Mackay Campus. Photo credit: CQUniLife
CQUniversity is a regional university based in Rockhampton. It has an extensive network of study centresย in Queensland and major Australian cities. They support distance education courses (exams, on-campusย sessions, etc). Around half of CQU's students are distance learners. CQU is also popular with international students, who make up more than half the on-campus student body. An appealing point for international students is that CQU setsย low tuition fees. If you are a current or former CQU student, you're welcome to post a review.
CQU Rating
Australia Ranking 30
Based on world university rankings.
Source: Australian Universities
Source: Australian Universities
John
Disgusting university
Central Queensland University (CQU) is an absolute disaster and, in my opinion, a complete scam. They lure students in with promises of โpremium coursesโ and high-quality education, but what they actually deliver is far from acceptable. The university charges exorbitant fees, making students believe theyโre investing in their future, yet the value for money is shockingly low. The curriculum is outdated, and classes are often led by instructors who seem unqualified, lacking real industry experience or even the basic knowledge required to guide students effectively. These so-called โeducatorsโ appear to be out of touch with the fields theyโre teaching, making students wonder if CQU even cares about the quality of education they provide.
Whatโs worse, CQU’s reputation in the industry is abysmal. Employers actively avoid hiring CQU graduates, which speaks volumes about the universityโs standing and the quality of its programs. Students invest years and thousands of dollars in degrees that the industry doesnโt respect, leaving them unemployable and with wasted time and money. The job market barely recognizes CQU qualifications, and the training is so shallow that graduates find themselves scrambling to make up for gaps in essential skills.
The universityโs facilities are also subpar, often outdated, and lacking necessary resources, despite charging students hefty fees. Access to proper labs, study materials, and industry-relevant technology is limited at best, leaving students ill-equipped for the workforce. Moreover, when students raise issues or ask for support, the administration is dismissive, prioritizing profit over student welfare and development. The disregard CQU shows for its students is staggering; it seems to focus solely on squeezing out as much money as possible while offering the bare minimum in return.
Overall, CQU is misleading students with false promises of quality and professional opportunity. The institution feels like itโs set up to extract as much money as possible from unsuspecting students without delivering a shred of genuine value. If youโre considering CQU, think againโitโs a colossal waste of money, time, and effort.
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L
Waste of time- Bachelor of Echocardiography CQU
Do not bother with this university or this Degree!
I am in year 3 of a bachelor of echocardiography.
i wish i never even started here. The ads should read ” Come waste your time and money”
– The degree is all online with very little to no update of lecture videos.
– only allow 2 hours a week for scanning, however you do have scanning exams with a Pass/Fail grading system.
– If you are a lucky soul to get to the stage of placement, don’t hold your breath. A lot of students are still waiting on placement from year 3 even thought they have finished all academic components ( year 4). Putting them behind by over a year ( a year worth of wages). Placement is 16 week blocks X4 of them.
– The Echocardiography industry hates CQU graduates! this is often told to your face on some sad placement site that just took you out of pity or resulting in placement sites not taking students at all.
– i had a lecturer tell me drop out of this course(year 2) and do nursing and a graduate certificate in Echo, not even their lecturers like the course.
– Now the lecturers themselves are people within the industry, however they now teach due to them being injured after a few years of scanning or being fired for missing pathologies. Quality. To second this they don’t even hold a certificate or high education degree to teach, therefore having no basic training on how to connect with students in a multitude of teaching techniques.
– over 50% of the cohort fail – that includes your amazingly smart BF. Correct its a very high failure and dropout rate (i do think this is caused by all of the above)
– Placement locations can be anywhere in AUS not just your state- at one point we even had NZ as an option. and yes you are to find accommodation and pay for everything.
– Mothers if you are thinking of doing the course, don’t they don’t consider your child as a good enough reason to need to be placed closer to home.
– Exam marks – these are very inconsistent with half and full marks being given in the first 10 questions and then a completely different approach to marking ( no 0.5 marks) given to the rest of the exam.
– You will need to review everything, as marking and grading is so inconsistent you are constantly fighting to review your exam to point out errors.
– Scanning labs – its a day of mixed industry professionals who get given a protocol and that’s it! no background on the lab focus, no image expectations as per the uni. you get told a multitude of things that will fail you on your exam day.
– Past students still waiting on placement still have to redo exams to make sure they meet industry standards so you may pass the unit overall however if you are held back you will have to repeat it.
– course structure makes no sense, units are in the order of you have placement then a unit after explaining that placement, the course structure changes every year as they are still working out the kinks.
– the Australian in 2021 i think it was wrote an article on this very issue with the uni and course – so it has been already publicly shamed for being a waste of time.
Any past students, let me know it only takes 7 people for a class action and this Uni and course needs a big shake up!
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sarah
do you know if it’s similar to the general sonography program? I applied and am waiting for an offer however I’m getting discouraged by these reviews do they at least guarantee placements for students and would students be able to graduate within time? i want to graduate within 4 years and do not want to waste time.
A
CQU - Bachelor of Echocardiography 2023 Review
I am currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Echocardiography at CQU and have just completed my first year. I have had a great experience so far. My lecturers have all been incredible. My tutors have been great and friendly. The first year has been all online, except for 2 days each term when you go on campus. It is a hard course not going to sugarcoat it. You need to work very hard as there is a lot of material each week that you need to learn. If you are not an organised person, I would recommend sorting that out now before applying for this course, perhaps start by setting up Google Calendar. As it is mainly online you need to self-direct your learning and be proactive! Also, Make sure you know about placements and have a plan or idea of what you will do financially for those now BEFORE enrolling because so many students go through the course and then get to placements and aren’t prepared. Anyway, Good luck with your application and don’t let all these negative reviews get you down! If Echocardiography or being a Cardiac Sonographer is your dream then go for it! Just be ready to work hard and put in 100%.
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Lou
Placement
there is a massive backlog for placement with students. some students have completed all there subjects and still waiting 2 years for a placement offering. most hospitals and private practices only accept students from other universities with more updated courses.
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Brian
Unqualified and inexperienced teaching staff
Agree with so many of the negative comments here about CQU. Especially the TAFE arm. They have lecturers who have limited or no genuine experience. The course l was going to study was a joke. Certain the lecturer given the course because no one else would do it. While their primary field of speciality no doubt they have skills and knowledge but the course they where supposedly teaching us their knowledge was beyond inferior. The so-called exams where just cut and pasted (and not even correctly at times) from materials and was not even referenced. I thought that was called plagiarism; for students maybe but this lecturer could do it all they wanted. When challenged on the correctness responses such as โofficial statementโ โtaken from learning materialโ was the best you could get out them.
When you challenged the answers to exams you were reported for inappropriate behaviour and given warnings; you couldnโt question anything or seek context or clarity and l am certain this is because the lecturer did not have the knowledge or experience to provide answers. Communication was sporadic and poor. I had many yearsโ experience in this work area and even post grad uni qualifications they refused to recognise. RPL was done by the same lecturer who taught the material; so any assessment was biased and done by someone with less experience than you. Checking their Linked In profile the details there did not match what students were told of this personโs background. Having limited offerings of the program in Australia meant few options to study elsewhere but decided to leave anyway; would rather not have my professionalism tainted by such a poor-quality study offering. Fed up with poor communication, very low standard of teaching and materials and certainly not a qualification that would meet my desired outcomes. Wasted months and good money on this program. Reminded me too much of places like Federation Uni in Victoria.
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Dipesh Kc
Australia Should be shameful to have a university like CQU LOL
They start giving headaches right away when you are in GTE,
They don’t answer your calls, emails, or texts even though you call them 1000s of times. It’s so shameful that a University in Australia feels worse than any university in a third-world country LOL.
Shame on you CQU!
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Amber
CQU is a fake university
I enrolled in a bachelor of engineering in last semester (mid 2022) I was super excited to be learning engineering an boy was I disgusted with this university. I have just transferred to university of Melbourne start of this year.
The set up was that CQU would deliver 2 lectures a week and one tutorial. During our first lecture the teacher told us he was not interested in teaching twice a week and said if you want to watch something the you can review pre recorded lectures form 4 years ago. Then they told us that they will meet students every 3rd week for tutorialโs instead of every week. I was so annoyed due to the lack of teaching and when I raised concerns saying I unhappy with this substandard teaching they told me you have already paid for the subject so deal with it.
I complained to the chancellor and he wouldnโt even take my calls or reply to my email what a coward he is !
What I figured out is CQU is a BIG SCAM they suck you in with advertising a professional degree and then when you apply they take your money and run.
You will never learn anything at CQU as it pays in headaches. Honestly to all future students looking at CQU to study PLEASE RECONSIDER. You will waste money and at the end you will not learn a single thing!
If you want a good head start in you education then go to another university. Otherwise you will waste your money and years of your life for absolutely nothing in return !
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Jane
CQU is a fraudulent institution
CQU is money down the drain.
I enrolled in a bachelor of nursing this year and by June I had transferred to a world renowned university. I was extremely disgusted with the poor teaching by this unprofessional establishment! The teachers are not qualified, some of them just hold a certificate 4 in training. What the hell they were teaching life sciences!
When you complain they say itโs your fault. They wonโt let you see your test results you only get a final score, now backwards is that. The course material they delivered has been pre-recorded I would say at least 9 years ago. I canโt believe I turned down great universities for this swamp.
The price per subject is skyrocketing considering you get material a decade old, one hour a week with the lecture who isnโt even qualified in the field. What the hell!
If you want to waste your money and not advance yourself in life then CQU is perfect for you.
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Ava
Don't bother.
Started a Bachelor of Law last year and am transferring out after 12 months of “study”. Several of my “Study Guides” were unfinished – one even had *insert blurb here* written in the text we were using AS A LEARNING TOOL. Lecturers are barely there to help and their accessibility team consistently fails to read emails regarding updated details and continues to call incorrect numbers before emailing as if you’re not answering deliberately. Cannot believe I was paying $4k per term for subjects that barely taught me enough to scrape through what I did. My GPA dropped from a 6.7 to a 2 in less than a year due to inadequate teaching and resourcing. CQU expects you to teach yourself with the help of a few sentences in a poorly written guide.
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X
CQU - Worst uni ever!
