The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Founded in 1946, it is the only university in Australia created by an Act of Parliament. ANU is consistently ranked among the top universities in Australia and the world and has a strong reputation for research and teaching excellence. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across a range of disciplines including arts and social sciences, business and economics, engineering and computer science, law and governance, medicine and health, and science. ANU is also home to a number of research centers and institutes, including the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, the Australian Centre on China in the World, and the Crawford School of Public Policy, among many others. Its campus is approximately 7km from the city center and is recognized as one of the most beautiful in Australia.