Overview

James Cook University

Ranked & featured
Townsville, Australia
401–500th in World University Rankings 2025
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    About

    Basic information and contact details for James Cook University

    institution

    James Cook University (JCU) is a leader in teaching and research that addresses the critical challenges facing the Tropics.

    Our Australian campuses in Cairns and Townsville are on the doorstep of some of the world’s most spectacular environments: the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the rainforests of the Wet Tropics, the savannahs of Cape York Peninsula and the deserts of the arid outback. Our footprint extends beyond northern Queensland to include our Singapore campus, which combines research and teaching and demonstrates our commitment to the Asian region and internationalisation, particularly in the Tropics.

    Our Singapore campus offers both international and Australian JCU students the opportunity to study in South East Asia’s commercial, technological and academic hub.

    JCU also has a presence in Brisbane, with a campus operated by Russo Higher Education, providing courses to international students on behalf of JCU.

    In support of our tropical agenda, our teaching and research is focused on four themes: tropical ecosystems and environment; industries and economies in the tropics; people and societies in the Tropics; and tropical health, medicine and biosecurity.

    JCU engages with all its communities, businesses and industry to promote a sustainable region that is socially inclusive. We are proud of our strong links with rural, remote and indigenous communities, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our teaching, learning and research delivers practical benefits to the peoples and industries of our area.

    JCU’s staff and students conduct research in the following areas: environmental science and management, fisheries sciences, geochemistry, geology, evolutionary biology, plant biology, zoology, tourism, inorganic chemistry, oceanography, physical geography and environmental geoscience, biochemistry and cell biology, genetics, materials engineering, immunology, neurosciences, nursing, specialist studies in education, anthropology, human geography, linguistics and historical studies.

    There are specialist centres and institutes based at JCU that serve as hubs for research and innovation. Infrastructure such as our Orpheus Island Research Station and the Daintree Rainforest Observatory add to the quality of the learning and research experience.

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    Rankings

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    Impact Rankings

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    Key Student Statistics

    A breakdown of student statistics at James Cook University

    gender ratio
    Student gender ratio
    67 F : 33 M (1)
    globe fill
    International student percentage
    11% (1)
    student per staff
    Students per staff
    15.6 (1)
    student
    Student total
    9165 (1)

    Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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    Subjects Taught at James Cook University

    See below for a range of subjects taught at James Cook University

    Social Sciences201–250th

    • Sociology
    • Politics and International Studies
    • Geography

    Psychology301–400th

    • Psychology

    Physical Sciences301–400th

    • Chemistry
    • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
    • Physics and Astronomy
    • Mathematics and Statistics

    Life Sciences151–175th

    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Sport Science
    • Veterinary Science
    • Biological Sciences

    Engineering401–500th

    • General Engineering
    • Civil Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
    • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
    • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

    Education301–400th

    • Education

    Clinical and Health401–500th

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Other Health

    Business and Economics301–400th

    • Economics and Econometrics
    • Business and Management
    • Accounting and Finance
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    Downloads

    Download in-depth information about James Cook University

    pdf

    2023 International Study Guide