CQU is now one of the worst universities Iโve ever been to and I have studied at two other universities over the years. I got my Bachelor of Education at CQU 21 years ago and never had a problem – very professional, very supportive lecturers. Now, some 19/20 years later, I canโt believe what a joke it is. I am studying a nursing course and cannot believe the unprofessional conduct of staff and students. Students turn up half way through the day and leave classes when they feel like it. One student โforgotโ to turn up for an exam – not once but twice! That student had their exam rearranged (twice), but when I requested a deferred exam due to illness, it was an absolute nightmare and I was the worst person in the world. The course Iโm studying has compulsory attendance as well. Academic integrity, or a lack of it, is a major issue. I am aware of cheating that has occurred in exams and of staff changing students answers in online exams and other assessments for them. Staff are encouraging students to put in complaints about other staff. The reason – these staff wonโt give students answers to assessment so students are complaining to other staff (the ones who give answers out) and they are telling them to write complaints to the Head of Course. Not only this, but supplies for lab work are significantly reduced for โlowerโ courses such as certificate or diploma courses, even if the lab work is the same. Students are told that supplies are being kept for Bachelor students! The Head of Course is not supportive towards any students and their answer and only answer to everything appears to be โwithdraw from the courseโ. It is an absolute joke! I have 10 units left in another course that I want to complete but I have no intention of completing it at CQU. The stress and drama of the past 2 years and more of study at this university is not worth my mental health suffering. The reason I study at CQU is that it is the only university in the town I live in. I study hard, I do the work and it feels like it is all for nothing. Donโt waste your time at CQU.
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Sue
Great for Adult Learners
I had an amazing experience at CQU while doing my PhD. They lived up to their motto ‘Where students come first’. I knew I wanted to do a post-graduate research degree and explored 6 potential universities overseas and in Australia and have no regrets about going with CQU. I conducted my research overseas and felt completely supported by both academic and research staff. I had so much autonomy for choosing my dissertation panel (made up of researchers from around the world), my study site and scope of my research topic. Other universities were much more directive eg demanding that I attend in person despite my study site being overseas. I studied at CQU long before COVID and felt no tyranny of distance. I was well connected with fellow students and academic staff. Suits someone who is autonomous and prefers to be self-directed.
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O
Biggest regret of my life: going to CQU
I am so so upset I wasted 1.5 years of my life in this place. It is not what a University experience should be like at all.
I was enrolled in bachelor of sonography, we did the first year all online and only started coming in the second year for pracs. I only met one staff member who actually seemed to care and want to help the students, the others just wanted to scare you away and make you feel awful.
I remember coming in for my first prac exam, I was very nervous as anyone would be. Unfortunately, I was chosen to go first and I made a small mistake (this did not affect anyone or anything) the tutor proceeded to verbally abuse me for this in front of other students which led to 18 year old me bursting into tears. The tutor laughed at me because I was crying and anxious, then she said โdo you see a psychologist? You need to.โ Completely embarrassed me in front of everyone. I was so upset and of course I then didnโt perform my best during the exam. I will never forget how awful she was to me. I wish I remembered her name I wouldโve loved to expose her!! :))
I have now transferred to UTS and I am so happy I did, it made me realise that I shouldnโt be anxious every time I go into uni. The tutors at UTS truly care about you and want to help you, they donโt judge you at all. This is what uni should be like – a supportive environment. This is not what CQU is.
Soon after this I was sent an email from them claiming they were gonna investigate concerns students had raised (about pretty much every aspect of the uni). Nothing was done to fix any of the concerns and thankfully this is when I decided I was done with the uni.
If CQU continue to run, I hope they decide at the very least, to hire tutors who are up to standard and who actually like teaching and care about the students.
Itโs sad that barely any other uniโs in Australia, especially NSW, donโt offer a sonography course. If you are deciding whether to do this course or to do a 3 year undergrad degree and then a 2 year post grad degree at a different uni, please choose the second option!!!
I know you may think this sonography course will be quicker but thereโs a very good chance it wonโt be, you will most likely be held back a year or more because CQU canโt find you a placement or have unnecessarily failed you. A poor woman in my class was doing one of the subjects for the 3rd time because they kept failing her (she was great I donโt know why they kept failing her). Itโs almost like this course was created to get people off the idea of becoming a sonographer.
I dread when people ask me what uni I used to go to because I am truly embarrassed about it. Every time I make sure I add โI had to go here as no one else offers this course in NSWโ.
I donโt think anyone who has ever asked me has actually heard of CQU, even worse because Iโm sure they look it up later and see how bad it is and think Iโm some dummy who couldnโt get into anything else.
To sum up, donโt make the same mistake I did and regret it everyday of your life!
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Rana
Hi, if you dont mind me asking, what course did you do in UTS to achieve your role in sonography?
Megan
CQU is not a place to get an education
I enrolled in a bachelor of education (secondary) last year and by the end of the first semester I had left this shambles of place and transferred to Griffith.
Words cannot describe how poor and disgusting this place is. The people who teach these programs are not fit to work at MacDonalds let alone teach tertiary education. The person who was teaching me wasnโt even qualified to teach secondary education! When I asked about her background she told me 9 months ago she used to work as a vehicle traffic controller. I was like WHAAAAT
The exams are absolutely a joke they donโt reflect anything you have been taught during the term and quality of information is absolutely disgusting. Seriously I was so annoyed I was paying to come here.
If youโre a high achieving individual or want a good education then STAY AWAY FROM CQU. They charge an arm and a leg but given you nothing in return. All you will do is waste your money and years off your life.
Most people donโt this but the university has an entire building devoted to managing complaints because of volume in which they receive them. Everyone complain because itโs a garbage of an establishment. SERIOUSLY DONโT PUT DOWN CQU AS A UNIVERSITY PREFERENCE.
100% agree with the previous comments on how bad this place is. Words cannot describe it. The people, the teaching and the atmosphere are substandard.
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Erin Campbell
Not suitable for high achievers
I studied a bachelor of nursing at CQU in the 2000โs. While there were a few great lecturers the majority were lack lustre. It is certainly not a place for high achievers – I won every award each semester for 3 years for both the Bundaberg Campus and CQU nationally – but the โawardsโ were cheap laminated A4 pages and there is no public record of my achievements there.
I was also the elected domestic student representative on the Academic Board of the University. I received nothing in exchange for my labour – not even a certificate and was even expected to pay to print my own copy of the monthly agenda – which was provided for free to faculty who were being paid for their roles.
All in all it was a disappointing experience. I certainly donโt recommend the school.
I was also labeled โdifficultโ for identifying errors like the exam where they used the wrong automatic marking card – I had to explain to the lecturer that if the entire class got less than 30% there was most likely a marking error – there was and it was corrected but I was treated like it was my error. There was also a serious issue with an incorrect formula sheet provided for medication calculations – which despite the fact that I alerted them to this AND provided the correct formulas – which were then provided to students, when the 100% required exam came the university provided the incorrect original sheet to students. It took me 20 minutes to convince them that they were using the wrong one before the exam commenced. I paid a lot of money but it seemed like I spent more time fixing their mistakes than actually learning much.
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Darren
CQU is not a real university, itโs a scam
Hi enrolled in a bachelor of IT start of this year and soon as the program commenced I realised that this establishment is all smoke and mirrors.
1. The assignment they were giving to students in IT were about self motivation and improvement. When I complained and said how does this have anything to do with IT they replied with thatโs what we are delivering now. I have just transferred to Griffith university, I was so disgusted how an IT program doesnโt even teach you IT !!!
2. The textbooks we were told to purchase cost $140 and not once did we ever use them because no material ever reflected the textbook.
3. They have no actually professors teaching the course instead itโs a part time person who holds a certificate 4 in training reading from pre-arranged slides. So be very careful the people in this place are not qualified professors at all.
4. The grades are done by another department and they have no idea whatโs right or whatโs wrong they mark you without any structure.
Honestly, I am so annoyed that I decided to study at CQU. Itโs big scam this place. This shouldnโt be allowed to operate as a university as itโs nothing more than a tafe!
Go to a reputable university that has good academic standing donโt come here. You will end up wasting money and in return get nothing
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Fiona
CQU is not a real university
I enrolled in bachelor of Education and omg it was delivered up fools and organised by idiots. I found the program to be a waste of money.
1. No qualified teachers in this program.
2. No up to date lectures, everything is recorded for over 5 years ago.
3. The exams are put together by overseas students who work for peanuts.
4. They charge students Ivy League university prices per subject and deliver content you would find on YouTube.
5. If you complain they will send you an email saying itโs all your fault
I absolutely hated my semester at this crap TAFE. I transferred to UQ and itโs chalk and cheese of an establishment.
anyone who wants to come to CQU you need to get your head examined. You will waste money and get nothing in return. Be very careful
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Kim
CQU is a SCAM !!
CQU is garbage!!!
I enrolled in a bachelor of law at CQU. An the first year subjects that they taught us didnโt have anything to do with law instead we had to work on our life portfolios. Now how the hell is this first year law.
Meanwhile, my friends at UQ were going and observing real life courts as part of course its curriculum . Learning about the foundation of law with actual law professors. Unlike CQU who only hires from Centrelink.
I quite after my first year. I found CQU to be the biggest scam. Itโs just a Tafe that charges you premium Harvard prices !!
The lectures who were teaching us law hadnโt had any real life experience in law for over 10yrs. They had no name in academics and werenโt even lectures just certified 4 qualified hired help.
So, I was paying some life wasted fool full price to teach me something they didnโt even know themselves.
CQUโs website is made difficult to navigate intentionally because they want to hide how crap of an organisation it is!!
Seriously stay well away from CQU. As you will regret it for the rest of your life.
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Kristy
CQU is a scam
The CQU is an awful establishment, and I agree 1000% to what the previous commenters have stated. I enrolled in a bachelor of sonography, which CQU promotes a bachelor of echocardiography / bachelor of sonography as their most premium courses they offer. Ahh What a scam!!
Having spent a lot of money on a glorified tafe, I had no idea it would be a waste. The program consists of just one hour a week of interaction with the lecturer and all of the responses they give to students is I don’t know what your textbook says about this. Ahh how pathetic is this, students go to these tutorials to get clarification. The people teaching the course are not actually professors they only hold a certificate in training and assessment. So basically youโre getting taught but someone who works at McDonaldโs after hours .I quit after the first semester I was so disgusted by this place, itโs not a university but a SCAM
It has been reported by a friend of mine that the company in which she works does not employ anyone who has completed sonography / echocardiography at CQU because they are not well-rounded due to the education program being so out of date with current medical practices. Honestly look at the ASAR Website and find a decent place to study.
