ANU has refreshed the Bachelor of Music for 2026. The new curriculum introduces modern study options. Additionally, the new Performance+ Hub is for students seeking additional one-on-one tuition. 

Current students will continue in their existing program. Future students can learn more about the changes and broader Renew ANU updates through the FAQs for current and future students. 

Learn more: Renewed Bachelor of Music Curriculum in 2026 

Widely circulated claims of out-of-control mass immigration in Australia are false and misleading and stem from the incorrect reporting of tourism and travel data that has nothing to do with migration, according to a major new report from ANU.   

The report’s authors say that public commentators, activists and some media outlets are incorrectly using permanent and long-term movement data, which is collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to claim Australia has a ‘migration problem’ and distort public understanding.   

Learn more: Incorrect reporting of ABS data fuelling false claims Australia has a mass migration problem 

Much has changed since 2001. We now live in the age of hyperconnectivity, where technology has transformed almost every aspect of life.  

Today, as an English and creative writing scholar at the Australian National University (ANU), Neave is researching how these same technological shifts have reshaped the very act of writing itself.    

Learn more: Is AI changing how we write? Meet the novelist exploring how tech shapes our creativity 

Sadly, Harry Hartog has this week closed its doors for the last time. ANU was surprised and disappointed to learn that the retailer had advised continuing operations on campus was no longer viable and that it was seeking an early termination of its lease.  

“I know this will be sad news for many in our community – particularly at the end of a tough year. Harry Hartog is a much-loved feature of our Kambri precinct. It’s more than just a bookshop, it is a hub of big ideas and debates, and a place where treasured ANU souvenirs are purchased for friends and family near and far. We are working through the implications of the retailer’s decision. Our priority is our community, and we are doing everything we can to make sure our staff and students have access to books and merchandise in the new year.” ANU Chief Financial Officer, Michael Lonergan said.   

Harry Hartog shared, “We are deeply grateful to our customers, the ANU community, and our landlord for their support and cooperation over the years”.  

If you have questions or concerns, please email commercial.services@anu.edu.au   

ANUConnect is your new go-to for IT help, campus service requests, how-to-guides and more – all in one spot. 

ANUConnect will continue to evolve, bringing more services and features to enhance your experience at ANU.  

Learn more: Introducing ANUConnect 

From Wednesday 17 December, most ANU students will no longer be able to access Wattle as we transition to Canvas. 

Please download and save any files from Wattle that you wish to retain before this date. Step-by-step instructions to complete this process can be found at the online access for courses page. 

If you are one of a small group of students who require extended access to Wattle for your program or due to specific circumstances, you should have already been contacted to confirm your access.  

For any questions or support, please raise a ticket via the Service Portal.  

The ANU Mental Health and Wellbeing: Our Forward-Looking Strategy 2025-2030 Report has now been published.  

Professor Lyndall Strazdins, Chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, talks about how the strategy has been developed and the long-term plan to support the wellbeing of our community. 

It will be accompanied by an interactive Padlet on the strategy website, providing staff and students with an opportunity to explore the pillars and actions, share ideas and highlight what is working well. 

Learn more: ANU Mental Health and Wellbeing: Our Forward-Looking Strategy 2025-2030 report  

University House is expected to re-open in mid-2026, following an extended closure for repairs and restoration after the hailstorm damage closures. The work has been carefully undertaken to honour its heritage status, ensuring that University House will once again be a showpiece of mid-20th century design and a campus and Canberra iconic landmark. 

Members of the University community, guests and visitors will once again experience the distinctive mid-century modern vibe of University House. Key public rooms and 18 hotel rooms have been faithfully restored to their original character. Other spaces, including Fellows Cafe and Bar and the majority of hotel rooms, have been reinterpreted in contemporary homage to the original classic.   

As the ceremonial heart of ANU, University House is the place where the University meets and celebrates, and where guests and visitors experience the benefits of a boutique hotel with immediate access to the rich cultural and intellectual life of Australia’s national University. 

Hotel and event bookings: 

Bookings are set to open in the first quarter of 2026. Until then, please direct all enquires to accommodation.unihouse@anu.edu.au. 

Website: 

The interim University House website will also be updated in the first quarter of 2026. 

Oops! Last week we published incorrect information in our photo captions for the 2025 Art & Design Grad Show and we sincerely apologise.   

The images in last week’s edition of On Campus featured:  

Congratulations to all graduating artists featured in this year’s exhibition. 

Learn more about the Grad Show and this year’s emerging artists. 

