This may not be the university for the real world, but this is the place you go to follow your…read moredreams in the face of everyone asking you how you're going to get a job afterwards. This is the place to go when the desire to work in a creative field outweighs logic and parental approval. This is the place to study fine arts, design, photography, sculpture and a myriad of visual arts. As a professional student, I've enjoyed walking the paths of many educational institutions. There's been University of Queensland, Southbank institute of Technology and Macquarie University but none compare to Griffith, Queensland College of Art. On the exterior, the QCA is in desperate need of refurbishment - walls need to be repainted, the main shoebox building should be razed and resurrected taller, angular with a funky facade made of colourful panels and glass. Strip back its worn exterior though and you'll find plenty of resources to help you achieve your career goals. The college has three gallery spaces at the Southbank campus for student exhibitions. They facilitate regular educational seminars through their network with industry and international art schools. The relative smallness of the campus promotes a sense of community and encourages collaboration across creative disciplines. I remember during my time studying an animation degree, I decided to exhibit some ceramic pieces. Even though I was not enrolled in the ceramics course, the staff from that department was extremely generous sharing their knowledge and equipment for my project. So if you've ever thought your childhood scribbles had potential or if you were begging your parents for acrylic paints by the time you were five because of the limitations of crayons, perhaps now is the time to consider a creative career.

Let your creativity flow and don't be afraid to dream. At Queensland College of Art you'll be able…read moreto develop yourself as an artist as you grow up. Let your imagination free and express yourself in your own way.

Brisbane Institute of Art is a not-for-profit community college with classes designed to suit all…read moreskill levels and lifestyles. They offer short courses over a weekend for people interested in learning the foundations of jewellery making, painting, ceramic or photography. There are also regular evening classes throughout the semester for those who prefer a structured framework to develop their skills. I've previously studied painting and ceramics here and found the tutors knowledgeable and the classes friendly. However, I think these classes are tailored towards hobbyists. I was frustrated with the emphasis placed on creativity over technical skills. Having also done short painting and sculpting courses at Southbank Tafe and Queensland College of Arts, I think a short course with QCA Enterprise or Southbank Tafe would suit people wishing to pursue their art seriously and the prices would be comparable as well. NB: Some subjects at Brisbane Institute of Art can count towards a Certificate in Art or a Diploma in Art but check with staff for clarification. NB: Opening hours refer to the office hours. BIA is open on weekends and evenings for students attending classes

From the owner: The Institute also offers a structured program from the mastery of foundation skills to full…read moreprofessional practice.

It is hard to sum up my feelings about the University of Queensland in a few short sentences. I…read morecould almost right a novel about the my experiences here but I thought I would write a little about my first impressions of the University and then give some tips and hints. Now the first time I walked around the St Lucia campus I was struck by the beauty of the sandstone buildings that create the Great Court area. This is what you see in all the pretty pictures of the university but it really is breathtaking in real life. The more you look the more detail you realise is in each individual carving in the buildings and the meanings they have for the faculties within them. The Great Court is what I always imagined a university would be like. I soon ventured into the classrooms inside. Being in the humanities, these classrooms were old and in desperate need of repair. There were broken tables, dodgy air conditioners, peeling paint but it all added to the idea of the struggling arts student. Having also had classes in engineering buildings I can say that some of the newer ones are pretty swish and clean and you are lucky if you are in there. The student union complex is a little bustling centre with shops, a salon, pharmacy, dentist, bakery, refectory, and much much more. I almost did not know what to do with all the choice in food. There are also Wednesday Markets held here offering everything from bargain books to sunglasses. There is plenty to do on campus that doesn't involve classes, like drinking a few jugs at the Red Room, going to the Schonell Cinemas, perusing the UQ Art Museum, or just chilling with friends over coffee. There are few libraries on campus as well and rooms full of computers for your use. The university really is like a mini world of its own, one I could easily live in. Now I could gush about this place that has been such a massive part of my life over the past 5 years but I will stop here and just give a few hints and tips. 1. The UQ Art Museum is free and the perfect quiet spot to escape the hustle and bustle of campus. 2. The Fryer Library has some great spots for postgraduate students to study with plenty of room on the desks to spread your books out. 3. The line for the computers in the SS&H Library goes quick about 10 mins before the hour as a good portion of the people will leave for their next class. 4. Subway is open late :-) 5. You can get jugs of beer at the Pizza Caffe and they have a student discount and often have other deals on that you get from their pizza box. I could give you a hundred and one other tips and hints but I think the best part is finding these things out for yourself...

Well, UQ certainly has a good reputation--I'm told it's one of the best (/most prestigious?)…read moreuniversities in Australia. Without knowing anything about other universities, all I can give is my personal experience, as a student who has completed her undergraduate in the Faculty of Arts and is going on to do honours. In terms of the quality of teachers and resources at UQ, I've had a pretty good experience. As a student of the Writing major, in the school of English, Media Studies and Art History (EMSAH), however, I would advise potential writing students to think twice before enrolling. It depends on what you're looking for, but QUT could probably offer a broader range of writing courses with more focus on the creative side of things. When I look back on all the courses I took at UQ, the ones I got the most out of where not the writing courses, but the English Literature and French courses. That may just be a personal thing, but I feel the quality of some of the writing courses wasn't up to UQ standard. Aside from the very specific example I have given regarding my experience at UQ, everything about life on the St Lucia campus is pretty great. Nestled in a bend of the Brisbane river, it's kind of secluded from the outside world. There's a healthy atmosphere with people jogging or cycling the UQ loop and sports happening on the numerous ovals and courts dotted around campus. There are cafes galore, places to eat, a cinema, an art gallery, a hair dresser, book stores...pretty much anything you could need. So, in terms of the overall university experience, UQ St Lucia makes for a pretty good package.