Program Snapshot
We're so excited that you're considering IFSA-Butler's program at Flinders University for your semester or year abroad. Flinders is a great university located in Adelaide, Australia. We're sure you're going to love studying there!
There are a few specific forms for this program that you will need to complete along with your IFSA-Butler application. You can find the forms under the Forms tab.
What Flinders has to offer
- A reputation for academic excellence
- Four faculties and 17 specialist research centers
- A spacious, green campus with modern buildings nine miles from the city center
- On-campus bank, bookstore, drugstore, health and counseling service, post office, religious center and student travel center
- First-rate playing fields for all major sports, tennis courts and two modern, indoor sports center
- Flinders Campus Community Services has an art gallery, music listening room, shop and several cafeterias, and sponsors concerts, dance and theatre performances, exhibitions and speakers
- An active Clubs and Societies Association with more than 50 special interest groups
Housing
- Housing is in modern on-campus student flats
- Students purchase or prepare their own meals
Academics
- Great range of courses and flexibility in course selection across departments
- Students take three or four courses per semester
We look forward to working with you!
Academics
Courses
Where can I find a list of courses that the university offers?
- Open the Flinders University online course catalog.
- You should choose "Search by (current year) Topics" and then run a search for the subject areas in which you have an interest.
What courses am I eligible to take?
As an IFSA-Butler student, you are entitled to enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and in which space is available. Course descriptions in the online course catalog (see above) include prerequisites you must fulfill in order to enroll in each course.
For each course that you list on your preference form, be sure to check the following:
- When determining which courses to take, please bear in mind that the Australian academic system is an intensive, three-year program.
- First-year (100-level) courses are appropriate for departments in which you have little or no prior experience.
- Second-year (200-level) courses will be equivalent to advanced sophomore or junior-level U.S. courses.
- Third-year (300-level) courses will be equivalent to senior-level U.S. courses.
- Fourth-year (400-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 study abroad student.
- Remember in Australia, U.S. fall semester = semester 2 and U.S. spring semester = semester 1. Be sure to select courses for the correct semester you are studying abroad.
What if I need to take a required course?
Please be aware that IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that your host university will offer a particular course, or that you will be allowed to take that particular course. However, if you need to take a required course, you may indicate that it is required on your course preference form. Your IFSA-Butler program advisor will communicate your needs to your host university.
Course Restrictions
Fourth-year (400-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 study abroad student.
Credits
How many courses am I able to take, and how do I determine U.S. semester credit hours?
IFSA-Butler requires students to enroll in a full course load at the host institution. The number of courses you take depends on the credit value of the courses you select. A full course load at Flinders University is 18 Flinders units for the semester (equivalent to 15-16 U.S. semester credit hours) and 36 for the year (equivalent to 30-32 U.S. semester credit hours). For information on the credit weight, please consult the chart below.
3 Flinders points = 2.5 U.S. semester credit hours
4.5 Flinders points = 3.75 U.S. semester credit hours
6 Flinders points = 5 U.S. semester credit hours
9 Flinders points = 7.5 U.S. semester credit hours
Registration
What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full Flinders University course load as determined by IFSA-Butler. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. full course load. All courses are graded on an A-F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. You are not allowed to register for online, distance education or hybrid courses.
You should also be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your home institution or host university to take or process additional credits. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.
The course preference form is not a registration form; it is a guideline to let your host university know which courses you are interested in taking abroad. You should discuss your course selections with your academic advisor at your home institution and have several backup choices in mind. Neither you nor the university is bound by your selections, and you will not officially register for courses until you arrive on campus.
Exams
What do I need to know about exams?
Because of the differences in the academic systems, you will not know your exam schedule until after you arrive at your host university. Please refer to your program calendar to review the exam period for your host university. Your host university's policies do not permit you to reschedule any exams, request alternate assessments or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler cannot assist you in conducting a grade query or academic follow-up for the course in which you made this arrangement. You will need to complete and submit all academic work prior to departing the program.
Transcripts
How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?
After you have returned to the U.S., your home university will receive a Butler University transcript with the credit you earned at Flinders University. The Butler University transcript will report the equivalent U.S. semester credit hours and letter grades. We also will send an official transcript to your permanent address.
Housing
Housing Options
What are my housing options?The following housing options are available during your semester or year abroad.
- Deirdre Jordan Units and Townhouses
The Deirdre Jordan Village is composed of three-and five-bedroom apartments that are located on campus, five to 10 minutes walking distance to most of the classroom buildings, library, and student union. Students will live with Australian students and other international students. No meal plan is available for students in the Deidre Jordan Village. There is a small convenience store on campus and grocery stores are located on main public transportation routes not far from campus.
Students must supply their own kitchen supplies, towels, pillows, and bed linen. Basic essentials like kitchen packs and linen packs can be pre-purchased through Flinders Housing.
Meals
All apartments in the Deirdre Jordan Village have kitchens (refrigerator, oven and stove), but students are responsible for providing basic kitchen supplies (e.g., silverware, crockery, pots and pans). Kitchen packs can be pre-purchased.
Housing FAQs
Is my housing included in the program fee?
