Student accommodation near James Cook University

Student flats and spare rooms near JCU

In order to choose the most convenient location, you first have to determine which of the institution's campuses you are going to go to. We will tell you all the details.

Where is James Cook University located?

The institution has several campuses in Australia and one in Singapore. In this section we focus on three of the most important campuses in Queensland, Australia:

Campus in Townsville, Bebegu Yumba

This is the main and largest campus of the institution, located in the Douglas suburb of the city of Townsville, a vibrant coastal city with a stunning natural setting. It is also called Bebegu Yumba Campus, which means “place of learning” in the Aboriginal language Birri-Gubba.

Among the faculties in which classes are taught here are:

• Health Sciences
• Marine Sciences
• Sciences and Engineering
• Veterinary Sciences

There are also recreation and sports areas, including cricket, tennis, football and hockey pitches.

Campus in Cairns

There are two distinct campuses in this Queensland city:

• One of them is located in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, north of the city centre. It is also called Nguma-bada Campus, whose meaning is “belonging to tomorrow” in the Yirrgay dialect, since it is designated a place of learning, knowledge and wisdom of tomorrow.
• The other campus is located in the heart of the city, in the CBD. Also known under the name of Bada-jali Campus, which means "Cocky apple blossom" in the Yirrgay coastal dialect, referring to a "Place and time of new beginnings and growth."

Campus in Brisbane

Located in Brisbane’s Central Business District (CBD), it focuses on business, information technology and education programs, giving students access to the urban and business life of one of Australia's largest cities.

Among the areas in which programs are taught here are:

• Business and Business Administration
• Information Technology
• Tourism, Hospitality and Events
• Engineering
• Education

Best neighbourhoods to live in near JCU

Some of the neighbourhoods that we recommend you consider to stay in are:

Townsville City, West End, Currajong, Gulliver (Townsville)

These neighbourhoods of the city of Townsville City tend to be preferred by students, due to the good public transport links to the Douglas Campus. Gulliver and Currajong are the closest to campus, while West End and Townsville City make up part of the centre of the city.

Smithfield (Cairns)

If you prefer to be close to the beaches and JCU’s Smithfield Campus, the Smithfield neighbourhood is very convenient. It’s north of Cairns and has several shops, restaurants and green areas such as Smithfield Regional Park. It’s about 30 minutes by bus from the centre of Cairns, which provides easy access to the central area and its amenities.

Central Business District (Cairns and Brisbane)

Both Cairns and Brisbane have a central business district called CBD. Each is home to one of JCU’s campuses, so living there is ideal if you’re going to go to one of them. These neighbourhoods are usually part of the hub of daytime and nightlife in both cities, so you’ll be close to many places frequented by young people.

Student residences near James Cook University

In Australia, it’s very common for students to stay in student residences. Thanks to this, you’ll find great availability, many of which are close to or have good access to the university campuses. For its part, JCU has some student halls where you can request accommodation. In Cairns and in Townsville they have accommodation on campus, although in the first of them only on the Campus of Smithfield.

Exchange at James Cook University

Here are a few things you should bear in mind when making your exchange, so you can enjoy your stay as much as possible:

• JCU promotes understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture and Indigenous Australian communities. It offers programs and activities related to indigenous history and culture. We recommend that you take advantage of these to gain an insight into this part of Australian culture.
• Cairns and Townsville, where the main campuses are located, are known for their cultural festivals and community events. Join celebrations like the Cairns Festival or the Townsville Cultural Fest to experience the cultural diversity of the region.

FAQ about James Cook University