Townsville, Australia
James Cook University Partnership, Townsville


Program Overview
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
Minimum GPA
2.50
Credit load
15
Housing
Residence Hall/Dormitory
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Academics
Open the James Cook University online course catalog to see available courses.
- Campus: Cairns or Townsville
- Level: Undergraduate
- Study Period: SP1=Semester 1/U.S. Spring or SP2=Semester 2 or U.S. Fall
- Attendance Mode: Internal
IFSA requires students to enroll in a full course load at the host institution, 12 JCU credits per semester. This is the equivalent of 16 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 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: 00117J
Australian Government | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency | TEQSA: PRV12077
- Fourth-year (4000-level) courses and higher are part of a postgraduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.). YOu are not eligible to take these courses as an undergraduate student.
- IFSA students are eligible to take only courses listed as “Internal” in the description. You will not be permitted to take classes listed as “Block Mode,” “Limited,” or “External.”
- IFSA students may not enroll in the JCU College of Business, Law, and Governance. Related subjects in criminology and politics may be found in the College of Arts, Society, and Education.
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) year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Recommendation Letter
Not required.
Visa Requirement
This program requires a visa for all students.
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 courses 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 examples from previous terms; outings may be different for your program. We’ll make every effort to run them all, but sometimes things we can’t control, such as local regulations and health protocols, get in the way. As result, we cannot guarantee activities and excursions.
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.
- Farewell Dinner: Savor the memories and experiences of your time in Australia during a final delicious dining experience with your IFSA family.
Excursions
- Billabong Sanctuary Visit: This Townsville wildlife, located in traditional bushland along the shores of a billabong, provides the opportunity to meet your favourite Australian animals up close and personal. Engagement includes crocodile feeding, hand-feeding kangaroos, and even cuddling a koala and wombat.
- Ravenswood Outback Day Adventure: Passionate and experienced tour guides lead a relaxing and informative journey that includes discovering natural wonders and exploring heritage listed buildings. Hear tales of how life was lived during the gold rush era, the rise and fall of Ravenswood, and the man they called the “Uncrowned King of Ravenswood.”
Housing and Meals
Housing
Dormitory/Residence HallMeals
Self-CateringDetails
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
Take a look at 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.
Dates and Fees
Get Started

Emma Lynch
Student Engagement Manager