If you are considering CQU, I recommend staying away from it. The school is a SCAM you will walk out with nothing but debt and zero prospects of employment. Honestly, go to reputable universities; if the quality of their top programs is as poor as this, I would be frightened to attend one of their less well known programs.
D
Terrible Courses
Do not study ultrasound in any form here > check the ASAR website and look for other accredited courses. Only lasted 1.5 years in the undergrad sonography program before I realised what a joke the course was.
Enormous workload, most people donโt succeed. Youโll find your cohort is halving or more every semester because people leave or they get failed. In no way can they facilitate so many placement, definitely likely they fail students on purpose ( or so Iโve heard ).
Iโve worked in healthcare for a while now. Speak to ANY ultrasound practice/hospital/sonography and show them syllabus from the units, and theyโll all say the same thing : โwhy are you learning this for? youโll never need thisโ >> someone explain why CQU needs FOUR YEARS to do what EVERY OTHER UNIVERSITY does in 2
Extremely unorganised, force some units into term 3 and when I did it had to create additional learning points because placement providers were complaining that students were underprepared. In Sydneyโs south, spoke to 2 medical imagining clinics that said they donโt hire anyone from CQU because theyโve had bad experiences from people in placements being way underprepared.
Also just an interesting fact about sonography: I suppose MOST of the appeal from this course comes from the fact that you can do it straight out of high school as opposed to doing a 2 year graduate diploma. Most people (as I am currently dojng) study RADIOGRAPHY first.
This is important because sonographer is NOT a protected title > whilst courses are regulated by ASAR, anyone can call themselves a sonographer (although companies only hire ASAR accredited sonographers).
This has BIG implications for the public healthcare space. If you WANT to work in public in New South Wales, just know that your salary will be poor in relation to your training. Unfortunately, as part of NSW Health legislation, sonographer is not a title or pay grade that exists in any pay sheet from Nsw health. Therefore, sonographer who work in public are classified on a RADIOGRAPHER award but just start off on a higher level. HOWEVER, If you do NOT have a radiography degree (for EG if you did. sonography straight out of HS from CQU), you will be placed on a generic health services award and paid less than a radiographer (when in reality you should be getting paid the same if not more). This is the catch for NSW, not sure if other states have something similar
My advice? If you want to be a sonographer, do radiography first somewhere else.
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Mel
Its not all bad news
Can you show me what other university offers this degree in 2 years? if you are referring to the graduate diploma at QUT or UOA just remember these are both POST-GRADUATE whereas the sonography degree offered at CQU is an undergraduate bachelors degree which is a 3 year degree, it is also combined with a graduate diploma which is only 1 year. So if you want to compare apples with apples then CQU actually takes less time than your typical route. Your typical route to be a sonographer is 3 years of any bachelor of healthcare related degree + 2 years of post graduate diploma = 5 years this does not take into consideration the fact that most people are unable to find their own placement unless they have studied medical imaging. Regarding your comment about placement and being purposefully failed, that is simply not true. All of my cohort found local placements, with my supervisor telling me they still had 4 open spots of any other students that passed. I am not entirely sure what the premise of this is? “This is important because sonographer is NOT a protected title > whilst courses are regulated by ASAR, anyone can call themselves a sonographer (although companies only hire ASAR accredited sonographers).” you will be an ASAR accredited sonographer if you graduate the bach of sonography and grad dip at cqu?
Overall, just remember those that are reading all of these reviews that negativity is far more likely to be spread than positivity, and I for one have studied the degree and of all my cohort we all have loved every second of the degree. A majority of these nasty reviews are coming from emotional students who have in my opinion either:
1. Failed the course because they expected it to be easy
or
2. Failed the course because they simply were not ready
Anyway just wanted to put my 2 cents in coming from someone who has graduated the degree.
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Paul
MBA
I did the MBA at CQU and it was fantastic! There were some subjects I found more interesting than others, but some lecturers made the class very engaging and there were plenty of opportunities to get help with assignments, ask questions and interact with other students. Some of the comments here are just 100% false, others are their experience and the ones that tell you to study somewhere else probably work for a different university. If you have any doubts about the course you intend to study, contact the course coordinators and ask them yourself. If I did an MBA anywhere else, I would have paid significantly more for my degree, read exactly the same textbooks and learnt 90% of the same skills with a slightly different focus. Many of my lecturers also work at Monash Uni, Melbourne Uni and RMIT University because I studied in Melbourne. The course coordinator created the MBA for RMIT and now works at CQU, so why pay more for a course if the lecturers are the same as the other higher ranking universities? Those complaining about being online, well duh, all unis are providing their courses throughout the pandemic.
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Murali
MBA
Thanks for your review Paul, I am considering doing an MBA either at CQ or Griffith.
Cost and ranking are low with CQ, also AACSB ranking is a plus with Griffith. I am still deciding which University to go with.
John
CQU is a waste of money
CQU is a terrible !
If you want to waste years off your life and waste valuable money. Meanwhile your peers and friends are moving forward then sure come and study at this circus called CQU.
I enrolled in the Bachelor of Echocardiography which CQU claims itโs the most premium program it delivers, Ahh I quit after the 2nd subject. Honestly I was so disgusted by the quality of this program. I found it to be extremely disorganised and CQU puts in very little effort in to the course material. I was studying material from 8 years ago thatโs how lazy and unprofessional CQU is in providing up to date information. Yet they charge you premium prices for each subject.
The university lectures are not even remotely qualified in the subject they teach. My first lecture at CQU told the course at the beginning she had no experience in the area she was teaching.
CQUโs Lack of quality can be further verified by the fact no one in CQU publishes any academic research. Compared to many reputable universities for E.g QUT, Griffith and UQ. (First red flag)
You will never be allowed to see your exams results to see where you can improve etc. youโre only given a grade. Now thatโs pathetic from a university standpoint. (2nd red flag)
Your feedback is filed in the shredder and is never ever addressed. CQU has a full section devoted to complaints because that how frequently they get them. Now thatโs a major red flag!!!!!
If you want to set yourself back 3-4 years and waste hard earned money to a place that gives you nothing in return then CQU is perfect for you.
If you want a really good education thatโs got a trusted name behind it then go to QUT, UQ or Griffith.
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Brett
Review of CQU
Hi John,
What campus did you attend?
Sal
CQU is garbage
CQU is a pathetic University
The lectures they employ are bottom feeding muppets. They have no academic standing and not one of them they publish nothing. So that explains a lot !!!!!!
Yet, it prides it self to be an awesome university which a joke!!
Stay awake from this tafe itโs not worthy of being classed as a university. It has so many policies of when you complain because itโs a cluster of an organisation.
They donโt even let students see exam results. Because they donโt want you to contest it and find out the lectures are unqualified.
The VC is so gutless when you complain be hides like a whipped dog.
I would not waste your money in this place. Honestly go to UQ, QUT or Griffith !!
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Lucky86
MBA (Leadership) Online Review
Considering MBA Leadership Online?
Any feedback?
Ven Ho
I did MBA (L) online from CQU. I would say the main focus is on completing assignments to get the degree. No real learning behind it.
Some of the case studies are good but bottom line is I learnt nothing from this MBA(L).
Jason
CQU is a disgusting university
CQU IS CRAP STAY WELL CLEAR !
I enrolled in a bachelor of echocardiography worst mistake of my life.
I only discovered after I enrolled that the human anatomy teachers for the degree ( I refuse to call them lectures) werenโt even qualified in the field they teach. They only held a certificate 4 in training and assessment. Like WTF itโs life science and they hired a Centrelink hobo with no medical experience teaching the subjects. Now all he was doing was reading directly out of the textbook word for word. Ahh thatโs what I was doing so they could have just paid me instead.
I quit after the semester. I honestly learned more from YouTube then I did with that rent a teacher. They only allow once a week interaction with the staff other wise itโs all self education. Sorry but life sciences are not to be self learned this is how you make mistakes.
When you complain to the university they throw the punch line at you which the university has rehearsed a million times. They take no action but make you out to be the guilty party.
The university has no academic standing, I mean absolutely zero. Furthermore CQU has a 40% non completion rate.
Itโs rated the worst university in the country.
CQU business model is built around international students. They suck them in and charge them through the roof but give them a substandard teaching where you learn yourself. The students drop out and CQU entices more international students to cover the gap.
Honestly stay well clear of CQU. Stick to reputable universities like UQ, QUT and Griffith.
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john Herman
BE VERY CAREFUL or you may waste years of your life
BE VERY CAREFUL!
Do you have a desire to go to university mid year 2021 or in 2022?
Be very careful where you apply you could get screwed and all you end up with is an expensive HECS debt
check the good universities guide also check online reviews
i wish i did before going here
after 2 years of a 3 year degree i could not enrol in the third year
GOOD LUCK!
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Pete French
Don't be a cash cow... If you have the ability, go to a proper University
Here are a few home truths that CQUniversity would prefer you not to know:
CQUniversity is actually a glorified TAFE college. Don’t be fooled by the University title. A majority of the students are studying to be bricklayers, hairdressers, nail artists etc. Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against these trades and letโs be honest, many of them are essential butโฆ this is NOT a real university and employers know this!
CQUniversity makes a big thing of how a high proportion of its students are employed at the end of their course. What they donโt tell you is that a high proportion of their students were employed before and during their course. The employment had nothing to do with their study and in fact, the only thing that CQU adds to graduating studentโs employment is a debt. Please, do the maths before enrolling.
