Want a university that will give you the convenience of the city and the charm of the country? Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga is a fantastic choice.
Nestled in the heart of regional New South Wales (NSW), Wagga Wagga should not be mistaken for your typical “country town”. Affectionately known as just “Wagga” by locals, it’s a major regional city and a prominent hub for agriculture, education, military and culture.
About halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, Wagga Wagga’s location lets you enjoy creature comforts and have the ability to go on weekend getaways. Visit the Snowy Mountains and explore the shopping and cultural scene at Canberra. You can also go camping at nearby national parks and reserves.
As the capital of the Riverina and the largest inland city in NSW, Wagga is thriving and has a growing population of more than 65,000. Founded on Wiradjuri land, Wagga derives its name from the Wiradjuri dialect and means ‘the place where crows assemble in large numbers’. Charles Sturt University has strong connections with the Wiradjuri people. Our ethos is Yindyamarra Winhanganha, a Wiradjuri phrase meaning, ‘the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in’.
With its diverse multicultural population, rich heritage and bustling events calendar, Wagga Wagga is a top choice if you want to move towards your future career and grow from a holistic university experience along the way.
Join a thriving social scene
There’s plenty to see and do with friends when you study with us in Wagga Wagga. The CBD is just a short drive from our campus. You can catch the latest blockbuster at the cinema, sink some pins with a game of ten-pin bowling, and devour a variety of fine cuisine at one of many restaurants – all within a few metres of each other!
When you study on-campus in Wagga Wagga, you’ll be at the heart of the Charles Sturt community and can take advantage of a wide range of events and social activities. Love a good theme night (who doesn’t, right)? You’ll get your fair share of them at Charles Sturt University! Want to fill your spare time and make lifelong friendships in one hit? Join a club! There’s sporting and social clubs that cater for all kinds of hobbies and interests. Need somewhere to keep cool during the summer months or keep fit all year round? Our on-campus gym and pool at Wagga Wagga will become your new favourite hang-out.
And the best part about our sports, leisure and social facilities? All your uni mates are invited! Whether studying on-campus or online, you’ll be able to catch up with your new friends when you come on campus. It’s the perfect atmosphere to relax and recharge in before your next tute or study sesh!
Enjoy city convenience on nature’s doorstep
If you think that living in the heart of the country means you’ll need to sacrifice the luxuries of city living – think again! Wagga Wagga is a thriving metropolis that boasts all the bells and whistles that you’ll find in the city. There are two major shopping centres and a bustling CBD that’s decked out with services that cater for all your lifestyle needs, from healthcare and wellbeing to retail and entertainment.
Not only does Wagga Wagga have a thriving cultural calendar that includes theatre, music, art and a growing restaurant and café scene, but you can get your fix of clean, fresh, country air and enjoy the relaxed ambience of the beautiful parks and gardens.
One of the must-see attractions for your to-do list is the famous five o’clock wave* at Wagga Beach. If you don’t manage to see the wave^, you’re sure to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. BYO picnic rug and packed lunch and you’ll find you have the perfect study location – and you can walk into town for a coffee with friends when you’re done!
*Read more about the ‘five o’clock wave.
^Wave may or may not be an actual ‘wave’.
Be part of a multicultural community
If there’s one thing that Wagga locals are particularly proud of, it’s the diverse multicultural communities that call Wagga home. The city warmly welcomes people from all around the world and offers services and facilities that cater to many cultures and religions. You’ll be treated to a taste of the rich culture if you attend the city’s annual Fusion Festival, an event where cultures from all around the world come together and share cuisine, cultural displays and performances. The event is a real display of unity and attracts visitors from all around the Riverina and beyond.
Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga is enriched through the many international students that choose to study on-campus with us each year. There are clubs and societies tailored to meet the needs and interests of students from across the globe. Living on-campus also gives our international students a taste of real Aussie culture – and memories that will last a lifetime.
Rich sporting culture
If you’re a sports fanatic you’ll feel right at home at the City of Good Sports. It’s widely known that many of Australia’s sporting heroes hail from Wagga Wagga – so much so that the ‘Wagga Effect’ has been coined by the Australian Institute of Sport to describe the high number of elite sportspeople who come from the area. Sporting legends who call Wagga home include former test cricketers Mark Taylor and Michael Slater, former footballers Paul Kelly and Peter Sterling, former soccer superstar Sally Shipard and triathlete Brad Kahlefeldt.
A growing number of talented sportspeople choose to study with Charles Sturt University. One of the reasons we’re so popular with high performing sportspeople is because we offer a special support program for Elite Athletes. The Elite Athletes program offers high performing sportspeople extra support so they can get their degree while they continue to undertake their sporting commitments. Some of our elite athletes have included household names. They include Olympic track cyclist Kaarle McCulloch, Olympic cross-country skier Phil Bellingham, Women’s Rugby Sevens players Nicole Beck and Alicia Quirk, former captain of the Men’s Rugby Sevens Ed Jenkins and Hockeyroos star Karri McMahon to name just a few.
Whether you’re an elite athlete or more of a social sport team player, you can get amongst the action first-hand through our wide range of sports clubs and teams.
Start your career at Wagga Wagga
Studying at Wagga Wagga could give you the edge that your future employer is looking for. We know that bosses love regional graduates. It’s no secret that when you live and study in the country you’ll finish your degree as a well-rounded graduate. Our graduates are well-known by industry for being job-ready and having those essential hands-on skills courtesy of all the practical learning in our degrees. It’s one of the reasons why our grads get jobs. There are opportunities to further develop your skills in a range of workplace settings and with a variety of employees. It’s the opportunities that are available to you in and around the Wagga area that will set you apart from the city folk. Job opportunities and the relaxed country lifestyle combined with the lower cost of living than in the city are among the many reasons why our graduates choose to work and stay in the region.
*Disclaimer: if you come to study with us in Wagga Wagga, you may never want to leave – it’s just that good!
Check out Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga
If you want to learn more about what it’s really like going to university in Wagga Wagga, join us on-campus at our Open Day 2023 series this July and August!
Or you can get in touch with our friendly team to learn more.