The University of Sydney

The University of Sydney was Australia's first, founded in 1850, and now boasts a place among the top 40 universities in the world. It is also a member of Australia's Group of Eight universities - the country's elite in terms of research performance. The institution has numerous student organisations including a debating club which counts former Australian Prime Minister John Howard among ex-members.

Sydney University Sport has produced more Australian athletes than any other club, with basketball player Belinda Snell and 400m relay runner Clinton Hill both winning gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The campus is well known for sandstone buildings, complete with gargoyles and courtyards, with seven different campuses spread throughout the Sydney area. A total enrolment of 45,182 students includes 9,010 from overseas, taught by 3,018 full time equivalent academic staff. Outside of lecture hours there are 215 student clubs and societies to choose from and 43 sporting clubs.