Townsville, Australia

James Cook University Partnership, Townsville

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James Cook University Partnership, Townsville

Program Overview

EMBRACE NATURE AND COMMUNITY IN THE MARINE SCIENCE CAPITAL

With about 13,000 students, Townsville has a close, tight-community feel that’s different from most large Australian universities—and a coastal Queensland location that brings the outdoors to your door. This top-ranked research institution has amazing opportunities to pursue ecology, environmental science, or marine biology, near spectacular rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Fall: April 1

Spring: Sept. 27

Minimum GPA

2.50

Credit load

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Yes. Learn more.

Apply Now

Academics

Open the James Cook University online class catalog to see available classes.

Campus: Cairns or Townsville
Level: Undergraduate
Study Period: Trimester 3 is U.S. Fall Term; Trimester 1 is U.S. Spring Term
Attendance Mode: Internal

IFSA requires students to enroll in a full class load at the host institution, 9 JCU credits per semester. This is the equivalent of 12 U.S. semester credit hours per semester.

Credit Conversion
3 JCU credits = 4 U.S. semester credit hours

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

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and class 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: 00117J
Australian Government | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency | TEQSA: PRV12077

Fourth-year (4000-level) classes and higher are part of a postgraduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.). You are not eligible to take these classes as an undergraduate student.
IFSA students are eligible to take only classes listed as “Internal” in the description.

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.

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

Indigenous Australians Dance Performance: Watch a company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary dancers tell powerful stories through movement, dynamic design, poetry, and music.
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.
Billabong Sanctuary Visit: This Townsville wildlife, located in traditional bushland along the shores of a billabong, provides the opportunity to meet your favorite Australian animals up close and personal. Engagement includes crocodile feeding, hand-feeding kangaroos, and even cuddling a koala and wombat.
Celebration Dinner: Savor the memories and experiences of your time in Australia during a final delicious dining experience with your IFSA family.

Excursions

Hidden Valley Tour: On this eco-tour, experience the beauty of the Australian landscape, view wildlife in its natural habitat, learn about the Wet Tropics World Heritage area, and experience life in the Australian bush. The drive from Townsville to Hidden Valley takes you from an urban landscape through coastal regions, into dry sclerophyll forest, over the Paluma Range, and into the rainforest. While in the Paluma Rainforest, stroll in the clouds under the canopy and explore the giant trees, ferns, and plants from ancient eras. Listen to the songbirds and explore Australia’s greatest diversity of animals and plants. With views from mountain lookouts that extend to the ocean, it truly is a unique and amazing location. Plus, take a guided tour of Running River Gorge. Stay in cabins at an off-grid sanctuary nestled amongst untouched nature and learn about solar power systems and environmental sustainability.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Residence Hall/Dormitory, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

IFSA students live on campus in either residence hall rooms (like a U.S. dorm) or shared student apartments. You’ll have a private (single) bedroom, whichever option you choose.

Keep in mind that housing options are priced differently. Housing with additional perks tends to cost more. To cover these expenses, expect an additional housing charge if you choose a more expensive option.

Sample housing

Explore Burralga Yumba to see what your Townsville home might be like:

Location: On campus, centrally located.
Living space: Dorm-style hall. Each student has their own bedroom with a large bed, desk, chair, lamp and storage, and shares bathroom facilities with others on the floor. Complete bedding and towel kit provided.
Meals: Students are responsible for preparing or purchasing their own meals. The hall has a large kitchen and a large outdoor barbecue area. Basic kitchenware provided. Many tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of their day.
Other details: Internet included. On-site laundry facilities. Staff on-site and available 24/7. Student rooms are cleaned every other week. Extensive activities and events include dinners, day trips, volunteering, and workshops.
Nearby: Cafes, restaurants, city center, the Strand.