Gold Coast, Australia

Griffith University Partnership

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Griffith University Partnership

Program Overview

GOLD COAST VIBES AND UNIQUE SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES

Adventure-seekers, find your place under the sun on Australia’s fabled Gold Coast at a progressive university with top ranked business (AACSB accredited), criminal justice, tourism, physics, and a prestigious honors college. Art and music majors can hone their skills up the river in friendly, easy-going Brisbane at Queensland College of Art. Your semester includes unforgettable excursions and day trips to the Sunshine Coast, Lone Pine Sanctuary, and Gold Coast.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 1

Spring: Oct. 15

Minimum GPA

2.50

Credit load

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Yes. Learn more.

Apply Now

Academics

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

To browse the complete list of Griffith University courses, open the Griffith University online course catalog.

Students enroll in 4 classes each worth 10 Griffith University Credit Points for a total of 16 U.S. semester credit hours.

Queensland College of Art
The school is located across the river from the central business district in Brisbane. Please note that these schools have additional portfolio/audition requirements. Please reach out to your IFSA Enrollment Counselor to learn more.

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Australian Government | Department of Education | CRICOS: 00233E
Australian Government | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency | TEQSA: PRV12076

Fourth-year (4000) courses are electives.
5000 courses are electives for some study areas only (e.g. Law)
6000 courses are undergraduate Honours courses. These are available only to students who are currently an Honours student at their home university.
7000 courses and higher are part of a postgraduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.). You are not eligible to take these courses as an undergraduate study abroad student

Internships
Community internship at Griffith University: Give back to the community by volunteering 50 hours during the semester in structured activities, projects or research. Some examples of past internships include: environmental work, executive assistance, event planning, social media work, marketing assistance, research project assistance, human resources intern or community development work. Internships are unpaid but are worth 4 U.S. semester credits (replacing one class). Internship placements may be subject to a successful interview upon arrival. If a student does not receive a placement upon arrival, another course can be easily added during registration.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
You must have completed at least one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Not required. An internship site may request a reference letter before placement is finalized.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

Activities

Burleigh National Park Visit: A wild, natural headland, Burleigh Heads National Park offers walks along the rocky foreshore and through rainforest, and the chance to see whales in spring and sea eagles soaring along the coast. This tour includes a visit to the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre featuring Aboriginal paintings and artifacts.
NACE Competencies Workshop: Mastering the eight U.S. National Association of Colleges and Employers competencies is essential preparation for college graduates. This IFSA staff workshop helps you make meaningful links between your study abroad experience and career readiness.
Whale Watching Tour: Admire majestic humpback whales on their annual migration (July to November) through the “Whale Highway,” an ancient underwater corridor just 20 minutes away from the Gold Coast shore. Seeing whales up close, in their natural habitat, is truly a sight to behold.
Celebration Dinner: Savor the memories and experiences of your time in Australia during a final delicious dining experience with your IFSA family.

Excursions

Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Weekend: A chance to see Queensland’s biodiversity in all its richness, this weekend adventure features a visit to Mary Cairncross Rainforest Reserve, an aviary tour at Maleny Botanical Gardens, stops at Gerrard’s Lookout and Mapleton Falls Lookout, and a hike in Noosa National Park.
Lone Pine Sanctuary Visit: Lone Pine is the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary and collaborates with universities, government, and students on hundreds of wildlife research projects. During the three-hour visit, see more than 130 koalas, hand feed kangaroos and emus, experience a sheep dog show, spy on a shy platypus swimming, and watch the birds of prey.
Gold Coast Hinterland Tour: This getaway includes Springbrook National Park’s waterfalls, rainforest, and the Natural Bridge.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Most IFSA students live in a high-rise apartment building close to the beach, operated by an independent housing partner. There is also an option to live in shared university apartments, walking distance from campus.

Keep in mind that housing options are priced differently and single rooms will incur a supplemental fee.

Sample housing

Explore Surfers Century Apartments, a high-rise apartment complex just blocks from the beach, to see what your Gold Coast home might be like:

Location: Two-minute walk to the beach in the coastal suburb of Surfers Paradise, and 25 minutes from campus by bus or light rail.
Living space: Furnished apartments for four students with two double bedrooms. Each student shares a room and a bathroom with one other student. (Students can request a private room for an additional fee.) Fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher. Laundry facilities included. This complex is home to students as well as professionals, retirees, and travelers.
Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare their own meals or eat out, and often say cooking together is a fun, social part of the day.
Other details: Internet included. AC. 24-hour security. Reception. Maintenance. Gym, pool, tennis courts, and barbecue facilities.
Nearby: Surfers Paradise beaches and beachfront markets. Cavill Avenue.