Flexibility, innovation and relevance are all hallmarks of Macquarie University's academic programs. Its 29,000 students have a great deal of freedom to design their study programs to meet their particular needs.

Macquarie has a distinguished tradition as a distance education provider; it offered the world's first undergraduate science degree available wholly by distance education. The University is now one of Australia's leading exponents of e-learning, with technology being used extensively to support the studies of both on campus and distance education students.

The University has strong international connections, with more than 5,700 international students from more than 75 countries studying on campus, and another 900 studying offshore. International students play an important part in the life of the University and Macquarie is committed to providing high quality personal and academic services to its international students.

Macquarie offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in economic and financial studies, management, early childhood and education, humanities, education, languages, creative arts, law, social sciences, studies in culture, media and philosophy, environmental and life sciences, linguistics, psychology, and mathematical, physical and information sciences.

Macquarie has developed a high-performance research culture. It hosts six national research centres and facilities, working in various areas of science and in English language teaching and research. Macquarie also has 19 university research centres ranging from ancient history and special education to natural hazards and astrobiology. It is the birthplace of the Macquarie Dictionary.

The University serves as a local and national cultural centre. Amongst Macquarie's treasures are the Museum of Ancient Cultures, the University Art Gallery with its collection of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal Art, and performing companies in residence such as the Macquarie Trio Australia and Theatre of Image.