Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Study at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, Australia! Offered through the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), the Arts and Sciences program provides a supportive environment in which you will gain personal independence and intellectual insight into Australia’s dynamic and contemporary society. Pursue your interests in everything from humanities and creative arts to information technology and business and commerce at one of the most prestigious schools in the country.
Through integration with local students and field trips organized by CIEE, you'll participate in and reflect upon the academic, social, and cultural environments in which you live and study. The University’s location offers you easy access to Sydney while you study in an area of unmatched natural beauty and opportunities.
Study abroad in Wollongong and you will:
• Enjoy a friendly, beautiful campus close to beaches and Sydney
• Choose from many academic fields of study including communications, engineering, earth sciences, environmental sciences, psychology, biology, and education
• Take advantage of several health science course options including nursing, exercise nutrition/dietetics, and community health
• Take part in a variety of CIEE excursions including a three-day bush walking trip to New South Wales, visits to the Sydney Opera House, and surfing lessons
• Receive on-site personal support and academic leadership from CIEE staff with advanced degrees in the field of experiential education
Wollongong is Australia’s ninth largest city with a regional population of 400,000. While it is close to some of Australia’s major cities, it also offers easy access to some of the region’s finest natural scenery. It is situated along the coast with dramatic hills providing a stunning backdrop. Wollongong is cosmopolitan, with lively nightlife and well-developed cultural venues including theaters, cinemas, art galleries, and multicultural restaurants. A regular and efficient train service runs between the University and Sydney.
Getting to Your Program
You arrange your own flights to Australia, but are given dates and arrival guidelines.
Visa
A student visa is required. You must have a U.S. passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program. CIEE will provide you with visa information.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program. Upon arrival, a week-long orientation is conducted in Wollongong. This familiarizes you with Australian society and culture, as well as the academic environment at the University of Wollongong.
Housing
Housing and some meals are included in the program fee. CIEE manages accommodation, in either local apartments or private house for students outside of the university. This allows for added off-campus programming in addition to on campus life. Accommodation is within a 20- to 30-minute walk from campus. You'll have a single room with a shared kitchen facility. You will receive a food stipend to purchase or prepare your own meals, but should also budget extra funds for meals. Students choosing the academic year program are responsible for their own housing during the summer recess (December to mid-February).
Excursions and Activities
A highlight of the semester is a three-day excursion to an area of outstanding natural beauty on the New South Wales South Coast where you'll be introduced to Aboriginal culture, as well as to Australian flora and fauna. You will stay in cabins at a comfortable resort, located right on the beach and surrounded by a national park. Dolphins and whales can sometimes be seen in the bay, and kangaroos and wallabies freely roam the resort.
A day is spent hiking a mountain that is sacred to the local Aboriginal people. The hike is led by an Aboriginal guide who imparts teachings about Indigenous Australians and their culture. This insight is extremely special and provides an experience that few Australians ever have. It has had a huge impact on past participants on the program. Bushwalks are led by a local naturalist, giving you a deeper understanding of local flora, fauna, and geology. Relax and enjoy your beautiful surroundings—clear blue waters, long sandy beaches, and a coastline largely untouched by humans.
Insurance
You will be enrolled in the UW System required health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
The Australian government also requires all students have Overseas Health Cover (OSHC).
Returned Student Network
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here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Student Testimonials
"Wollongong is a beautiful place with so much to explore!"
The CIEE Study Center provides a supportive, yet challenging environment in which to study and gain firsthand knowledge of Australian life and culture. When you directly enroll at the University of Wollongong, you'll have the opportunity to take advantage of its impressive curriculum. A wide range of courses in a variety of disciplines are available from the following faculties: arts, commerce, creative arts, education, engineering, health and behavioral sciences, informatics, law, and science. You are encouraged to enroll in at least one course with specific Australian content or in a course that offers a distinctive Australian perspective in your area of interest.
The university also offers exciting options for nursing and health sciences majors. Study abroad is an ideal way for you to learn about cross-cultural and international perspectives affecting today’s global society from a health perspective. If you're a pre-med or nursing student, you may be especially interested in Wollongong's health policy, nursing, chemistry, or biology courses.
The Australian educational system generally expects self-motivated, independent work from students. You'll need to adapt to this learning style and take initiative in classes that may not provide continuous assessment throughout the semester. A typical class requires 2-3 hours of lectures and 1-2 hours of tutorials or seminars each week. Science-based subjects normally require an additional three hours of laboratory classes weekly.
Affiliate Institution(s)
University of Wollongong
Program Web Page(s)
CIEE Wollongong Program Website
Foreign Courses
University of Wollongong Subject Database
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
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