History
The university was created through the University of Notre Dame Australia Act 1989 in the Parliament of Western Australia. The act was given assent on 9 January 1990, the university was inaugurated on 2 July 1991 and classes commenced in February 1992.
Education
- The University of Notre Dame Australia provides students with the theoretical knowledge and professional skills which will empower them to realise their potential, build interconnectedness with all peoples and willingly serve the community through active participation, engagement and reflection.
- The University of Notre Dame Australia has a powerful commitment to honouring the individual and recognise that each student is graced with their own gifts and talents. The University of Notre Dame Australia believe that higher education should prepare students for a rich, fulfilling and reflective life, not just a career path.
Research
- Notre Dame enables growth of its research culture and capacity through partnership with an emphasis on collaboration and translational research.
- Medical research facilities at Fiona Stanley Hospital, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Murdoch University in Western Australia, and Auburn Hospital in New South Wales are shared with the University.
- Notre Dame also collaborates with specialised centres like the WA Phenome Centre, the WA Shared Imaging Facility, the WA Health Translation Network and the Nursing Research Centre at St John of God Hospital in Western Australia.
Housing services
On campus accommodation is available at our Fremantle and Broome Campuses while student accommodation is available in close vicinity to the Sydney Campus.
The Campus is surrounded by natural savannah and tropical gardens and is only a 10-minute walk from the main Broome shopping centre, and 20 minutes to the town centre.
Notre Dame Fremantle Campus Student Residences offers on-campus accommodation ideal for those who want to be part of a communit.
- The Sydney Campus is located on two sites: Broadway, which houses the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Law and Philosophy & Theology, and Darlinghurst which is home to the Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
Library services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the University of Notre Dame Australia Library collections may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, websites, film, audio recordings or printed material.
Campus life
Notre Dame is a leading Australian university which spreads coast-to-coast with campuses in Sydney, New South Wales on the east coast, to the north west town of Broome and the port city of Fremantle in Perth, Western Australia.
As an international student, you have the opportunity to study your degree across Australia with the option to study a semester or two at another sister campus.
Sports facilities
Notre Dame's Sport and Recreation program provides opportunities for students of all ages and abilities to participate in sports on a social and competitive level.
Each semester we enter teams in local lunchtime competitions – a short walk from the Broadway campus. It’s mixed, social, fun and FREE. Games are between 12:00 – 2:00pm so if you have a free period join up!
- Monday - No sport
- Tuesday - Futsal
- Wednesday - Netball
- Thursday - Futsal, Volleyball
- Friday - Touch, Basketball
Student clubs
The Notre Dame Student Association (NDSA) was created in 1996 to help our students grow both in and out of the classroom. Located in Prindiville Hall (ND3), the NDSA reflects the vibrant energy of Fremantle and our university.
- The Student Association of the University of Notre Dame Australia (SAUNDA) provides an avenue for social and personal development and fosters a sense of community. The Student Association aims to support the needs of students. It liases directly with student groups to ensure concerns are appropriately addressed.
Accreditation
This mark signifies that Notre Dame is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association (NCA).
The University of Notre Dame Australia Overview
The University of Notre Dame Australia Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 20.6% Australia
Top 35.8% Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
1201
By TopUniversities
Climbed 200 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1401 | 1401 | 1201 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
1592
By U.S. News & World Report
Climbed 82 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1511 | 1674 | 1592 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
801
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | 801 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
The University of Notre Dame Australia Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
Australia Country
Fremantle City
#2 Branch Campus
Australia Country
Sydney City
#3 Branch Campus
Australia Country
Broome City
The University of Notre Dame Australia Student Reviews & Awards
4
Based on 4 reviews
- 5 Star 3 Reviews
- 4 Star 0 Reviews
- 3 Star 0 Reviews
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 1 Review
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Great experience at Notre Dame Australia so far!
Smooth application process, friendly and hard-working staff and supportive academic environment.
great support, great opportunities, beautiful campus
Notre Dame is an amazing university for those wanting to complete their degree in picturesque beach-side Fremantle. The classes are smaller than that of traditional universities and the faculty really prioritise individualistic learning and student wellbeing.
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