The University of Canberra is set to shift its presence further north, after plans were unveiled to establish a campus in Sydney.
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The tertiary institution will establish a two-storey campus in Castle Hill in the city's north-west.
The new campus is expected to open to students from semester one in 2022 and will offer a bachelor of nursing degree along with a newly created graduate-entry master of nursing course.
The campus will be housed in a former day surgery in the Castle Hill town centre.
Work is already under way on converting the pre-existing clinic into a space for students.
The university's pro vice-chancellor Lawrence Pratchett said the new campus represented a significant step forward.
"We know there is high demand for health courses, particularly in this locale and internationally, so the establishment of the campus has received strong support from local community groups and council," Professor Pratchett said.
"At the Sydney Hills campus, we look forward to providing exceptional student facilities, equivalent to those at the Bruce campus.
"These include computer labs, lab spaces, simulated hospital wards and high-tech teaching spaces to meet university course requirements for nursing."
The new Sydney campus comes following a partnership between the university and the Education Centre of Australia.
It's expected nursing students at the Sydney campus will be able to access clinical placement opportunities in the area.
Discussions are under way between the university and the Australia Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency to formally approve the courses to be taught.
"I am confident we will meet those standards and be able to proceed with the process," Professor Pratchett said.
Hills Shire Council mayor Dr Michelle Byrne welcomed the arrival of the university into the area.
"Having a university campus in the Castle Hill Town Centre will be a great asset with many added benefits to our shire," she said.
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The announcement of the new Sydney campus comes after the university unveiled its 20-year master plan last month.
The master plan includes scope for a light rail hub that would connect with the Belconnen town centre, along with a proposal for an indoor sport centre with spectator seating.
However, a cost has not been announced for the project, with the university looking for co-investors to develop the plan.
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