Despite their best efforts to convince you otherwise, CQUniversity has only ever been interested in profit and the current COVID crisis is only intensifying their greed. Until 2006, just 8 years after it came into existence, CQU had been following a process of โpile it high, sell it cheapโ. They were the pioneers of recruiting foreign students and delivering low quality, under-resourced courses that slowly devalued the Australian brand image. Things came to a head in 2005 when CQU was reported to TEQSA, the agency that oversees quality standards in Universities. TEQSA forced CQUniversity to apply marking standards that were comparable with the legitimate Universities in Australia and the money-spinning scheme collapsed. In 2006, more than 60% of students failed their Masters degrees in Melbourne because the teaching and library resources were just inadequate. Students had been deceived by the University and took the extreme step of going on hunger strike, describing themselves as โcash cowsโ. A shameful episode in Australian University history. You can read more details in this article in The Age shorturl.at/bvLY1
After the international student money making scheme backfired, CQU began an attempt to take over the domestic student market. They re-invented themselves as a domestic university with a national presence and in 2015 they registered the brand name Australian National Regional University with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Why would they do that? Because the plan was to launch another private spin-out company, this time cashing in on the success of the Australian National University. ANU is a legitimate university established in 1946 with a high standing and reputation for both teaching and research. It has nothing to do with CQUniversity. Like most Universities, it is a registered charity and not a profit-making company such as the spinout company that CQUniversity previously operated on its campuses outside Rockhampton. The Australian National Regional University (ANrU) has yet to go live, but CQUniversity appear to be forging ahead with the plan and yet there are the same overcrowded, inadequate and under-resourced โcampusesโ, sometimes consisting of a single room with a computer, being used to establish the โnationalโ credentials of CQUniversity. See the exposรฉ in the Sydney Morning Herald, shorturl.at/GR124
Perhaps because of the exposรฉ, or perhaps because legitimate and genuine universities were moving into the international field that CQUniversity had previously exploited, CQUniversity once again slipped quietly back to the international market a few years ago. But the press were soon onto them and they were caught on camera by the ABCโs Four Corners, along with other universities trying to emulate CQUniversityโs international student con. You can watch the episode here shorturl.at/cgoCE. To give an example, CQUniversity introduced a public health Master degree that was marketed and advertised only in India and Nepal. Not surprisingly, out of around 300 students enrolled, only one was Australian and that student soon dropped out. In order to ensure the course was easy enough to allow in the maximum number of students, it was deliberately stripped of any scientific or mathematical/statistical content, meaning that it was ineligible for professional accreditation and was essentially worthless.
Given this second foray into the international market, CQU not surprisingly suffered worse than many other universities. However, whereas the Vice Chancellors of other universities took a voluntary pay cut, the vice chancellor of CQUniversity either sacked or demoted his close colleagues and around 200 staff, changed his own title to President and left his own salary untouched.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I canโt warn you strongly enough. If you want to study for a degree, apply to a real university with credibility and an ethical standing.
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Francesca B
No wonder CQUni’s site is so hard to navigate. On top of that, their COVID19 international student support seem to be very minimal, if even present. I’d honestly love to transfer out to another university, but I’m afraid of having paying more expensive university fees (CQUni’s was one of the cheapest ones that I’ve found). Do you have any advice for me or other university recommendations? I will be studying in Melbourne.
I honestly don’t think I would have found all of this out unless you made this post, so for that I’m extremely grateful. Thank you so much!
Roberts
Response to negative reviews
I was thinking about studying Civil engineering remotely as I had a few friends who had done this through CQU previously. They had jobs as cadets the whole time whilst studying, so I guess the the course work was just a hurdle for them to earn a full time wage.
After reading all these negative reviews I’m thinking about maybe sticking to a reputable University in future.
Scott
I’m currently studying Psychology (honours) at CQU (online), after completing my bachelor degree at Swinburne online. Wow, I’m totally surprised at the amount of horrific reviews. My experience at CQU so far has been great. The teaching staff and the available support have all been excellent.
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Katie Sharp
Psych honours
Hi Scott,
I am considering doing my Psych honours at CQU online also but feeling apprehensive due to the sheer volume of negative reviews. How did you find the Honours course?
Thanks,
Katie
Wade
Diploma Information Technology (distance/online questions)
Does anyone have any experience and feedback on the “ICT50118 – DIPLOMA OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY” done via distance/online? (or on campus). I am looking for a way to change careers by doing a bachelor IT but first I need to get a diploma to be eligible. Would an online diploma be overlooked or given less consideration during an application for a better australian university on campus?
Helen
Helen
The opportunity to study external, part-time while working and raising children has been a great privilege and challenge. My journey with CQUniversity began as a STEPS student where I was able to develop the skills and knowledge required to achieve in tertiary study. This is an invaluable course and paved the way for my entry into an undergraduate degree. I will graduate this year after almost seven years (STEPS and undergraduate) of part-time study!!!! It has been exciting, wonderful, challenging, difficult but most of all, worthwhile! I did expect the journey to be difficult because of competing priorities in my life and the learning I would need to achieve to truly be able to apply knowledge in my career. CQUniversity offered support, diverse learning materials and feedback. A key to successful completion at CQUniversity is for the student to engage with the learning materials and participate in forums, tutorials, practical activities etc. I undertook this journey expecting to conduct myself professionally, engage in self-learning, access support as required and offer support to others as appropriate. Any person willing and desiring to achieve at CQUniversity can but it does take commitment, good management, some tears, some cheers and the ability to take a task seriously but not take yourself too seriously. Like any organisation, CQUniversity does have a few issues, however, having had the pleasure of providing work placements for veterinary science students from several universities, CQUniversity students experience the same issues as students at other universities. Based on my experience, I definitely recommend CQUniveristy.
Mary
CQU IS THE WORST
cqu has been the worst lime of my life. I’ve completed 5+ years as an undergrad allied health student and they have given me no support. When receiving feedback they only five negative feedback and No comments on how you can improve. This is vital in the constructs of being a qualified professional. They are contradicting weasels who only seem to go to work for work not to help students. I would never recommend CQU for allied health inclusive of OT, PT, SP and podiatry
Khan
Worst University
I was enrolled in echocardiography course in Perth campus. It was horrible man and, i immediately withdraw from course . The entire compass four had four rooms, three book in Library and four computers. Only four students were enrolled in the course. No teaching staff at all. Big jocking any away.
Grant
CQU is misleading
I am enrolled in the echocardiography now and have found the delivery of information complete chaos. I am withdrawing from the course . Had I known it was going to be so unsupported online I would not have wasted my other offers. The course info is misleading and makes out it is on campus learning. If you are in Brisbane it is all online except for two days in the first year.
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David
Great Uni
I am in 3rd year into my Environmental Science degree. CQ Uni is my 3rd Uni i have been to and by far the best one. I work full time and the flexibility and help from lecturers i cannot fault. I know other people that absolutely love the Uni. It can be tough being online but if you put the work in, you get results. Going to a more posh uni doesn’t mean better outcomes, just means a bigger HECS Debt, a degree is a degree!!!!
In January i had the opportunity to go to India to study sustainaibility and was one of the best professional experiences in my life.
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Damo
You only get out of it what you put in to it
I’ve just completed the Master of Information Technology degree at the Brisbane campus. I didn’t discover this site until after I’d enrolled and was feeling very apprehensive about the standard of education at CQU. Having now completed 2 years of study, It’s a shame to see similar reviews being posted since they don’t accurately reflect my experience.
So, before I start my review, here’s some pertinent background information: I’m a mature age student (over 40 when I enrolled) studying a post-graduate degree. I was looking for a degree to give me a qualification in the area I wanted to work in (cyber-security and networking). The Master of Information Technology degree at CQU had a Networks and Information Security major, so I chose that. Other Unis had Masters degrees which more closely matched my interests, but CQU was what I could afford.
So, my experience of CQU over 2 years of full-time study:
Other reviews are accurate in representing the large number of international students at CQU. I was one of two domestic students studying the MIT degree (that I know of), and the only one studying on campus. However, this should not be taken as a negative, since it gave me the opportunity to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and challenged my communication skills, all good things, as far as I’m concerned. In fact, I made quite a few good friends that I otherwise wouldn’t have.
Another aspect that’s common in reviews I’ve read is that teaching staff don’t care, or don’t teach properly. This was not my experience at all. I found most lecturers were more than willing to offer help when required but typically expected students to be putting in some effort first. Another criticism some of my fellow students expressed was that they felt the lecturers weren’t teaching us, merely presenting the topics, and expecting us to learn it ourselves. Honestly, I feel that at a post-graduate level, that’s pretty much what should be happening. The uni even states in their orientation material that students are expected to put in 8 to 10 hours worth of study per subject outside of class hours. In fact, several of the subjects offered as part of my major consisted not of lectures and tutorials, but rather workshops, where we could discuss areas of that week’s topic that we did not understand.
Was everything all fine and dandy and perfect? No, I had some timetabling issues in my last term that forced me to enrol as a distance student for two subjects when I would have preferred to study on campus. I’d also elected to enrol in one subject as a distance student in a previous term to avoid a 13 hour day on campus. I found that the resources available for distance students varied in quality, but it did not impact my grades in any way that I could see. One of the core subjects had so many students enrolled that it caused delays in getting assessments graded.
My biggest gripe was that some students seemed to feel that lecture times were more guidelines, and walked in halfway through a lecture, disturbing the rest of us who were on time. And don’t get me started on the ones who just didn’t even turn up. Honestly, the not turning up isn’t so much a problem, at least until you have to do group assignments, and then having one of your group not show up is a real problem. Still, that can be solved fairly easily, by kicking out members who aren’t pulling their weight. I had to do this in one subject after two members failed to show up to rehearse a presentation, and we discovered that they hadn’t even done their parts.
To summarise:
Pros:
– I learnt from teaching staff who had actual real-world experience
– Teaching staff were more than willing to help students who were genuinely putting in the effort.
– The subjects offered were generally helpful for me in helping me with where I want my career going
Cons:
– Timetabling can be a bit of a bitch
– Some subjects could have their learning resources organised a bit better.
– Hope you don’t get grouped with free-loaders for group assignments
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Emma
Hi,
I have not long enrolled into allied health bachelor with CQU Australia (online) should i cancel my enrolment and wait and apply with a more well known university? I haven’t enrolled into units yet. These reviews sound terrible.
Neville White
Escape while you can
Emma- try to go to a better university if you can. In Queensland you could enrol at UQ or QUT.
Wish you good luck.
Jonathon Petersen
CQU is a good University.
