University of New South Wales

The University of New South Wales (UNSW; branded as UNSW Australia) is an Australian public research university located in the suburb of Kensington in Sydney, established in 1949.

UNSW attracts the highest median Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank in Australia,and sets the highest combined ATAR cut-offs out of any Australian university. It was ranked among the top 50 universities in the world in the 2015-16 QS World University Rankings. The university is particularly strong in engineering and technology, commerce and economics, and law; the 2015 QS World University Rankings by Subject ranked UNSW to be 12th in the world for accounting and finance, 15th for law, and 21st in engineering and technology. UNSW has produced more millionaires,and its graduates hold more chief executive positions of ASX 200 listed companies,than any other university in Australia.

The university comprises eight faculties, through which it offers bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. The main campus is located on a 38-hectare site in the Sydney suburb of Kensington, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney. The creative arts faculty, UNSW Art & Design, is located in Paddington, UNSW Canberra is located at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra and sub-campuses are located in the Sydney CBD, the suburbs of Randwick and Coogee. Research stations are located throughout the state of New South Wales.

The idea of founding the university originated from the crisis demands of World War II, during which the nation's attention was drawn to the critical role that science and technology played in transforming an agricultural society into a modern and industrial one.The post-war Labor government of New South Wales recognised the increasing need to have a university specialised in training high-quality engineers and technology-related professionals in numbers beyond that of the capacity and characteristics of the existing University of Sydney.This led to the proposal to establish the Institute of Technology, submitted by the then New South Wales Minister for Education Bob Heffron, accepted on 9 July 1946.

The lion and the four stars of the Southern Cross on the St George's Cross have reference to the State of New South Wales which established the university; the open book with scientia ("knowledge") across its pages is a reminder of its purpose. The placement of scientia on the book was inspired by its appearance on the arms of the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine formed in 1907. Beneath the shield is the motto Manu et Mente ("With hand and mind"), which was the motto of the Sydney Technical College from which the university developed.

An update of the design and colours of the arms was undertaken in 1970, which provided a more contemporary design, yet retained all the arms' heraldic associations. In 1994 the university title was added to the UNSW arms, as was the abbreviation "UNSW", to create the UNSW symbol which is used for everyday and marketing purposes.

There is also a university flag, which consists of the coat of arms centred on a mid blue field. The blue field of the flag is lined with a yellow band on all sides. There is a further outer band of black on all sides which is equal in width to the yellow band.

The university is governed by council of 15 members including parliamentary and ex-officio members, members elected by staff, students and graduates of the university as well as members appointed by the Minister for Education or by the council itself. It is responsible for acting on the university's behalf to promote its objectives and interests.

The principal academic body is the academic board, which receives advice on academic matters from the faculties, college (Australian Defence Force Academy) and the boards of studies. It is responsible for academic policy setting, academic strategy via its eight standing committees, approval and delivery of programs, and academic standards. The board comprises 56 members, including the vice-chancellor, members of the executive team, deans and faculty presiding members, 24 members elected from the academic staff and four from the student body.

 Membership also includes "such other persons" approved by council. The academic board advises the vice-Chancellor and council on matters relating to teaching, scholarship and research and takes decisions on delegation from the council. Its purpose is to make academic policy; approve courses and programs; further and co-ordinate the work of the faculties and other academic units; and support teaching, scholarship and research.

The main UNSW campus is situated in Kensington, Sydney. Two of the university's faculties are situated elsewhere. The College of Fine Arts is located in the inner suburb of Paddington. UNSW Canberra at ADFA is situated in Canberra.

The university also has additional campuses and field stations in Randwick, Coogee, Botany, Dee Why, Cowan, Manly Vale, Fowlers Gap, Albury and at Bankstown Airport.

The main UNSW campus is divided geographically into two areas: upper campus and lower campus. The site of the lower campus was vested in the university in two lots in December 1952 and June 1954, while the upper campus was vested in the university in November 1959.These two are separated mainly by an elevation rise between the quadrangle and the Scientia building. It takes roughly fifteen minutes to walk from one extreme to the other.