UC Book
The University of Canberra launched the UC Book Project in November 2012, with the announcement of the chosen book that would be required reading for all commencing undergraduate students in 2013. The inaugural UC Book of the Year for 2013 was the multi-award winning novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. In 2014 UC's book of the year was awarded to Room by Emma Donoghue. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion won the award in 2015. The 2016 book of the year was The Strays by Emily Bitto. The 2017 book of the year was The White Earth by Andrew McGahan and the winner for the The UC Book of the Year for 2018 was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K Dick. The 2019 Book of the Year was awarded to The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood.
The winner of The UC Book of the Year for 2020 is Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss.
The UC Book of the Year is required reading for all commencing students at the University of Canberra and a free copy will be provided to every commencing student regardless of their course, as well as all academic, professional and general staff at the university. The book is available as a paperback.
The objective of the UC Book Project is to introduce commencing students to intellectual life before their studies officially begin, encouraging early engagement with UC on-line resources, informal learning and sharing among all new students, closer connections between staff and students and greater inclusion of the University's associations, adjuncts and UC Schools.
The University of Canberra is one of the first Australian universities to embark on this initiative, as part of its innovative approach to student engagement. More than 6000 copies of the novel were made available to staff and commencing students of the University in 2013, as well as commencing University of Canberra College students and Year 12 students of the Lake Ginninderra College.
Each year a different book is chosen by a high-profile selection panel. All UC staff and commencing students will receive an email from the University providing details on how to get their free copy.
Use the links on the left of this page to read more about the UC Book of the Year, the selection panels and FAQs.
Get your free copy and start reading!