I’m doing a bachelors of science(chiropractic) and I love it! I do not know, and I can not prove it, but I suspect that those that are complaining and giving CQU bad reviews are those that do not want to put in the required work. I am in my second term and in all 8 units they have plotted out what you should do in every week and you can tick them off as you go. Some people just love to complain and do not want to take responsibility for their study. My advice is once you identify who these people are, drop them find the students that are hardworking and want to succeed. I have hearing problems so when lectures do have heavy accents it just means that I do more reading and watch youtube videos or I email as they normally have better grammar than English speakers. At the end of the day, it is 100% what you make of it
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Shaun
Donโt Waste Your Time or Money!!!!
cqu is a terrible university that only care about taking your money. I was given a plagarism misconduct for forgetting to put quotation marks in my assignment. I tried and tried to speak to the university about it which was next to impossible. Last thing any potential employer wants to see is a plagarism misconduct on your transcript so unless you are perfect and never make mistakes give this university a miss. Really poor communicators and really poor at accepting fault. They refused to make any comment on my formal response as they knew they were in the wrong. Terrible learning environment , I would never recommend this university in any circumstances to anyone. There are far better universities out there that actually care about you and not just your money.
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naczzang
I’m considering myself studying a bachelor of Podiatry 2 years later but reading all of these comments made me SERIOUSLY worried if I’ve to change my decision. Currently, I’ve got an offer from CQU and UNISA but kind of sleeping on Newcastle one. Have anyone studied Podiatry in CQU? I thought this uni isn’t that great b because they offer scholarships to international students.
Helpme
Sonographers degree at CQU??
Hi
I was interested in studying the Sonographers degree at CQU? It seems as if this uni is one of the only ones that offer this course. If anyone has completed or is currently undertaking this course could you tell me whether its good and if there are enough work placements available?
Thanks ๐ x
Anon
you get your good and your bad (like everything in life)
Hi There!!
Iโm a 3rd year student and really find the feedback to be a little harsh. The uni does have its issues, and it is true that there is a high degree of self learning expected from students, but I always believed thatโs what should be expected from a uni degree? We arenโt meant to be given copies of past exams and then tested on almost the exact same thing, and I never thought it would be a cruisy degree. Itโs really tough at some points and I know students who have studied other degrees (business etc) who come into this degree and are shocked at the amount of effort required to do well and pass subjects. Also, we honestly have had students in the past give CQU a bad reputation while on placement with their lack of knowledge and professionalism, and it seems like itโs now on us to change that. I donโt think itโs unfair – I think this is a hard degree and 70% of it is all great. Some lecturers are really precious and lack any responsibility for students who struggle, but 70-80% of the time you can make it through if you work hard enough. Life isnโt easy and uni degrees arenโt either, but itโs not impossible at CQU and there are LOTS of tutors and lecturers that stick their neck out for you and really want you to learn. Hope this helps! Only major gripe I have is clinical placements – Iโm being faced with the prospect of relocating 10hours away and having to sign a contract for 2 years there, despite having a young infant child under my care and a relationship and family that need my help on a day-to-day basis.
DISCLAIMER: this is only for the Sonography degree – I canโt speak for any of the other degrees.
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Sara
Contract?
Hi, I am thinking of doing this degree too. What do you mean about a contract? Do you have to stay at your clinical uni placement after you have completed it? Why is this?
Steven
any other sono courses?
I am applying for the bachelor of sonography course for Brisbane 2021. Is this the only undergrad sonography course? seeing the reviews of CQU make me question my decision to apply there. So, if there is any other university that offers a similar course that will give me the same opportunities, then I would really like to know.
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Kelly
CQU sonography insights
To my knowledge there aren’t any other courses in Australia for students who aren’t already working in X ray/medical imaging. The other 1 or 2 year courses you see from other institutions are for people currently employed in X ray who wish to expand their skills or train for future employment. The CQU sonography course (cg91) and the echo course allow people to start with no knowledge and finish with a qualification and 99% job guarantee.
The lecturers are all knowledgeable and mostly supportive. A small few are very precious and asking for help leads to a 20 minute circular discussion that goes nowhere useful.
Idle gossip from within the course is that less than 50% of students who start in year 1 will graduate at end of year 4. I have seen lazy people survive a class or 2, but you won’t keep getting through year after year. There is at least 1 class per year that is quite intense. With that said when I came to that class in 1st year and saw the students who were repeating it was obvious why they didn’t get through. Then 4 of those students either failed a second time or just dropped out completely because I never saw them again. I have also seen really dedicated people struggle to pass, they do pass, but it’s a lot of work.
The practical scanning component is the hardest to master. Partly because it’s a new skill set to develop and partly because the testing is rigorous. While I don’t believe people get failed due to lack of placements I do believe the testing is really difficult. I’ve heard coordinators say they don’t fail people because of limited placements and I agree with their reasoning. The tests are hard enough that if you can pass then you deserve a placement. Then it becomes an issue for others to sort out a placement, that’s not the lecturer’s concern. Horror stories about placements can be heard every year. People from a capital city who had to travel and support themselves in a mining town. People who were sent to the other side of the state or even interstate, always with less than 2 weeks warning.
So it’s a tough course and you will only pass if you put in more than the minimum. Each class may have 2-4 hours of lectures and tutorials to watch per week, but on top of that you’ll need to put in probably 5 hours of additional reading, reviewing and revision to keep up the level of knowledge you will need for exams.
I don’t have any information to support this last section but there may be an easier path to becoming a sonographer. Study to work as an x ray technician, then after a year or 2 in the field you can look to do the 1 year grad dip for sonography. You’ll earn a lot less while you’re working in x ray but maybe the study will be easier? And many employers still see previous experience with x ray as an advantage, even though once you’re a sonographer you’ll probably never work a day in x ray ever again. But I haven’t done this myself so it’s only a theory.
Caito
Sonography degree for 2022?
Hey!
I was super keen on studying a bachelors degree at CQU but these reviews are making me really question my decision ahhhh!
I can see this conversation is from 2019 so could someone update me on how they are currently going with their sonography degree and a guide to whether undertaking this course is worth it, or if there would be alternative pathway.
Thank you in advance!๐ผ
Student X
Half-way through Bachelor of Medical Sonography at CQU
Hi,
I thought I’d comment on this thread since I’m a current enrolled student at CQU in the Bachelor of Medical Sonography programme. Firstly, yes I agree that a great majority of the material is self-directed learning. This course only had to make adjustments for the practical lab subjects when Covid hit, as everything else (lectures, tutes) were already online-based. I actually like that part of the delivery. Also, the labs are not too bad. The US machines are due to be upgraded in 2022, and it is well due!
*Red Flag – the one thing I will mention is that the fail rates for the practical MEDS subjects are SUPER high, unlike anything I’ve ever seen anywhere. In my cohort, only 4 people (out of about 70) from my original first year group have made it to 2nd semester of 3rd year, and I am not one of them. The dropout rate is high too. The standard you need to meet is far beyond the practice hours you have been given. Statistically, you will most likely fail at least one subject in this course. And this WILL set you back 1 year each time it happens. Be prepared for this.
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Tanya
Worts study culture
Horrible culture and rude and lazy lecturers and supervisors. Though they have their PHD’s and good publications of Academic journal but they cannot speak English properly. I feel that if I continue I will end up in ruining my spoken english.
Students pay high amount in earning their studies but they get this in return.
Never study with this University ever in any Metro Campuses?
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kl
response
I don’t think its the university that has issues with English. Your sentences barely make any sense. I suspect thats why you failed.
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John
Worst experience of my life
Worst experience of my life. This university simply see’s student as $$$. They purposely set students up to fail (BMSC11001 BMSC11002). I am a student from another university that did these subjects in summer. It’s impossible to get any support or help. Looking at exams from the past they changed very little and gave students an idea of what to study for exam. Recently there is no pattern. My teacher advised us to revise 1500 pages before the exam and memories 180 diagrams. This is impossible. They also do not provide video’s of decent quality and simply slap to course together from prior sessions. I have previously done summer units at UON and CSU and CQU is so poor they don’t even compare as a uni to the other 2
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Anonamous
DONT WASTE YOUR TIME
I have experienced the worst possible treatment at CQU Rockhampton e.g. degree becoming unaccredated 2 months before graduation and missing my graduation due to timing of placements.
I would strongly not recommend completing the Speech Pathology degree as you are better of going to JCU or UQ where your degree will be accredated. I’m 4 years in debt and unable to acquire a job due to this. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS UNIVERSITY.
Scott
Very bad experience do not come
The worse Uni have ever been.
Impossible to understand what the lecturer is saying because of his strong accent. It is just slide shows very fast and then give you homework to learn by yourself. So far I have learn more from YouTube than in class.
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Demi
Very poor treatment
I agree entirely. Students who enrolled in the Speech Pathology degree ended up with massive debts and unemployed.
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Nathan English
Please contact the Head of Course with this complaint.
Hi Hygafloven,
Head of Course for Environmental Science here. Student safety and experience are a primary concern of mine. Your comment concerns me as I did not hear of this complaint and I would consider it very seriously if I had received the complaint, either officially or unofficially. Please contact me at n dot english_at_cqu dot edu dot au, your complaint will remain confidential. Also, we continue to offer Chemistry as a major (and it’s a good one with completely new staff from a couple of years ago).
Amy Sweet
Worst Uni Ever
My time at CQU was absolutely terrible! Their Social Work degree is a joke. They basically give you your readings for the week and so “off you go…go teach yourself”! There’s no recorded lectures, there’s very minimal interaction between lecturers and students, which is a shame because most of them are actually very knowledgeable in their fields. Nursing, sociology and psychology components of the course are usually much better than the SW core subjects, as these units generally have a recorded lecture for that week’s topic, as well as readings and informative videos. I dragged myself through this degree and feel it has been the biggest waste of my time and money. I honestly suggest if you are wanting to study Social Work and are picking CQU based on the fact it’s a distance education uni please please please reconsider and go through somewhere more reputable with better graduation stats.
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Jessica
Agree and avoid
I had a similar experience with the CQU Social Work degree. Avoid if possible and enrol with a reputable university.
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Me Too
Be careful with this!!!
Hygafloven – be vary careful with this suggestion, I complained about staff conduct and was told to attend a meeting where 8 staff showed up. I asked if I could bring a friend for support but they said no. It was all very intimidating and my complaint was never seriously addressed. Revealing you identity is risky.
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Cedric
Chemistry not a googd choice
CQU did manage to recruit a reasonably good chemistry lecturer from the UK, but he left recently and went to RMIT. I certainly would not advise anyone to study chemistry at this institution. The laboratory equipment is old and poorly maintained. The technicians are unhelpful and lack the required knowledge.
