Notre Dame Fast Facts

The University of Notre Dame Australia was established through an Act of the Parliament of Western Australia in December 1989.

  • Status

    National private Catholic university, governed by a Board of Trustees and a Board of Directors and a Board of Governors, each with separate Statutory roles.

  • Motto

    In Principio Erat Verbum – In the Beginning was the Word.

  • Campuses

    Fremantle opened in 1992 with 50 postgraduate Education students.

    Broome opened in 1994 on the site of the former Nulungu Girls College. Has a special focus on training for careers in rural health and education.

    Sydney

    • Broadway opened in 2006 by then Prime Minister, John Howard, adjacent to Australia’s oldest consecrated Catholic Church – St Benedict’s.
    • Darlinghurst opened in 2008, and blessed by Pope Benedict XVI, located on the Darlinghurst Parish site opposite St Vincent’s Hospital

    Seven clinical Schools

  • History

    Fremantle Campus is situated in converted heritage buildings dating back to the 1880s.

    • Has the oldest standing courthouse in Fremantle, used for student lectures
    • National Heritage Award for work on Drill Hall
    • Former Gold Rush hotels used for offices and classrooms

  • Executive staff

  • Students

    • Total student numbers: 12,394 (at 26 February 2018)
    • Fremantle Campus: 6,544
    • Broome Campus: 165
    • Sydney Campus: 5,685

  • Degrees

    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Research

  • Schools / Faculties / Colleges

  • Research institutes

  • VET Qualifications

    Notre Dame is a dual registered University, offering VET Qualifications on its Broome Campus

  • Admissions process

    Applicants can apply directly or via the tertiary admissions centres TISC (WA) and UAC (NSW)

    Entry based on academic achievements, personal qualities, motivation to study, and academic potential; contribution to the community and/or church life.

    While each program has indicative academic standards that should be met, the admission criteria against which your application will be assessed are much broader. We also consider you as a person - who you are, what you have done and what you want to do with your life.

    How to Apply

  • Awards and accolades

    Notre Dame 1st WA and NSW in four of total seven categories:

    • Overall Graduate Satisfaction
    • Teaching Scale
    • Skills Scale
    • Median Salary

    The Federal Government’s ‘Graduate Outcomes Survey’ (2017)

    Notre Dame 1st WA in two further categories:

    • Full-time Employment
    • Overall Employment

    The Federal Government’s ‘Student Experience Survey’ (2017)

    Notre Dame 1st in WA and NSW in five of total seven categories:

    • Overall Quality of Education Experience
    • Teaching Quality
    • Skills Development
    • Learner Engagement
    • Student Support

    The Federal Government’s ‘Employer Satisfaction Survey’ (2018)

    Notre Dame 2nd in Australia with an employer satisfaction rating of 89.1%, well above the national average of 83.6%.

    Notre Dame received eight, five-star ratings of excellence in the categories:

    • Overall Experience
    • Teaching Quality
    • Learner Engagement
    • Student Support
    • Skills Development
    • Graduate Employment
    • Median Graduate Salary
    • Student Retention

    Note: Notre Dame is the only University to have received five star ratings for 12 consecutive years.

  • Unique features

    Core Curriculum (Fremantle) / Logos Programme (Sydney)

    All undergraduate students study:

    • Philosophy
    • Ethics and
    • Theology

    Admissions Process

    Notre Dame’s admissions process considers each applicant individually. Entry to Notre Dame is based on:

    • Academic achievements
    • Motivation to study and career aspirations
    • Contribution to community, school, and Church
    • Interview with academic staff

    Students apply directly to Notre Dame.

    Pastoral care

    Students are supported by University academics and staff to achieve their career goals – in a personal and positive environment.

    Real-world learning

    Internship and/or practicum placements are embedded in all Notre Dame undergraduate degrees. Notre Dame is the only university in Australia with a four-week compulsory internship as part of each Business program. Students make valuable contacts with employers as a result.

  • International partner universities

    Asia

    • The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul (Republic of Korea)
    • Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei (Taiwan)
    • Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung (Indonesia)
    • Songang University, Seoul (Republic of Korea)
    • Sophia University, Tokyo (Japan)

    Europe

    • Leeds Trinity University, Leeds (UK)
    • Maynooth University, Maynooth (Ireland)
    • Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (Ireland)
    • Paderborn University, Paderborn (Germany)
    • Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest (Hungary)
    • St Mary’s University, Twickenham (UK)
    • Universite Catholique de Lyon, Lyon (France)

    North America

    • Bellarmine University, Louisville (USA)
    • Boston College, Boston (USA)
    • The Catholic University of America, Washington DC (USA)
    • DeSales University, Center Valley (USA)
    • King’s Western University, London (Canada)
    • Purdue University, Indiana (USA)
    • Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame (USA)
    • St Edwards University, Austin (USA)
    • University at Albany, Albany (USA)
    • University of Portland, Portland (USA)
    • University of San Francisco, San Francisco (USA)