $125 for a full-year permit. There is significant demand for parking at the University, and it is often difficult to find car spaces, especially in the middle of the day.
Accommodation
While the majority of students reside off-campus, there are several options on-campus for accommodation.
Dunmore Lang College and
Robert Menzies College are both traditional residential colleges, providing students with individual rooms and fully catered meals.
Macquarie University Village provides townhouse style accommodation.
Sport
The university has a large number of sporting clubs and extensive facilities, which are co-ordinated by Macquarie University Sport and Recreation Inc (MUSR). Clubs participate in local competitions and also send teams to the annual Eastern University Games and the Australian University Games.In what has been dubbed one of the most successful performances by a university at the Eastern University Games (2006), Macquarie University has claimed the Champions Trophy from defending champions, the University of Sydney. Macquarie University's impressive medal haul of 13 Gold, six Silver and two Bronze and is one of the most dominant performances by any university at the annual competition.
One of the most famous clubs is the Rugby Club, commonly referred to as the "Beacons". The club recently won a Bronze medal at the prestigious Australian University Games in Perth and are known Australia wide for their tenacious "thirsty thirds". The
Macquarie University Real Tennis Club is working to build a new court on university grounds.
Education
Students at Macquarie are increasingly finding denser classes as the popularity of the university increases.
The University has spent considerable dollars building a new Commerce building and a renovation of the East to West pathway. Both changes have made the University look beautiful and modern.
* The emblem of the university depicts
Macquarie Lighthouse, the first and longest operating lighthouse in Australia.
* Macquarie University is nicknamed "Club Mac" (an allusion to
Club Med), because Macquarie students supposedly have more holidays than their counterparts from the other universities in Sydney. This is only half-true, for while Macquarie students have longer holidays, they do not have pre-exam breaks ("stuvac" or studying vacation) as students from the other universities do. Typically, full-time undergraduate students attend classes for 26 weeks a year, this excludes exam time, which can add 1-4 weeks to each semester (depending on timetabling and individual circumstances).
*Construction of a swimming pool began in 2006. Macquarie has its own golf driving range which is open to the public. Unfortunately, stray drives will often strike the windows of neighbouring university buildings, which has led to the advent of steel cages over susceptible windows. The university also has a
real tennis court, one of only four in Australia (and the only one in Sydney).
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Joy at Macquarie University |
*Macquarie University is home to
Joy, the only public
statue of a
prostitute in the world. Urban legend has it that
Joy was an homage to Lachlan Macquarie's illegitimate daughter. While there is no evidence for such a claim, the rumour has prevailed since the statue's inception.
*A one-day
alternative music festival was held on the Macquarie University campus in
1997 called
Equinox (as it was held on the
Southern Hemisphere Autumn equinox) - which included major international acts including
Tool,
Skunk Anansie and a then relatively unknown
blink-182. Unfortunately, noise complaints were received from neighbouring suburbs including
Epping and
Beecroft. The cause was apparently the just constructed
M2 Motorway as it had "channeled" the sound from university into the neighbouring suburbs, and subsequently no major
rock concerts have been held at Macquarie since.
*During the late 1990s the Macquarie University campus was used as an outdoor set by the
soap opera Home and Away.
*There are rumours that
radioactive waste was dumped near the present site of the
Macquarie Graduate School of Management during the early
1960s, although this has never been substantiated.
*Macquarie University is also home to the
Macquarie Dictionary*Macquarie University was the only university to offer an actuarial studies program in
New South Wales for many years until rival
University of NSW began their program in 1998.
*Macquarie University is noteworthy in having the unique
academic rank of
Emeritus Deputy Chancellor, a post created for Dr John Lincoln on his retirement from his long-held post of Deputy Chancellor in 2000. The new position is not merely an honorary title, as it also retains a place in the University Council for Dr Lincoln.
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List of Macquarie University staff and alumni*
List of universities in Australia*
Macquarie University NewsGeneral
*Macquarie University
*Students at Macquarie
*Macquarie University Students' Council Incorporated
*Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism
;History
*40 years - a visual history of Macquarie University 1964-2004 (Macquarie University Alumni Office)