Anon
Brisbane campus
Honestly, there are a lot of problems with this uni but regardless of where you decide to study, there will be problems. I’ve been to other universities (UQ and QUT) and tried to study a range of things. You just need to make sure that you research the university first. They have a lot of distance study that can be a little isolated and make it hard to stay motivated but it does make it flexible for a lot of people.
Some of the problems with CQU are its available resources and technology, appropriate lecturers and tutors, and some of the assessments.The resources they have are quite limited. Due to their multiple locations and funding, it is a given that they probably don’t have the necessary resources and teaching staff. If anything, they really should cut back on some of their available courses. I remember taking a class at UQ with the same problems though. During our lab pracs, they were quite stingy and the tutors didn’t care at all and the lecturer had a heavy accent so it was super difficult to understand. The tutors at UQ and QUT are pretty much students as well. I’m studying CG91 and the staff here seem nice and have actual experience in the profession. When studying at other universities, I found that most of the staff will not actually care about your result because that is your job!
After reading through these comments, I agree, if you are studying business, IT, nursing (anything really!), you should definitely aim for a more reputable university as each university will have its own strengths and weaknesses. However, as a student, it is important that we take our education into our own hands because that is what studying means. I found the assessments here to be quite lacking but as long as you are studying the parts that will help you with your future profession, you should be okay. Even after, you graduate, you will be learning. Do your research and if you see the end certification aiding your profession then apply here. If you think it would be better of else where, do it there. Overall, this university is definitely not my first option, just do your research.
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Shey
Seeking help of CQ standards ...
Hi, Guys.. I feel so horrified to see all comments above CQ. why is that bad. I am to study Graduate diploma in HR management. Can someone plsss tell me how is the Brisbane Campus teaching and etc.
Highly appreciate your support here.
Dianne
Look elsewhere
I have experienced this university from the Rockhampton and Brisbane perspectives. The best advice would be to investigate other options in Brisbane, UQ, QUT and Griffith. You would end up with a diploma from a much more highly regarded institution and avoid many of the problems listed here.
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Stephen
18 campuses !!!!!!!!!
I agree with Dianne. Shey and others considering studying in Brisbane should seriously check out options at the reputable institutions. CQU now has campuses in 18 different locations but does not have the necessary resources required to provide good service to the students with so many overheads. I have found UQ and QUT offer good courses and they concentrate on far fewer physical locations.
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Judy
Time to rationalise the system and serve the interests of the students
I think the real problem is that there are just too many universities in Australia and the regional areas could be better served by offerings from the higher quality institutions. As with the CQU example we otherwise end up with attempts to duplicate what is already available in the major centres when there is no need to do this. It all ends up with huge amounts of public money being spent of extra bureaucracies and physical campuses in an era of increasing online delivery.
Sarah
Medical Sonography
Hi, I was just wondering if there were any students that have completed the bachelor of medical sonography and graduate diploma through CQU? Or any students completing it now and could give me some feedback. Would it be better to do a health science degree and then the graduate diploma of sonography at QUT instead? Thanks
Sara
Hi Sarah,
Did you end up going to CQU to do the Sonography degree? If so, how are you finding it? ๐ Iโm thinking of enrolling next year! Any feedback would be appreciated ๐
BB
Hey Sara,
Have you already applied for the Sonography degree?
I’m thinking of enrolling and I heard so many negative feedback from students (Mackay and Brisbane),
I’m really not too sure if I should apply or not ๐
Hygafloven
This uni is so unprofessional. One day I went to science class and the teacherโs ballsack was hanging out of his shorts
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Neville
Rude lecturer
I hope you mention this on the course assessment at the end of the term. So rude!!
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Yeesh
Jeez, I donโt envy you at all. That sounds like one helluva hairy situation ๐
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Jessica
Exposing weakness
They had to close down their chemistry and physics programs a few years ago. I think this exposes some problems with their biology course as well.
Tammy
Horror Show
I think I now understand why many of the students in Rockhampton call it the Rocky Horror Show.
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Friederike
semester abroad at CQU
Hi guys,
I have just enrolled at CQU for a semester abroad and I am quite worried after reading all the comments on this and other websites. I will take classes on marketing mainly, does anyone have any experience with classes in this field?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Cam
Looking to enroll
I’m hearing a lot of bad reviews here…. have been considering enrolling as a distance Nursing student in the next intake and was really looking forward to it. I’m an Aussie but living away from the country at the moment hence looking to exercise the distance option.
If its so bad…. how are they not being sued and if not CQU for the degree would anyone be able to provide a viable alternative to distance study of a Nusing degree.
Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
admin
You can't study nursing 100% online
See https://lerna.courses/australia/degrees/nursing/
Cam
Am not looking to complete 100% of my study online and have the freedom to take time off and head across whenever classes or prac need to be completed.
I’m looking for the best possible university to study an undergrad distance Nursing degree in. Have been reading a lot of hatefull reviews about other uni’s and their distance courses as well….. starting to nearly look like voting…. picking the least harmfull option.
Any help, direction or advice in regard to where would be the best option is going to be greatly appreciated.
Delma Clifton
Study Nursing online
You can study Nursing on line at CQU but there will be residential schools you have to attend – therefore it is called Mixed Mode. The residential schools are offered from a number of campuses, but mostly in Qld
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Heitor D'Avila
Psychology third year student
Bahahaha, having looked at different reviews for universities one thing you will realise is that all unis are terrible. Please take all these reviews with a grain of salt. I am studying psychology at cqu and I am loving it. My course is 99% online. Only exception are exams which the uni books a hotel room in my town where the different local students are able to do their exams since we dont have a campus here. I really enjoy how flexible my study experience has been where I am able to work part time and study part time without any problems. It really is up to you to be proactive and make sure you learn all the content, but I have found all the learning material so far very engaging. I have had to work hard since much of the content was challenging but I was able to keep my GPA above 6.5. I highly recommend this uni if you are proactive and need flexibility in your studies.
The reason this uni is being rated poorly is because many of its courses can be completed online, so it receives a lot of applicants. But unfortunately the dumb minority fails and comes here to have a whine. Hahhaha, cry blood peasants.
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Cam
Hi. Re the whining in this thread is there any chance you’ve ran into any distance nursing students?
Hard to get a guage on the quality of course…. lol especially with the patern forming here.
Any observations would be appreciated
Heitor
Hi Cam, to be honest I haven’t ran across nursing students since my study method was completely online. So I can only comment about the quality of the psychology program, which was absolutely brilliant so far. If you chose CQU I hope you are enjoying your program as much as I am enjoying mine,
John
So you take very few subjects all related to one area and assume that all subjects are great. I hold a high GPA at my home uni and have never seem something so badly slapped together than BMSC11001 and BMSC11002.
Mervin Geo
which campus is the best
which campus is the best for psychology course at cqu as am applyig now
Person
Totally agree. I did a psychology degree through CQU and loved it. I also have a degree from UQ and the teaching at this sandstone uni was crap. If you put the effort in, you will get a lot from a CQU degree. CQU are not afraid to fail poor quality students. This was evident in the grade distribution scores for each of the subjects I studied. If you expect to have your hand held all the time, then donโt go to uni, any uni.
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Fiona
Put the effort in and you won't have any problems.
Completely agree. I’m also a third year Psychology student and I completed STEPS before that. I’ve also taken electives from other areas eg Chemistry, Physics, Forensic Science, Social Work.
This is university. You aren’t meant to have your hand held. At university you are meant to be self-directed. The information is given to you and you are meant to spend a great deal of time outside of lectures/tutes studying. All the resources you need to ace each unit are provided. I have never experienced anything other than professionalism and support from lecturers and from the various support services offered (and they have many). Lecturers will bend over backwards to support you if you reach out to them and if you are actually making an effort. What I found most frustrating over the past few years was how many students didn’t bother. They didn’t attend lectures either online or in person, they didn’t engage in the forums, they didn’t keep up and then a week before exam times these students would typically spit the dummy about how much stuff they suddenly had to memorize in a week’s study period. The reality is if they had kept up with the rest of us, it would just have been a case of rehashing familiar content.
You will encounter the same at any other university. If you do the work, you will get the results you want. Nobody is going to baby you through it in *any* university.
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Pezzi
Psychology Honours
HI guys, I am deciding whether I should do the Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours. Is Honour course structure manageable to get good marks? Are there many students and professors in Psychology at Bundaberg Campus?
I am just deciding between honours and Graduate Diploma. Thank you so much for your input.
Amair Khan
Help plz
Should i go for masters in electrical at cqu ?
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Imaan
Be mindful of how you comment
Ive recently enrolled into the bachelor of nursing and i find these reviews worrisome. So i skimmed through reviews of other unis and found comparable results. I realised that, statistically, people are more inclined to spout out negative feedback as opposed to positive feedback. Please be careful the feedback you provide. Yes, your experiences were real and clearly there are serious issues the university need to wake up to, but that doesnt negate the fact that such spout-out comments can actually cause more harm than good to those potential students that have very little options, much less to “shop around”. I didnt have the opportunity to do op-rank subjects at high school and havent been able to gain a single qualification since year 12, and barely able to afford car payments and being a single mother thus only TWO gov-funded universities (via online) were suitable enough for my requirements. One lecturer whom iv had the good fortune to meet prior to applying took the time to help me through the process and continues to encourage me during the “jitters” stage. Be more mindful of how you comment.
Rach
Can I ask what you think how they are running bachelor of nursing as I am looking to enroll for next year. Looking at online study.
Thanks
Steph
Hi,
Have you enrolled?
There are problems with how the uni delivers their information to the students online. You have to go on a treasure hunt to find such information. It’s not as simple as logging onto moodle site and seeing it on your screen, you need to go looking for it (they told students a student forum was adequate to notify us about the placement mandatory checks). I missed out on clinical placement mandatory checks deadline because I had no idea I had to commence them. They were for a subject I wasn’t even enrolled in, so how was I supposed to know?
Anyway, one year later (yes, an extra year) I have done it all again, and there was still a lot of conflicting information regarding the checks, vaccinations, QLD documents etc. Due to the heavy staff workload for the work-integrated learning team, it took a long time to get an email back. So I just called with any questions, which was a lot more helpful and much quicker.
