UNSW Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Canberra Campus Expansion

The University of New South Wales has begun construction on a major new campus in Parkes, marking one of the most ambitious higher education investments in the ACT in decades. The Constitution Avenue site is expected to accommodate up to 6,000 staff and students when it opens in 2028, significantly expanding UNSW’s presence in the capital.

UNSW is already deeply embedded in Canberra’s academic landscape, having educated Australian Defence Force Academy cadets for more than half a century. Earlier this year, it took over the former Canberra Institute of Technology’s Reid campus, further cementing its long-term commitment to the territory.

The new campus will focus on areas of national and global importance, including defence, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital engineering, climate science, and public policy. The first stage of development involves two six-storey, multi-use buildings featuring teaching and research facilities alongside retail and cultural spaces. This stage alone carries a price tag of $250 million, with the overall project expected to cost just under $1 billion.

The scale of the investment stands out at a time when many Australian universities are tightening budgets and scaling back physical expansion. UNSW’s decision to move forward reflects both confidence in Canberra’s role as a hub for defence and policy research and a strategic effort to address critical skills shortages in emerging fields.

Local leaders have welcomed the project, noting its potential to inject economic activity into the city while strengthening Canberra’s reputation as Australia’s “education capital.” The development is also expected to create jobs during construction and long-term opportunities for academic and professional staff once the campus is operational.

By 2028, UNSW’s Parkes campus will not only reshape the city’s educational landscape but also position the university as a central player in shaping Australia’s future workforce in technology, security, and policy.

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