Welcome from Principal Dr Jane Thomson

Emmanuel College is one of Australia’s leading university residential colleges, and has been for more than 100 years. Offering much more than student accommodation, we put our students at the heart of all we do to ensure their health, wellbeing and future prospects.

Our academically focused, supportive residential environment for young men and women studying at The University of Queensland and other Brisbane-based tertiary institutions, such as Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University, is based on our founding liberal arts mission: “to provide an education for life, not just for livelihood”. Our academic program encompasses 80+ hours of discipline-based tutorials each week, language courses, SuperTutes, MasterClasses, visiting scholars, and academic mentoring. The social, cultural and sporting aspects of co-ed college life at Emmanuel build resilience and character, leading to meaningful relationships and life-long friendships.

My focus is on engaging with our students and providing academic support and intellectual inspiration, financial support through scholarships and bursaries, mentoring and internships through our alumni network, and student wellbeing and spiritual guidance. Maintaining the connections among past, present and future Emmanuelians in the life of the College is a priority, as is supporting our dedicated staff to deliver best practice strategies and go the extra mile in all that they do for our students.

I regard it as an enormous privilege and responsibility to ensure that the young people who choose to live at Emmanuel College are given every opportunity to succeed in their studies and grow as individuals. Throughout my career, I have been committed to the transformative power of education and Emmanuel College offers a wonderful opportunity to nurture young people and their futures, ultimately contributing to shaping a positive, caring society.