Bond University is an incredibly unique university in its intensity of learning; the student population sits at around 4,500 so class sizes are low in comparison to other Australian universities but it allows for a closer student-to-faculty ratio. By keeping this down, students can expect a closer, more bespoke learning experience from the academic staff who can be more attentive with their students in encouraging productive use of classroom time. 

Many of Bond’s programmes can be taken as accelerated study programmes, achieved by allowing students to do their bachelor degrees in six semesters (two years) as opposed to nine semesters (three years), and even earn a masters degree in just 12 months. 

Bond’s campus is based in Robina, Queensland, just an hour’s drive from Brisbane. The campus is dominated by a large man-made lake at its centre which acts as a focal point for its facilities to grow from. 

Facilities include the Bond FinTech Hub, part of the business faculty where a simulation of market trading is used so students can learn practically. There are also film and tv studios, the department of law’s electronic courts, and the Bond University Sports Centre which features a world-class gym, the professional Aquatics Centre, and group exercise facilities. 

International students can fly into Brisbane International Airport or Gold Coast airport, and regular buses go from these airports to the campus making international travel stress-free.

Students who have budding interests in entrepreneurship or have big ideas and want support on how to realise them can get involved with a Bond Business Accelerator (BBA). () This service is essential for the students who want to reach their potential and the BBA can help with mentoring, the meeting of investors, incorporation of new technologies and more. The university’s connections to the commercial hub of Brisbane also make it a worthy tool for students looking to network. 

Transformer is also a free co-curricular programme that unites students together across degrees and disciplines to work on projects in a dedicated co-working space.

Bond have put in place a 5-year research plan that aims to tackle the following:

• Developing a world class research workforce and culture. 
• Enable a research-training environment focused on job-ready graduates. 
• Establish niche centres of research excellence. 
• Enhance and enable access to world-class research infrastructure. 
• Through projects with industry, business, government, and community, deliver impactful innovation. 

Due to the small nature of the university, the research opportunities are not currently as numerous as they would be at other universities across Australia but the Bond Institute of Health & Sport currently offers research into sports sciences, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. 

The areas Bond is looking to funnel research into are: 

• Architecture and Built Environment 
• Business and Commerce 
• Communication and Creative Media
• International Relations and Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Psychology and Counselling

Beyond Bond is a programme that encourages students to take on the necessary skills to succeed in terms of employment after their time at Bond. There is a choice of over 200 activities that include internships, volunteering opportunities, participation in global competitions, and all of these are available to students from their first semester at Bond. 

The Career Development Centre (CDC) on campus is also a brilliant way to get on the right track to the right professional role after Bond. They have job listings in 24 countries and in 2019, the CDC aided students in finding 750 industry placements for Bond students. 

Students at Bond can couple their studies with the famous Gold Coast relaxed lifestyle that is known around the world. Campus is one hour from Brisbane and an hour from the sandy beaches where surfing and swimming rule. There are train stops by the campus that can take students all the way out to the coast and beyond. 

Sports is what Bond prides itself most and there are over 30 different sporting clubs for students to get involved with and are supplied with incredible facilities by any university’s standards. There are also around 40 social/cultural clubs that are great ways for students to get acquainted with one another. 

If you are looking for a way of fast-tracking your degree, then look no further than Bond University as its accelerated programmes are impressively run to make sure that students are really wasting no time academically. Studying is really the core focus of Bond University and it is an excellent place to do so, particularly for the students who wish to receive attention from attentive staff in smaller classes. Its sports programmes are excellent and the campus is a relaxing place to spend one’s time with a lot less people onsite than any other universities in the region. 

Students hoping to knuckle down with research may be disappointed at the lack of opportunities but with a university of its size it cannot compete with its peers in those regards.