Regional University Study Hubs

A Regional University Study Hub is a facility regional and remote students can use to support their study of tertiary courses from any Australian institution. Hubs provide:

• Infrastructure, including:
  • Study spaces
  • Break out areas
  • Video conferencing
  • Computer facilities
  • High-speed internet access
• Administrative and academic support services such as:
  • Developing writing and research skills
  • Managing administrative processes
• Student support services, including:
  • Pastoral support
  • Study advice
  • Help accessing student services

_{This is a map of Australia. It is showing the Regional University Study Hubs across all of Australia based on their location and remoteness classification. The remoteness classification is based on the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics remoteness classification.}

There are 56 Regional University Study Hubs located in all states and the Northern Territory.

Find a hub near you on the full list of Regional University Study Hubs.

Program objectives

The Regional University Study Hubs program aims to:

• Enable students in rural, regional and remote Australia to access and complete higher education without having to leave their community
• Meet a demonstrated gap in support for study in a regional, rural or remote community
• Support students who wish to stay in their community while they complete their course of study
• Enhance the experience of students studying within their own community
• Encourage strong links between the hubs and other organisations in the area, including other education and support services that students may access and industry
• Complement, rather than replace, existing and planned university investments and activities in regional areas, such as satellite campuses and study centres.

Each hub reflects the community it serves and is established with consideration of the:

• Geographic location of the study hub in relation to the community
• Population size, demographic and cultural needs of the local community
• Local industry and businesses in the area and the skills they need
• Location of local TAFE and VET providers.

Funding commitments

Since 2018, over $150 million has been committed to the Regional University Study Hubs program. This has included:

• grant funding to establish and operate the hubs
• Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) to support hub-university partnerships
• implementing a network and central support for all hubs
• an evaluation of the program to inform improvements to the program and hub governance and operation
• undertaking a research project on hub partnerships and how to best support them, particularly hub-university partnerships
• a scoping study to inform the location and selection of future hubs

On 18 July 2023, the Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, announced $66.9 million to establish up to 20 new Regional University Study Hubs and up to 14 Suburban University Study Hubs. This is part of the Government’s response to the Priority Actions listed in the Australian Universities Accord Panel’s Interim Report.

2021 Scoping Study and Regional Needs Model

In 2021, a Scoping Study was undertaken to inform the selection of locations for new/future Regional University Study Hubs. This included the creation of a desktop tool for analysing data on Australian regions to consider their relative need and suitability for a Regional University Study Hub.

For more information, see Regional University Study Hubs Program – Scoping Study and Regional Needs Model.