Australia and the United States have long standing ties to promote their respective world class higher education systems. There are nearly 1,000 formal collaborations between Australian and American universities. This is testament to the deep relationship between Australian and the US in innovation, science and education and our joint pursuit of new and exciting ideas that will change the world.

Linked closely with each successful collaboration is a joint and longstanding commitment to world-class education. Our collaborations have also been supported by several other programs, including:

  • The Fulbright Program, which is approaching the 70th Anniversary in Australia. Since its beginning, the Program has facilitated the exchange of more than 5000 Australians and Americans.
  • The Endeavour Leadership Program, which provide opportunities for high-achieving Australians and international tertiary students to increase their knowledge and expertise in their field.

Australia is also working on piloting the P-TECH model — a world leading educational model which originated in Brooklyn, New York and has since expanded globally. Other types of education and training relationships will continue to prosper also include facilitation of exchanges and co-operation between vocational education and training providers in both countries.

Key statistics:

  • Australia is the seventh most popular study abroad destination for US students, with 12,000 Americans studying in Australia every year.
  • The US is one of the most popular outbound destinations for Australian students with 5,000 Australians studying there every year.
  • In 2018, six Australian universities were ranked in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the sector as a whole is well-regarded in the US.
  • The US is Australia’s top research collaborator, with more than 39,000 co-publications from 2010-2014 and room for continued growth.

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The Australia-United States bilateral relationship is supported by a number of not-for-profit, business and community organisations that seek to deepen our understanding of one another and strengthen ties across all aspects of the partnership. They are a vital part of the people-to-people relationships that underpin the close friendship between our nations.

  • American Australian Association (AAA) – located in NYC, the AAA is considred the leading privately funded nonprofit organisation dedicated to deepening and strengthening cooperation and understanding between the institutions and people of the United States and Australia.
  • Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies (CANZPS) - located at in Georgetown University, Washington, DC and is part of the Walsh School of Foreign Service.
  • Australian and New Zealand Studies – located at University of Texas at Austin in the Clark Center. Also at the University of Texas at Austin is the Harry Ransom (gallery and research) Center that holds various collections of Australiana.
  • Australia and New Zealand Studies Association of North America (ANZSANA) – no physical location – is an academic association founded in 1989 with the aim to deepen the understanding about Australia and New Zealand in North America. Their annual meetings bring together academics, journalists, and diplomats who share research and discuss issues germane to Australia, New Zealand, the Indo-Pacific region, and Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
  • The American Association of Australasian Literary Studies (AAALS) – no physical location - is a scholarly organisation with members on four continents. An invitation to membership is extended to all those interested in Australian and New Zealand literature and culture specifically, and postcolonial studies more generally.