Sydney, Australia
University of New South Wales Partnership
Program Overview
STRONG ACADEMICS AND A COMPLETE CAMPUS, CLOSE TO SYNDEY
Combine outstanding academics with opportunities for sports and socializing at a modern university with fantastic facilities and on-campus housing. Engineering, business, and computer science are particularly strong, and a U.S. academic calendar makes scheduling easy. All you need is right on campus, located just 1.5 miles from Coogee Beach, under four miles from Bondi Beach, and 20 minutes from downtown Sydney.
With a hearty buffet of tours and activities, you’ll also sample Australia’s rich natural beauty, from the rugged Blue Mountains to dazzling beaches, and get to know deep-set indigenous traditions.
Details at a Glance
Application deadline
Minimum GPA
2.60
Credit load
16
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option
Instruction language
English
Language prerequisites
None
Visa required?
Yes. Learn more.
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.
Open the UNSW online catalog to browse the classes available. See a list of available intensive class offerings for Spring 2024 here.
To provide an academic calendar that aligns well with the U.S. semester schedule, UNSW has students participate in an intensive term prior to the regular Australian academic term. IFSA students take one class (4 U.S. semester credit hours) during the intensive term and three classes (12 U.S. credit hours) during the regular term for a total of 4 classes (16 U.S. credit hours). However, the number of classes you take depends on the credit value of the classes you select.
UNSW Term Structure
Spring Term: UNSW Summer Intensive Term (January) + Term 1 (February–May)
Fall Term: UNSW Winter/2C Intensive Term (August) + Term 3 (September–December)
Credit Conversion
3 UNSW points = 2 U.S. semester credit hours
6 UNSW points = 4 U.S. semester credit hours
12 UNSW points = 8 U.S. semester credit hours
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: 00098G
Australian Government | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency | TEQSA: PRV12055
- All courses with codes beginning with the letter “Z” are taught on UNSW’s Canberra campus and are therefore unavailable to study abroad students.
- Be sure that you choose only those courses offered on the UNSW Sydney, Kensington or UNSW Art & Design campuses.
- Fifth-year (5000-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 study abroad student. Exception – BEES6601: An Introduction to the Sydney Environment.
Art & Design Campus
Please note that there are a limited number of spaces available to study abroad students in classes on the UNSW Art & Design campus. If you are interested in courses on this campus, be sure to complete your application materials early.
Computer Science
Computer Science classes at UNSW have very limited enrollment availability. It is recommended to have a second choice option for each class with limited enrollment availability, as placement in Computer Science classes cannot be guaranteed.
Criminology
Criminology (CRIM) classes are restricted to Criminology majors.
Faculty of Law
Courses in the Faculty of Law are not open to study abroad students, with the exception of: LAWS3350, Sport, Law and Society in Australia; LAWS3351, Sport and the Law in the Western World; and those with course codes starting with GENL.
Media
Media (MDIA) restricted courses include: MDIA1005, 3004, 3006 and 3012.
School of Medical Sciences
School of Medical Sciences classes with course codes starting with MFAC are not open to study abroad students, but similar courses are available under the GENM code, and those are open to study abroad students.
INTERNSHIPS
The University of New South Wales offers Work-Intergrated Learning internship classes in a wide variety of professional sectors.
Business Internships
A staff member in the agency or organization where you are placed will supervise your performance in the internship and act as your field supervisor. Placements are offered after an interview process either prior to the start of the semester or after you arrive in Sydney. UNSW cannot guarantee internship placements before the interview process is complete.
Internship applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have completed at least four semesters of a relevant degree. An internship replaces one regular class at UNSW and is worth 4 U.S. semester credit hours. An academic supervisor will monitor your progress in your placement and guide you on your academic project. Interns work between 100-150 hours for the length of the internship, depending on their placement.
Media Studies Internship
Students interested in a Media Studies Internship are required to find their own internship placement. Contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for more information.
INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNER PROJECT
This real-world experience allows you to work collaboratively alongside local and international industry and community partners to solve critical problems presented by organizations. Specifically designed to engage local and international students from different majors, internship opportunities are available for all majors and disciplines. Regular site visits with your industry partner occur during the intensive term and continue into the full term as you complete required academic components. An internship replaces one regular class at UNSW and is worth 6 U.S. semester credit hours.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
University of New South Wales students have the option of engaging in research for academic credit during their semester abroad. You will need to find a researcher to be your advisor and include you in their lab. Once you find a researcher, IFSA and UNSW will help you make the connection and make sure you’re enrolled in the research class. A research project replaces one regular class at UNSW and is worth 4 U.S. semester credit hours.
Please be aware that the research class (REGZ9212) is recorded as a pass/fail grade rather than a A-F letter grade. You will need to contact your study abroad advisor to be sure that your home institution will accept pass/fail credit from your study abroad experience.
Research applicants should use UNSW’s Find a Researcher Tool to identify someone with whom they would like to work.
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. A research or 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
- Indigenous Australians Cultural Education: Learn about the religious, social, and cultural practices of Australia’s First Nations People from award-winning indigenous Australian educators. Includes opportunity for questions and discussion.
- The Rocks Walking Tour: Explore Sydney’s iconic district, The Rocks, site of the convict settlement in 1788. Learn about its role in national political and social change, the notorious Rocks Gang, the Rum Rebellion, and more.
- Yogalates: Take time for your body and mind with energizing sessions that combine yoga and Pilates, led by qualified IFSA staff and held outdoors or in student housing.
- 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.
- Sydney Opera House Show: Did you know that if all the sails of the Opera House were combined, they would create a perfect sphere? Visit the structure that transformed Australia’s cultural image—named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007—for a live show.
- Taronga Zoo: Travel by ferry to meet and learn about more than 350 species, including kangaroos, koalas, and more of Australia’s distinctive wildlife. Don’t miss the free flight bird show, where native birds performing incredible stunts with Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as their backdrop.
- Coogee-Bondi Walking Tour: Take in stunning ocean views as you walk the paved path from Coogee to Bondi, tracing shoreline cliffs and beaches. During late October and early November, you might also catch Sculpture by the Sea, Australia’s largest annual outdoor sculpture installation.
- Bike Tour of Sydney: The perfect way to get oriented and see some Sydney’s most famous sites. Includes riding across iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
- Hunter Valley Tour: This full-day tour takes you a couple of hours north of Sydney, where natural beauty and farmland are home to 300 wineries. Exchange the busy urban environment for rolling green hills and discover the biodiversity of New South Wales. Includes lunch.
- Blue Mountains Visit: An important historical site, the Blue Mountains are a rugged and mountainous region west of Sydney. Soak up dramatic scenery and discover an immense range of flora and fauna, including the famous lyrebird, known to mimic the sound of car alarms, chainsaws, camera shutters, and more.
- South Coast of NSW Excursion: Widely known for some of the whitest sand beaches in the world, enjoy an overnight excursion to the Jervis Bay Marine Park. Highlights can include dolphin and whale watching tours and campfire chats with Aboriginal elders.
Housing and Meals
Housing
Apartment/Flat, Single Room OptionMeals
Self-CateringDetails
IFSA students live in student apartments on campus or no more 30 minutes away. Some housing has extra amenities—like private bathrooms—which may have an extra supplemental fee. Keep in mind that if you’re placed in more expensive housing, you will incur additional charges to cover these costs.
Sample housing
Explore UNSW Village to see what your Sydney home might be like:
- Location: On campus.
- Living space: Furnished apartments for six to eight students with individual bedrooms and two or three bathrooms. Each student room has a desk, bed, and storage. Complete bedding and towel set provided. Kitchen includes stove and refrigerator; basic kitchen wares provided.
- Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare meals in their apartment kitchens or eat out. Used to a dining hall? Apartment mates tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of the day.
- Other details: Internet included. 24-hour security. Resident assistants on call 24 hours. On-site laundry facilities. Common room with pool table, industrial kitchen, and study room. Social events like cooking classes and trivia night.
- Nearby: Coogee Beach, Centennial Park, Bondi Junction, Royal Randwick Racecourse, bus and light rail service to more Sydney highlights.
Dates and Fees
Get Started
Danielle Jones
Enrollment Counselor