Research facilities
Our researchers and students have access to a wide range of specialist laboratories and research facilities that are ranked among the best in Australia and the world.
We are one of just seven Australian universities to receive a five-star rating from the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations for our facilities and infrastructure supporting postgraduate research students.
On this page
Sport & learning precinct
The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living offers state-of-the-art research facilities including exercise physiology labs, altitude hotel, biomechanics laboratories, motor learning and skilled performance laboratories, sport and exercise biochemistry laboratories, motor control and biofeedback laboratories and exercise rehabilitation laboratories.
Whitten Oval
Western Bulldogs training at Whitten Oval
The $8 million VU education research centre for sport and exercise sciences is located at Whitten Oval. The oval is home to our partners the Western Bulldogs Football Club. The facility offers unique opportunities for research in elite sports, including coaching, player development and strength and conditioning.
Water research laboratory
Water research facilities
VU offers a fully equipped fluid mechanics and hydraulics laboratory incorporating pluviometers, flowmeters and water quality monitoring equipment. Our researchers also have access to a range of hydrological and water resources computer software packages, including GIS and REALM.
Sleep laboratory
Sleep laboratory at St Albans
Based at the St. Albans campus, the 2-bedroom sleep laboratory is equipped with three portable Compumedics "Somte" systems for sleep recordings, and software for staging and scoring sleep studies. Researchers have access to a range of devices for measuring sleep and performance, including Respironics Actiware watches and software, SleepImage cardiopulmonary coupling devices for assessing sleep stability, Palm Psychomotor Vigilance Tests, and BMedical Pro-diaries for recording daytime assessments of sleepiness and mood.
Health research and education facilities
Health research at VU
Victoria University has partnered with Western Health and the University of Melbourne to develop the new Centre for Health Research and Education. The $51.6 million five-level building at Sunshine Hospital provides current and future health care professionals with cutting-edge education, research and training facilities.
Fire testing facilities
Hydrocarbon test furnace
The Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering (CESARE) offers research and testing opportunities for applications in fire safety engineering.
Fire test facilities include:
- fire test furnaces
- cone calorimeter
- 3MW calorimeter and ISO room
- large fire test facilities
- four storey building scale model
Other research facilities
VU offers many more research facilities and resources through our Institutes and Centres and academic colleges.