Jane College is one of the only places in the world where a student can start their morning with views of a river, spend the early afternoon walking along the rivulet, and be back in time for their lecture by 2pm. For students studying environmental, outdoor and science-based degrees at the University of Tasmania, that’s not a lifestyle bonus, it’s part of the curriculum. And nowhere puts you closer to it than Jane College.
A degree built on Tasmania’s landscape
The University of Tasmania has quietly become one of Australia’s strongest destinations for students who want their science to happen outdoors, not just in a lab. A few of the standout options:
Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science – Field and vessel-based learning in the River Derwent and beyond, with a new, purpose-built aquaculture and fisheries teaching facility opening at Taroona. Jane students studying marine science don’t just take to the water for practical lessons – many wake up looking at it, or start their day diving into it.
Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education – Coastal walks, alpine bushwalking, sea kayaking and outdoor skills are core to the degree, and Jane students have Kunanyi/Mt Wellington and Hobart’s best trail network starting at the college gates. Jane students can step straight from their room, and within minutes be on the very terrain their degree is built around.
Bachelor of Natural Environments and Conservation – This degree is grounded in field technique and hands-on land management. Jane’s own gardens, nearby wildlife and wilderness setting give students a living case study on their doorstep.
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Sciences, Plant Science and Earth Science majors – Botany and earth science students spend their week identifying species and reading landscapes. Jane sits in proximity to one of the last remaining large expanses of temperate wilderness and cool temperate rainforest in the world, with unique flora and fauna found only in this region.
“I chose UTAS as I knew its courses were very hands-on. I wanted my studies to involve a lot of fieldwork and getting out into the beautiful Tassie landscapes,” says Jane resident Nate Keyers, who is studying a Bachelor of Science, Majoring in Zoology and Plant Science.
Why where you live matters as much as what you study
A degree built on fieldwork and outdoor practice demands something different from student accommodation. Students need fast recovery time, easy access to nature, and a college culture that supports their individual needs.
This is where Jane has a genuine edge.
Beautiful natural grounds: Jane sits on vast, established gardens in South Hobart, with local wildlife regularly wandering through.
The Hobart Rivulet and the River Derwent are on the doorstep: Many rooms look directly over the Derwent, and the college is perched at the gateway to some of Hobart’s best nature trails, with Kunanyi/Mt Wellington rising behind. For students studying marine science, freshwater ecology or outdoor leadership, it’s more than scenery – it’s a training ground within walking distance from home.
Fully catered living gives fieldwork students their time back: Jane is Hobart’s only fully catered residential college. For students coming back from a full day in waders or on a trail, three meals a day, seven days a week means more time for study and recovery.
A college community that gets it: Jane’s supportive, close-knit college culture – communal living and dining hall, sport and social activities, study spaces and a genuine sense of belonging – gives environmental and outdoor students the kind of peer network that mirrors the fieldwork-based, team-orientated nature of their degrees.
“A lot of people here are doing similar degrees, so we help each other with assignments or carpool to classes. If you don’t understand something you can just go knock on someone’s door," says Ella Rann who is studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology alongside a Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science majoring in Marine Science.
The Competitive Advantage
Jane offers a rare combination of established gardens, river views, walking access to Hobart’s wilderness trails, and a supportive residential community – all within a short walk or bus ride of UTAS. For students building a degree – and a career – around Tasmania’s natural environment, you belong with Jane.
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