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Prestigious study centres

Published on 07 May 2024

When Abbey Barcham graduated high school in her hometown of Bathurst, she had the tough decision of selecting a university to study at.

Seeking to live a fun and active lifestyle sea-side, the 23-year-old couldn’t pass up the opportunity to set up shop in Lake Macquarie and study at the University of Newcastle.

“I was looking for that perfect in-between of a coastal town and a city and for me Warners Bay was that perfect middle-ground,” Ms Barcham said.

Since moving to Warners Bay in 2020 with her partner Abbey has thrived in her new environment.

“I love living in Warners Bay because it means on weekends I can spend time at the beach or go bike riding or paddle boarding. I like to catch up with my friends at the local coffee shops as well,” Ms Barcham said.

“I am able to travel to the university - one of the best universities in the country - during the week and then spend my weekends switching off at perfect beach locations nearby.”

Abbey Barcham at Warners Bay

Abbey has excelled in her studies of a Bachelor of Education and is well on her way to securing her dream job as a primary school teacher.

“Choosing the University of Newcastle was a no-brainer for me, it was very attractive in that it had a lot to offer academically.”

And she’s not alone - in 2021 more than 5000 Lake Mac residents chose to study at the University of Newcastle, making up 14 per cent of total enrolments.

The growing institution is known on the world stage and is ranked within the top 200 universities across the globe - well renowned for its courses in engineering, medicine and science.

But it’s far from the only option, the University of Avondale offers 34 award courses including teaching, nursing, ministry and medicine.

The Cooranbong campus in the city's west has seen 90.9 per cent of graduates acquire full-time employment in 2021, which beats the national average by almost five per cent.

In addition, TAFE campuses are situated nearby at Glendale and Belmont, offering hands-on diplomas.