Australia Universities

One of the perks of studying abroad in Australia is that most classes are conducted in English. This makes it easier for students to enroll directly in a university abroad—which may be a cheaper option—although getting college credit may be more difficult. You can search www.studyabroad.com for various semester-abroad programs that meet your criteria, including your desired location and focus of study. Students of conservation and natural resource management may be particularly drawn to Australia, where they will be able to not only find a plethora of university programs in the field, but also conduct practical placements or volunteer in one of the country’s many national parks. Contact Parks Victoria (☎03 8627 4699; www.parkweb.vic.gov.au) for more information on options for tertiary students.

If you’re a college student, your school’s study-abroad office is often the best place to start looking for a program, but if options are limited, the following list of organizations can help place you in a program that fits your needs.

American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), College Division, River Plaza, 9 W. Broad St., Stamford, CT 06902, USA (☎+1-800-727-2437; www.aifsabroad.com). Organizes programs for high school and college study in universities in Australia: semesters in Sydney and a summer program in Cairns. Cost for Sydney semesters is US$16,000; for Cairns in the summer: US$6000. Room and board included. Scholarships available.
Arcadia University for Education Abroad, 450 S. Easton Rd., Glenside, USA (☎+1-866-927-2234; www.arcadia.edu/cea). Offers undergraduate and graduate programs all over Australia. Costs range from US$13,500-20,000 (semester) to US$24,000-35,000 (full-year) and include room and board.
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Sq., London WC1H 9HF, UK (☎+44 20 7380 6700; www.acu.ac.uk). Publishes information about studying for degrees at Commonwealth Universities in Australia.
AustraLearn, 12050 N. Pecos St., Suite 320, Westminster, CO 80234, USA (☎+1-800-980-0033; www.australearn.org/programs/internship/intern.htm). Offers semester- and year-long abroad programs at 34 universities across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Students enroll directly in the university of their choice. Semesters run between US$8000-12,500; years between US$15,000-25,500. Housing fees not included. Study Internship Combination Programs and scholarships available.
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), 300 Fore St., Portland, ME 04101, USA (☎+1-207-553-4000 or +1-800-40-STUDY/407-8839; www.ciee.org). Among the most comprehensive sources for global work, academic, and internship programs. Sponsors university study in Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong. Costs range from US$11,000-18,000 (semester) to US$20,000-27,000 (year) and include housing.
Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), 33 N. LaSalle St., 15th fl., Chicago, IL 60602, USA (☎+1-800-995-2300; www.IESabroad.org). Offers semester and year-long programs for university study in Sydney and Adelaide and semester, year-long, and summer programs in Melbourne. Costs differ by location: Adelaide US$15,000/30,000 (semester/year), Sydney US$15,000-17,500/30,000-35,000 (semester/year), Melbourne US$17,500/35,500/5,250 (semester/year/summer). Room and board included. Scholarships available.
School for International Training (SIT) Study Abroad, 1 Kipling Rd., P.O. Box 676, Brattleboro, VT 05302, USA (☎+1-888-272-7881 or 802-258-3212; www.sit.edu/studyabroad). Semester-long programs with an environmental focus; in Australia, semesters run approximately US$22,000, including room and board, airfare, and personal expenses. Also runs the Experiment in International Living (☎+1-800-345-2929; www.usexperiment.org), with 3- to 5-week summer programs that offer high-school students cross-cultural homestays, community service, and ecological adventure (US$4500-7000).

Australian Programs

Applying directly to Australian universities can be cheaper than using an outside program, though it’s generally more difficult to receive academic credit (and often housing). A fairly comprehensive list of schools and services is available at www.studyabroadlinks.com/search/Australia. The Australian government’s website, www.studyinaustralia.gov.au, is also a good tool, with information on institutions, requirements, the application process, visas, and living costs. IDP Education Australia (www.idp.com) is a non-profit organization that can help guide you through the process, with info on institutions, access to IDP counselors, and a free application and enrollment processing service.

Listed below are several Australian universities that run their own international study programs. Costs vary widely by program and field of study.

University of New South Wales, Level 16, Mathews Building, Kensington 2052, Sydney, NSW (☎02 9385 3179; www.studyabroad.unsw.edu.au). UNSW has both semester-long offerings ($9500), and 6-week study programs during the Northern Hemisphere summer for undergraduates and graduate students looking for a shorter study experience in Australia. Subjects include Australian history, media, environmentalism, biogeography, conservation, and others.
University of Sydney, Study Abroad and Student Exchange, International Office, Services Building G12, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 (☎02 9351 2222; www.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/studyabroad). Choose from courses in a variety of fields and directly enroll using their Study Abroad program. Fees vary.
University of Melbourne, International Admissions, International Centre, John Smyth Building, The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010 (☎03 8344 4505; www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/int/saex/index.html). Students may directly enroll in a wide variety of courses in a number of fields using their Study Abroad program. Fees vary.