Program Duration

Academic Year: Mid July - Mid June
Fall semester: Mid July - Mid November
Spring semester: Mid February - Mid June
Calendar Year: Mid February - Mid November

Program Description

Offered through the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), this program is co-sponsored by UW-Madison. The CIEE Study Center at the University of Wollongong allows participants to directly enroll in university courses in a variety of fields. Students are fully assimilated into university life by studying and living with Australian and other international students, and so become part of the melting pot of cultures that is an integral part of campus life. Students benefit academically and personally from the new perspectives, insights, and experiences flowing from studying abroad in a genuinely multicultural but English language based society. This program is designed for humanities and/or science students with an academic interest in Australian culture and a desire to study and live in both an urban and coastal location.

Located on the eastern coast of Australia in the state of New South Wales, Wollongong is Australia’s ninth largest city with a population of 300,000. It is close to some of Australia’s major cities, including Sydney and Canberra, and also has easy access to some of the region’s finest natural scenery. A cosmopolitan city, Wollongong has well-developed cultural venues including theaters, cinemas, art galleries, shopping centers, and good public transportation. It also has well known and beautiful beaches, right on the edge of the city.

Academics

The University of Wollongong is a modern, well-equipped university. Currently, more than 3,000 international students from over sixty countries make up an important part of the 14,000 student population. The university has a substantial and growing national and international reputation, as well as a history of strong commitment to international education. The university has a lot to offer, including a full range of commercial, medical, dental, recreational, and sporting facilities on campus.

Program participants enroll in university courses alongside Australian and other international students in a wide range of courses from the following faculties: arts, commerce, creative arts, education, engineering, health and behavioral sciences, informatics, law, and science. Students are encouraged to enroll in at least one course with specific Australian content or one that offers a distinctive Australian perspective in their area of interest.

Housing

Housing and some meals are included in the program fee. Students live in university managed residence halls on campus, some facilities are close to the main campus and others are further from campus but closer to the beach. Program participants room with Australians, CIEE participants, and other international students. Both single and double rooms are available to participants.

Excursions and Activities

A mandatory onsite orientation program, during the week before the start of each semester, has three components. The first of these, provided for students by the Resident Director, includes program details, general academic advice, and visits to places of interest in the local region. The second, organized by the university for all new study abroad students, introduces students to the academic requirements of the university, to life and “survival skills” in Australia, to the local region, and to using campus facilities, services, and other administrative systems. The third, and highly social component, is organized by individual housing complexes.

The academic program is also supplemented with field trips and excursions to various points of interest in the Wollongong, Sydney, and South Coast areas. A highlight of the semester is a three day Murramarang excursion to an area of outstanding natural beauty on the New South Wales south coast, where students are introduced to Aboriginal culture as well as to Australian flora and fauna. Other trips and destinations may include: a Sydney Harbor cruise, a surfing lesson, an Australian Football League or “Aussie Rules” football match, Nan Tien Temple (the largest Buddhist Temple in the southern hemisphere), as well as activities such as hiking, watching Australian films, and eating delicious Australian food. Students are also offered an optional opportunity to travel on a week-long trip designed for CIEE participants only. Possible destinations include Tasmania, South Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, or Ayers Rock (correctly known as Uluru).