College life

The Emmanuel community offers some amazing experiences that will stay with you for life
Academic program

Academic program

We offer a challenging, rigorous and rewarding academic program based on the Oxbridge tradition of critical thinking.

Sports

Sports

Emmanuel College competes in the UQ Inter-College Competition (ICC), along with 10 other colleges, and hosts an annual Rugby 7s tournament.

ICC sport is competitive but open to all skill levels, and involves a manageable time commitment. Despite having lower resident numbers than single-sex colleges, we regularly place in the top three positions in both the men’s and women’s ICC competitions.

ICC sports are AFL, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket (men’s), cross country, hockey, netball (women’s), Rugby Union (men’s), rowing, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, touch football, volleyball and water polo.

Cultural activities

Cultural activities

College cultural life provides lots of fun opportunities to get involved, showcase your talents and compete against other colleges. We encourage College-wide participation at any skill level in singing, dancing, music, theatre, visual art, public speaking, chess and more.
UQ Inter-College Competition activities include art shows, Bandfest, chess, Choralfest, College Idol, Dancefest, debating, One Act Play and oratory competitions. Emmanuel has won the overall Cultural Cup in several recent years.

A uniquely Emmanuel experience is Theatre Restaurant, a yearly performance accompanied by dinner, open for three nights to Emmanuel students, family, friends and other colleges.

Pipe Band

Pipe Band

The award-winning Emmanuel College Highlanders at the University of Queensland pipe band performs regularly at events including Anzac Day commemorations, the Woodford Folk Festival and the Australian Celtic Festival. It participates in local competitions and has competed at the Australian Pipe Band Championships and at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland.

Band membership is open to all members of the College, and includes tuition in pipes and drums. New pipers and drummers are always welcome.

Emmanuel College offers an annual piping scholarship to a student who shows sound academic ability and superior talent as a piper.

Find out more via email secretary@emmanuelhighlanders.com.

Leadership

Leadership

It’s important to us that all our students have opportunities to become leaders at College and in the wider community.

Towards the end of each year, students vote for members of the Students’ Club Committee, which forms the leadership executive of the student body for the next year. In the residential wings, we appoint senior students as Wing Community Leaders and provide training to help them support others in their wing.

Opportunities arise throughout the year for students to fill other leadership roles such as community service organisers, international student coordinators, Christian convenors and student IT officers.

Mentoring and work experience

Mentoring and work experience

One of the unique advantages of being part of the Emmanuel community is the opportunity to connect with our alumni network.

Many of our alumni offer their services as professional and personal mentors for current students. Others provide work experience opportunities for students during the semester or in breaks, some with a view to future employment.

College staff will advise on and facilitate these arrangements.