However, I find the assessments and exams are very easy. You’ve got to be an idiot to fail any subjects, really.
Goodluck
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Anand
shall i do master in management for engineers course in CQU?. whether it is a good place to start my management studies or not? ..
VARUN SAINI
Should i go for pursuing my masters in engineering management from CQU. ? ( Candour answers only)
Hi Anand, i am Varun Saini from Jaipur (India). I was going through the comment section and found your query. Fortunately, I am also looking forward to pursuing my masters in Engineering Management from CQU Brisbane. Albeit, i have applied for July intake 2019 but i want to know your suggestions on that. i will be very grateful to you if you stipulate the current scenario of the Uni, in case if you are studying over there.
Thank you
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Joe the Arts Guy
CQU Good, Bad and Hopefully Not Ugly
I have studied a few Australian Universities over the years and must say that CQU is good and bad. The good and bad is a reflection on the lecturers themselves as individuals; so some great lecturers who provide learning through progressive activities and other lecturers who have masses of lecture notes and too wide a scope of topics for a term unit. Law units making cartoons and endless multiple choice questions pretty invalid assessment if analyzed by educators. Unfortunately the crappy lecturers cannot be avoided and I doubt CQU reads the student evaluations on units.
And yes education is a business in Australia and unfortunately not enough Universities have been sued for lack of service etc..
Also the complaints mechanisms at CQU are flawed; students are wary of being targeted; bias will enter the assessment. Foreign students take your money elsewhere where you get better value and get better service.
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Anon Y Mous
This University is a joke
Currently studying the Bachelor of Medical Sonography at CQU and all I can say is that the course is a joke. The theoretical component is fine but the practical subjects are designed for you to fail. As many as 3/4 of any given cohort will fail the practical assessments and it seems to be a result of the university’s incompetence in securing placement sites for their students.
The uni sets you up for failure because their own system is flawed and rather than acknowledging and improving their flaws, they fail students to cover their own shortfalls. The staff have a way of making students feel that if they speak up they will be victimised or black listed in some way. Save your time and money, study elsewhere.
Humsolo
Hi Anon,
Can you be more specific regarding these comments you made? Can you elaborate and provide specific examples? I am planning to enrol and want to make sure I am making the right decision.
“As many as 3/4 of any given cohort will fail the practical assessments and it seems to be a result of the universityโs incompetence in securing placement sites for their students. ”
” The uni sets you up for failure because their own system is flawed and rather than acknowledging and improving their flaws, they fail students to cover their own shortfalls. “
Alex
I study via distance education and I have not had any problems with CQU (Paramedic Science). I completed my first degree at JCU which was a joke, and so to actually have had course co-ordinators that seem to care about individuals, and lecturers (not all but most) that are passionate about the subjects they teach and the feedback they give, has been refreshing.
I would 100% recommend CQU to anyone.
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Imaan
Thanks :))
Your comment is very sensible ๐ i am saying this with gratitude. Thank you. I was initially worried when i read complaint after complaint, but i mamaged to pull my head in about it. ๐ take care
Momo
PhD in Management
Hello, i am a Bangladeshi student planning to do my PhD in Business Management in CQU. Should I apply for the program?
Patricia
Research universities
Momo – I have studied and worked in several universities in this area in Australia, including CQU. I strongly suggest you apply for one of the well-regarded universities with good research profiles. CQU is not one of these and its research is not highly regarded.
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Dan
Not a good choice
I agree with Patricia. CQU is not a good choice for a research degree in this subject area. Much better to invest your time and money towards a PhD at a better university with well established research credentials.
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Ken
CQU IT
Hey guys, anyone has good info or feedback regarding bachelor of information technology? How is it compare to other universities? Thanks
William
Studying IT
Ken – I completed an IT degree at CQU. The standard is poor compared to what is offered at other universities in Australia. I have also completed IT subjects through Coursera, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. These are course given by leading universities in the USA. My advice is stay away from CQU in any technical discipline, especially IT. If you really want to learn at a top ranking university then American universities are by far the best in the IT area, and we can do this though Coursera and it is very well run and cost effective.
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Rosco
Going there soon
Which campus are better for study ….brisbane or sudney
Leo
Some advice
Be kind to yourself and stay away from CQU. Just read the comments on this site. There are some very good universities in Brisbane and Sydney, but CQU is definitely not in that group. Completion rates are very low – only about 40% and the qualification you would get is of doubtful benefit as the reputation is poor amonst employers and other universities
Tiffany
Poor academic standards
I agree that there is a poor attitude towards the students at CQU . This in part explains the very low rate of completion of degrees. I have experience of CQU as both a student and as a junior staff member. The staff at lower levels get bullied a lot. Overall problem is that there is not much reason for these regional universities to exist at all in Australia. Better to just have fewer good universities and these could provide a regional presence where required. This would reduce costs and improve standards.
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Anonymous
Agree
Hi Tiffany, I have not studied with CQU but with JCU and CSU that are also regional and I agree. There are too many universities and students effectively fall for marketing that is not regulated and false to a large degree. TEQSA do not regulate that part and they are powerless, the Minister is trying to performance manage the unis but the left and Xenophon’s team are not seeing the forest for the trees that is how they created a ‘demand driven system’ without any real competition and consumer rights for students as ACCC is still reluctant to look at public universities at all. It’s a system designed to screw over the most powerless in this equation – the students, who end up with the debt that affects their ability to get a mortgage etc…. while the right are screaming it’s a ‘taxpayers’ debt’ – it’s an unbelievable joke, there is no other sector than public higher education that can get away with something like that. Students need to realise that academia is not their friend but a business making money on them and start advocating for their consumer rights as they would with any other service if they were spending over $20,000 on.
Michael
Wake up
Tiffany,
Your comments are very narrow and totally judgement based. I study at CQU and find it better than my other university I attend on campus.
Reasons for many not completing a degree is online universities have majority older students that look to change careers and 1 or 2 semesters in they change their mind or realise cost v timeline it is not worth it.
Staff at all levels get bullied if you get told bullying is being told what to do. Their are chiefs and Indians. Indians do what they are told and that is that. If the Indian doesn’t like it they can move to the next camp!!
Again Tiffany I don’t think you grasp what a business is and that no regional university means Australia becomes very centralised and hard to select a degree that city folk can. Every university is a seperate entity and by closing down one business does not mean better universities else where. I feel you fail to grasp many principles in life that are required to make some of the judgements you are making.
Maybe you think it is ok to limit the options for citizens outside major cities, but I would dare say they disagree with you, as do I. Most likely the majority of Australia does!
Your comment detract from what you are trying to say. Next time look at how you
I am doing a Law Degree at CQU. I am also doing a business degree at an on campus major university. I have done law units at both and hands down CQU is better. I am being taught Criminal Law by a lawyer who is in court every day dealing with these issues, not an academic that never practised but has theoretical knowledge never tested.
You sound more like a person with sour grapes venting. The internet was not designed for acts like this, however it ended up this way.
In essence to marketing of a degree, I found that one of the biggest universities in Australia did the same thing. So it is across the board and subjective to interpretation.
I rate CQU highly.
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Imaan
THANK YOU, michael :)
THANK YOU. Your comment gave me hope. I am not in the best position to “shop around”, much less study on-campus. Thank you so much, michael ๐
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menuja
i am hoping to do a PhD in microbiology or ecotoxicology at queensland uni. can anyone give opinions regarding the course and facilities.
Cindy
PhD research programs
If you want to do a PhD in these areas you should apply to the University of Queensland or QUT. CQU is poorly equipped for laborator- based research and the technical; support staff is poor. Also be sure to check out the publication record of any prospective supervisors. Often the senior staff at regional universities have poor publication records or just slap their names as authors on other people’s research. Do yourself a big favour and apply to one of the proper universities before investing years of your time in a PhD.
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Victor
I did not have a pleasant time there as a research student. The laboratories are poorly equipped and technical staff not helpful. I understand why such a high proportion of students never complete their degrees or diplomas. I would advise prospective students to be very careful and look elsewhere. Good universities in Australia have completion rates between 80% and 90%.
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Hannah
I agree with the comments about the disregard for student complaints or suggestions. This university has the worst record in Australia for course completions – only about 40%. Something is seriously wrong.
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Neville
Stay away! There are much better distance education courses available in most subjects.
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Aaron
Completed Exercise degree and the course was very well run and organised. I have studied at other universities and CQU is the best
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Osama
Is CQU really that bad as the students describe it to be? I plan on joining the Master of Engineering Management in mid of 2018. Should I really consider CQU as an option? Can someone please guide me regarding this because it’s a life-changing decision. Thank you! ๐
JustanAusGuy
Run away from CQU! Worst uni.
Osama, CQU REALLY is that bad. I started in a started in a small class to begin with as CQU’s reputation isn’t great, by the 3rd year there was 1 person going into the Masters, everyone else had left. I wouldn’t go back to CQU if they paid me (and I did get some scholarships) it is THAT bad.
Engineering, 100% go to RMIT, they have a fantastic Engineering department and course, perhaps even the best in Australia.
The main issue CQU has is they just do not listen to students. They ask for your feedback then constantly ignore it. When issues arise and you try to resolve them, they get covered up and the teach or the university is NEVER at fault even with mountains of evidence. Appeals go no where, the university is always found in favour. Just do yourself a favour and run as far away from this hell hole as you can.
A report at the beginning of this year CQU got the 2nd worst uni in Australia for students finishing their course (42.5%).
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Nepoleon Dynamite
Don't waist your time & money at CQU
I’m currently enrolled in the sonography degree, CG91. I have found the experience disappointing, to put it mildly.
I would not recommend this degree to anyone. From this years students 54 failed out 115 students. This is not an indication of the quality of the students, the ATAR cut off sits in the 90’s, so defiantly some smart cookies!
The issue lies with the Uni, they are unable to secure enough placements for us, in fact they told us they currently only have 2 places secured in NSW. In previous years, some students only received 2 days notice & were sent out of state. It’s not easy paying for last minute flights and accommodation on a students wage, god forbid you have any responsibilities at home!
There often errors in course work, exams, & online quizzes. When the tutors are informed, they say they don’t have time to fix it.
The support from tutors is reasonably good, however they are at the the mercy of the course coordinators and cannot save you from the sole destroying group emails we receive.
I highly recommend you keep on looking for another uni & degree!
