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The 5 best study spots on campus at ANU
When you’re a first-year student at ANU, you’ll probably have a few questions: where to get your student ID, where your lecture halls and the libraries are (it takes a while to nail those ones, but you’ll be fine), and where to study on campus. We’ve been there—the ANU campus is huge, and there really are a lot of buildings. So, let us share some of our favourite study spots around ANU that have student-certified stamps of approval.
1. Marie Reay Teaching Centre
We’re kicking things off with a crowd favourite, and it’s beloved for a reason. The Marie Reay Teaching Centre is super central, right in the heart of the Kambri precinct. It features six storeys of comfy study nooks and gorgeous city views. The open floor plan and furniture styles on each level means there’s plenty of room, so the Hunger Games-esque struggle to find a good spot is less of a worry. From oversized stadium-like stairs to large collaborative benches and arrangements of café-style tables and chairs, there’s something for that group project or a quiet nook for when you want to work alone or with a friend. Plus, for groups, there are enclosed study rooms and, for well-deserved study breaks, a café on the ground floor. We love you, Marie Reay.
Multiple levels of study goodness await at the Marie Reay Teaching Centre within Kambri.
2. Chifley Library
A study session in the Chifley basement feels like a fundamental ANU experience every student has to have before they graduate. With friendly librarians, lots of space and books on every subject, the Chifley Library has been a go-to study spot for generations of students. It’s a bit quieter, so you have less opportunity to get distracted and more opportunity to actually get your work done (boring, we know, but isn’t this the goal?!). Chifley is open 24 hours on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, so it’s perfect for a late-night sesh or if you’re ducking in after a work shift or late class.
Left your laptop at home? No worries! Chifley has 122 computers for use in its study areas.
3. Hanna Neumann building
This one is a bit of a hidden gem on campus — those who know, know. However, we’re not the ones to keep secrets, and this spot is too good for us to keep to ourselves. The Hanna Neumann building is home to the ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute and, coincidentally, some really cosy study nooks. Take a walk around the first floor and you’re bound to find a quiet and peaceful place to study.
What better place to study than a building named after the first female professor of mathematics in Australia?
4. Research School of Social Sciences
If you’re looking to combine a vibey atmosphere with a genuinely excellent and encouraging study environment, look no further than the Research School of Social Sciences. Upstairs is a beautiful library-mix study space that could be the set of a college movie. Netflix, where are the cameras? Focus on your work while enjoying the stunning views of the campus below and make sure to have a read of the incredible social science research around you.
Ambient lights and earthy toned interior design make this spot amazing for getting in the study mood.
5. Cafes on campus
You know that point in your study session where you start to fade, and your body craves that caffeine hit? Enter the perfect fix — studying at a cafe. Set up shop with your laptop, books, beverage of choice, and a little sweet treat, and you’re good to go. We’ve got some great spots around campus, like Rex, LAB, and Savoir French, ready to keep you fuelled and focused.
We’re so lucky to have amazing cafes on campus — students and coffee are a match made in heaven!
Discover our favourite playlists to get you in the study mood, perfect for studying at the best spots around the ANU campus.