Saturday 13 December, 12pm–5pm 

The Drill Hall Gallery presents Conjunction, an exhibition that explores how artworks gain new meaning when placed in dialogue. Through a curated selection of works from the ANU Art Collection, Conjunction creates a generative dialogue, joining artworks from different art historical periods, social and cultural contexts. 

Register here for Curatorial tours – Conjunction 

Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm 

The Canberra Choral Society presents A Handel Celebration at Llewellyn Hall. Enjoy a showcase from the prolific musical genius of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) featuring arias and choruses from Messiah, Julius Caesar, Saul, Israel in Egypt and more. 

Guest conductor Erin Helyard, a baroque specialist and Artistic Director of Pinchgut Opera, leads French soprano Myriam Arbouz, a 160-voice chorus prepared by Dan Walker and a locally sourced professional orchestra. 

Register here for A Handel Celebration 

For half a century, Professor James J. Fox has been a defining figure in the intellectual life of ANU. On 6 November, an audience of fifty gathered in person and online to pay tribute to his career, with a focus on the students who received their Master’s and PhD degrees under his supervision.  

Learn more: Five Decades of Discovery – Professor James J. Fox Marks 50 Years at ANU 

Student Central services, including phone support and in-person assistance at the Student Hub, will be unavailable at the following times due to staff events: 

Thank you for planning around these short closures. 

Learn more: Student Central temporary closures in December 

How did you come to be at ANU? 

“I was working in the Bodleian Library in Oxford when I was alerted to an advertisement in early 1975 for the position of Deputy University Librarian at ANU. I subsequently applied, was interviewed in London, and received my letter of appointment on 11 November, 1975. My wife and I then watched Gough Whitlam on the steps of Parliament House, but we were only looking for the houses and couldn't see any in the BBC TV shots of the War Memorial in the background. I took up the position in August 1976, thinking we would only stay for four to five years, but nearly 50 years later, and after 22 years as University Librarian, we are still here.” 

What are you most passionate about in your work? 

“Making publicly funded knowledge and research accessible and open. As University Librarian, my colleagues and I instituted the first open access repository in Australia and also established the ANU (open access) Press. In a similar vein, running the ANU Meet the Author series since 1987 has provided an opportunity to bring leading authors from Australia and overseas to campus to discuss their work. In the last three years we have averaged nearly 50 events a year and 13 events are already scheduled for 2026.” 

What is your favourite spot on campus and why? 

“This is both a retrospective and prospective comment for University House, of which I am an Honorary Fellow. I'm looking forward to its long-awaited reopening in the middle of 2026 as it provides a much-needed social meeting place on campus.” 

Know someone with a great story to tell? Email the On Campus team at on.campus@anu.edu.au. 

For Alexander Munro, a fourth-year ANU School of Culture, History and Language student from Tasmania, studying Chinese has been part of his story since Year 7. Now preparing for his Year in Asia at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Alexander hopes to visit every province in China and dive deeper into both the language and the culture. 

We can’t wait to follow Alexander on his Asian adventure! Do you have a dream destination or cultural experience in mind? Explore your own possibilities through the Year in Asia program, offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. 

Learn more: Tasmania. Canberra. Next Stop – Hangzhou 

We’re making it easier for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates to manage their leave of absence requests. From today, a new leave of absence request will be accessible from ANUHub, replacing the old eForm process.  

Learn more: New process for HDR leave of absence 

Don’t forget to submit your photo via the form before entries close, this Friday 12 December.  

All winners will be revealed in the final 2025 edition of On Campus on Tuesday 16 December. Every pet photo will be featured in a merry holiday gallery so you can enjoy the cuteness overload. 

The Australian Federal Police are warning international students to be aware of scammers linked to criminal syndicates. These scammers contact students with offers of ‘quick cash’ and commissions for access to their bank accounts and identity documents to then be used in money laundering. 

Protect yourself from falling victim: 

Learn more: Alert – Money laundering and misuse of international students’ identity documents 

This week’s picture comes from Warrick Schofield, Optomechanical Engineer from the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.   

“What is more synonymous with ANU than Sullivans Creek? Together with Lake Burley Griffin, this was always a nice scene on my ride home from campus. What a lovely place to study,” said Warrick.  

Got a photo to share? Send in your picture using this form and include a short description about why your snap is special to you.  

Help is available if you need it. If you are dealing with a personal or university-related issue, ANU encourages you to seek support through the Student Safety and Wellbeing team by emailing student.wellbeing@anu.edu.au or calling 02 6125 2211, Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm.

You can also visit our Urgent Support page for a list of 24/7 and crisis support options.

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security at (02) 6125 2249