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grammar guru
If they all come out with your level of English, you might be right.
My experience of being a student at cqu has been very different.
Sally
I agree with grammar guru. This is my second degree with CQUniversity after a 15 year gap and am finding this degree, in the allied health industry, to be professionally organised and instructed. Everyone has different experiences, as with anything that is important and difficult in life, and you must have both sides to make a informed and correct decision. I know that there are many students who have not had the same experience as myself and for them I am saddened.
Mrs lady
I regret accepting CQU
Don’t bother. Waste of time and money.
Distance ed is pathetic. They babble on about being there for the student. Offer tutors learning support. They’re after Money.
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Jamie Landa
This university sucks! Lecturers don’t get back to you. I have an issue with. You will learn nothing and this uni wont help you reach your potential at all no fee 4 service with this mob.
CQU student
I enrolled to study my Bachelor of Nursing with CQU via distance as the course program looked the best of all options. I would NOT recommend anyone study with CQU via distance education, as it has been nothing but a nightmare for me, throughout the entire degree. I have to agree with other reviews regarding unsatisfactory lecturers as so far I have had 20 lecturers and I can honestly say that only 2 of these have conducted themselves in a professional manner. I have experienced lecturers writing that they will not answer any more questions from students on unit forums and literally refusing to do so, instead of acknowledging that is the majority of your students are seeking clarification then clearly the instructions provided are NOT adequate. At the last residential school I attended I was absolutely astounded when a lecturer told the entire class “Out of all of you there is 20% I would never want to work with!” What does that say about CQU and the nursing program they are running? The audacity of this comment still makes me fume, as this would have had an adverse effect on many of the students, however many had already come to the conclusion that this lecturer was ‘that nurse’, when the lecturer delivered a speech about ‘that nurse’ earlier on in the residential school – ‘that nurse’ being that awful nurse that needs their ego stroked the entire time, playing mind games and belittling anyone below their rank…
I am now in the process of completing my final units and for one of them I still have not received the due dates for several assessments, this is despite the unit finishing October 6th 2017 and having sent 3 or more requests asking for due dates. Other lecturers give an assessment and then change the criteria a week before the assessment is due, or post information on the forum sites regarding assessments that they do not pass onto to the markers, so students are marked down even though they have followed the criteria set by the lecturer…
I also have to honestly agree with the comments about complaints, as I too experienced my grades suffering after I lodged a complaint going from a GPA of 6.5 down to 5.25% in the space of a semester!!!! My complaint was lodged with the head of the nursing program, who although advising me that the issue would be looked into, never received a response.
I will be lodging a formal complaint with the ombudsman post my degree, however have learnt the hard way not to complain whilst still undertaking the degree.
The online systems are unreliable, many times links do not work or you are redirected to the wrong page and CQU could not even provide correct up to date relevant information to students due to graduate and the processes they would need to undertake. Clinical placement materials provided by CQU are absolutely embarrassing to take out with you to health care settings, being so unprofessional that skills are listed on a photocopied piece of paper that does not even meet compliance of an RTO 0- eg. no student names or numbers on them just a photocopy anyone could pick up anywhere and this is after the students were made to purchase a textbook that in 2nd year we were told we will not be using anymore and then in 3rd year all of sudden we need it again, however as we were told we were not using it students did not have it signed and the university refused to sign it, therefore making the students appear incompetent.
I am not sure what I am more relieved about… finishing my degree OR never having to deal with CQU again!
Michael
I moved to CQU from another university and hope that it would be better. But I am so disappointed. Most of teachers in Accounting course are terrible. Their English is too bad for students to understand what they are teaching. My recent teacher now in Auditing subject prepared nothing for lecture and tutor. I need to show her what the new book is and where the assignments are located. Some teachers cannot answer student about lecture. They just read through powerpoints.
However, teachers in mathematics and IT courses are much better. Unlucky, that is not my major.
Barb
Psychology – Quality of teaching very poor by some lecturers. Flex lectures are recycled and may be 3 years old (9 semesters). Lectures do not align with tutorials. Online exam information from recycled lectures is not accurate which means you may attempt to sit for an online test at a nonscheduled time (as I did). Exam study suggestions are not accurate (recycled lectures), suggested topics not on exam. No exam, assignment moderation between lecturers. Querying an assessment results in considerable down grading of your mark. You will be unable to access your completed script, exam questions and expected student responses. Absolutely lacking in transparency. Critical offers sent to nonexistent emails, no apologies and no attempt to rectify error. A questionable uni culture. I have studied at other unis for other quals, this is not a university I would recommend. Invest your future and money in a university that cares, provides recent lectures/tutorials, is transparent and will attempt to resolve and rectify their errors. I’m Brisbane based.
Sunny Girl
I really have enjoyed studying by distance with this uni and found the learning materials great and lecturers really helpful. I have worked hard to achieve a good GPA and am looking forward to studying honours next year for my psych degree. I have accessed both the Noosa and Brisbane campuses and found them to be great work spaces to study and do exams. I have also been involved with other so-called ‘more prestigious’ universities and have found that CQU is equal to these in the ability to receive a great education.
Channesse
Hi,
I have tried the Bachelor of Science (Chiropractic).
There are a few (maybe 2, from other departments) teachers that are awesome, unfortunately that’s not enough.
But not only is it a struggle with many teachers, distressing, disappointing and unfair, but if you try to go higher and get some support you hit deaf ears.
It is always the students fault, even if several campuses fail the subject… this system is a disaster and studying there not worth my time and I would highly recommend to go to almost any other university.
Dallas
I’ve studied at 2 other universities off campus, and completed my Master of Letters at CQ University. The experience was on par with those other universities, and in some cases even better. Lecturers were easy to contact and responded efficiently. Really, it’s what you put into it that counts, not what you expect to get out of it.
Ach
How’s CQU Brisbane Campus guys? need to hear your comments and feedback about the campus.
Appreciate it!
Carrie
My experience with CQU was excellent. My lecturers were highly qualified, experienced and provided detailed and meaningful feedback to my assignments. My lecturers were also highly responsive to my queries, with most questions answered within a number of hours – sometimes within minutes. My program advisor was always on hand to help with any concerns regarding course enrolments, etc. The online interface for learning was easy to navigate and the content for my courses was always current. I can’t speak more highly of this university and I plan to apply here to complete my post graduate qualifications.
Bobby
Stay away! Better to invest your money on some Coursera subjects if you want good distance education. Or else relocate and go somewhere in Australia where there are much better standards.
Anotheraussieguy
I couldn’t agree more! The lecturers are the WORST. When more than half the class fails across MULTIPLE subjects in my degree and they continue to blame students it is an absolute joke.
You appeal and they side with the teachers even though you have proof.
I’d URGE anyone to reconsider going here. Don’t give this terrible university anymore money!
I’d give it LESS than zero stars if I could. This is the worst university in Australia.
GG
I studied psychological science through this particular university and thoroughly enjoyed it. Besides one incident with a certain lecturer, I was extremely happy with how the content was delivered and how knowledgeable the lecturers were. Would highly recommend!
Jenna
Lecturers are lazy and dont care
Courses are unorganised. Clinical procedures made up and changed half way through semesters
Technical staff are lazy- just sit in the lab checking their phones and talking about their babies poo.
Library hours very limited
Only one computer lab – not worth going to
Exam adjudicators always have mobile phones ringing during exam (If ours are on silent so should theirS!)
Dave Swain
I had such a laugh while at CQU. They had a terrible technician there who actually thought you could smell helium gas. One day she ordered the labs closed down as she could smell the helium escaping!!! Don.t expect too much if you want to study science there,
Steve V
This university is so bad!!!
Believe what you read, the lecturers are the worst and couldn’t care less about you getting a good grade. You send them an email and wait a week for a reply and then it is a sentence or less which just says, go back through the textbook and figure it out yourself.
The course materials for online MBA students is literally a textbook and then free YouTube videos. You watch a 60 second clip on YouTube and then they say things like see how well Danny Divito delivered that speech in this movie? There is a lot of things you can take from this clip and that is how you should communicate with your team – be motivational like him!
FOR AN MBA IT IS ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC! I showed friends who are going to UQ and they literally laughed at how bad what they teach is.
They don’t even put the lectures or tutes online – how the hell can you learn if you never see or hear a teacher and have never seen or attended a class?! I studied part time for just over a year before making the switch. My new uni is cheaper and is FAR better!
Do yourself a favour and stay away from this place – I agree with other posts, this place should be shut down! Its business school is an embarrassment!
Ozbloke35
If I could rate lower I would.
The amount of times I’ve put in the hard work, just to get bad results at the end at exam time, simply because the teachers have no idea how to prep you properly for the exam is beyond a joke. They expect answers they have not given you or taught you and simply ignore your emails for a week or longer each time.
It is a sad state of affairs when the majority of the class are getting poor results so you know it is the teacher / course coordinator, yet this is ignored.
Avoid this university at all costs.
Ali Khan
Pathetic university with no real technology to support your studies and bad quality teaching. Stay away if you want anything at all from your education. They are expensive as well, I paid $2,610 per course for 16 courses of the program and by far short in terms of value for money. There technology goes down randomly including printers and elevators that can cause you to get late to exams and then pay for the entire course again with as the say “NO EXCEPTIONS”.
Sara Wood
Arguably the most abysmal excuse of a university. Having temporarily transferred from QUT due to relocation where my GPA sat at 6.7 and already holding an honours degree at another university, I have never seen anything as disgraceful as CQU. For the sake of a review, there are some lecturers and tutors at this university that are completely illiterate and simply do not know their pathophysiology (I’m talking Nursing here). Their assignment feedback is riddled with incorrect spelling corrections, and their pathophysiology is often copied verbatim from wikipedia. Originally considered transferring to this university due to relocation purposes, but will definitely not be doing this now. I strongly DO NOT recommend this university. QUT all the way – quality tuition guaranteed.
Linda Steven
I completed a Bachelor Multimedia Studies by distance at CQU in 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
I found the tutors supportive and the courses very interesting and some quite challenging.
I feel as a distance student you do need to have more self motivation than on campus students. Some subjects in this degree such as 3-D animation require you to learn very complex software, so having some previous exposure and a passion for this kind of thing helps. I suspect some low student satisfaction ratings may be due to such challenges. I found the ability to work when I felt like it overcame any other issues.