Yes. Your program fee includes accommodation at the university while classes are in session. You will be responsible for any commuting costs you may incur. Australian university housing requires students to move out during breaks between semesters. If you are studying abroad for a year and wish to remain in residence during the vacation period(s), you must notify the university housing office upon arrival to make necessary arrangements. Staying in residence during these breaks may incur additional costs not covered by the IFSA-Butler program fee.
When will I receive my housing assignment?
You will most likely receive your housing assignment one to two weeks before your departure. However, in some cases you may not receive your housing assignment until you arrive in Australia for orientation. Your program advisor will notify you of your housing assignment via e-mail when it is released by the university.
Please keep in mind that while IFSA-Butler guarantees housing, we cannot guarantee your preferences.
Do I have to pay a housing deposit?
Yes. IFSA-Butler requires a refundable housing deposit of $300 before going abroad. We will return this deposit to you after March 1 for fall programs or September 1 for spring and year programs, less any fines, damages or outstanding debts in your name.
Can I arrange my own housing?
Yes. IFSA-Butler recognizes that some students require independent housing for their time abroad. If you choose not to take advantage of our guaranteed housing, you may sign up for independent housing on the housing preference form. Once you've made this choice, we will not provide housing for you or bill you for the accommodation fee.
Please be advised that housing costs can be high abroad, and many times students living independently end up spending more money than students living in IFSA-Butler arranged housing. If you are hoping to save money by arranging housing on your own, please research your options early so you can compare costs. You must notify us of your intention to live in independent housing by December 1 for spring and semester 1 programs or by May 1 for fall and semester 2 programs. We are not able to accommodate independent housing requests after these dates.
Location Info
Living and Studying Abroad in Adelaide, Australia
About Adelaide
Population: 1.3 million
Location: State of South Australia; in south central Australia
City features
- Known as the "Gateway to the Outback"
- Offers the best of cosmopolitan city life with the friendliness of a small university town
- A lively cultural scene with visual and performing arts, galleries, museums and festivals
- One of the largest shopping malls in the Southern Hemisphere
- A great place to live well: Adelaide's cost of living is 24% lower than Sydney!
Do more!
- Enjoy the beach, just 20 minutes from Adelaide
- Take advantage of great camping and hiking opportunities nearby in the spectacular Flinders Mountain Ranges
- Take a weekend jump to Kangaroo Island for cycling, horseback riding and hiking in a pristine natural environment
- Experience the vineyard culture through winery tours in Adelaide's world-renowned wine region
Links
Adelaide Convention and Tourism Authority
South Australia Government
South Australia Tourism Commission
Adelaide Hills
Barossa Valley
Flinders Ranges
Kangaroo Island
The Adelaide Festival of Arts
Victor Harbor
Womadelaide, World Music Festival
Adelaide and South Australia News
Dates & Fees
Program Dates
Flinders University dates for semester 1 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view our full Australia program calendars.
Personal Cost Estimates
Personal cost estimates for semester 1 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view a full list of Australia personal cost estimates.
Expense calculator
Forms
To apply to the Flinders University program, use our easy online application.
Applicants to the Flinders University program must complete additional forms as part of the application process:
We must receive these forms before we can send your application to Flinders University for an admissions decision. They can be sent to IFSA-Butler via email, fax or regular mail. Please submit these forms with the remainder of your program application.
If you have already started an application to the Flinders University program, you can check the status of your application using the student portal.
Meet Your IFSA-Butler Team
IFSA-Butler has a dedicated team of staff who are here to help students prepare for their program in Australia:
Program Advisor Mike Owens assists with the application process and is here to answer program, cultural and academic questions before departure. Prior to working at IFSA-Butler, Mike gained relevant experience working for two years as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Wabash College. He also studied abroad as an undergraduate, thus is excited to bring his passion for study abroad along with his admissions experience to IFSA-Butler in order to assist students and parents through their own, unique study abroad experience. He currently acts as a program advisor for English-speaking programs and focuses on advising students studying in Australia, New Zealand, and England. Mike can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229, ext. 4257.
Student Accounts Coordinator Becki Niccum assists with the financial side of study abroad and processes payments and invoices. Becki can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-3077.
Student & Parent Services Manager Donnetta Spears is available to both students and parents for travel questions and information. Donnetta has worked with IFSA-Butler for 11 years, and she has traveled through parts of Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. As the mother of 4 college students (including one who studied abroad on an IFSA-Butler program), she has a deep understanding of the ins-and-outs of study abroad from a parent perspective. Donnetta can be reached at the email link above or at 317-940-4252.
Once abroad, our students are in the capable hands of our on-site office, including our student services coordinator Sharna Bremner.
Upon return from your study abroad program, Academic Affairs Coordinator Paige Ward processes your Butler University transcript and assists with any academic record queries. Paige graduated from Butler University, and she studied abroad for a semester in Paris, Belfast, London and the English Lake District. Studying abroad for Paige was an eye-opening and knowledge-gaining experience, and she is excited to work with students who are looking for the same. Paige can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229 ext. 4254.
Photos
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Community-Based Learning
Community-based learning
Students can be peer mentors to at-risk secondary students in Adelaide. Education majors can earn up to 5 U.S. semester credit hours for their participation; other majors are welcome to participate but do not earn credit. Contact your program advisorfor more information.
Flinders University
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