Program Snapshot
We're so excited that you're considering IFSA-Butler's program at the University of Adelaide for your semester or year abroad. Adelaide is a beautiful location and a student-friendly city to live and learn in. 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 Adelaide has to offer
- An international reputation for excellent teaching
- Member of the prestigious Group of Eight, Australia's leading research universities
- A beautiful campus in the intellectual, cultural and commercial heart of Adelaide
- A students' union that houses a variety of cafeterias, bistro, bar, bookstore, craft studio and theatre facilities
- One of the most active student organizations in Australia with more than 90 student sporting and interest clubs
- A lifestyle geared to outdoor activities, including hang gliding, rock climbing and scuba diving
Housing
- Most housing is in residential colleges, a 15-minute walk from the campus
- Shuttle buses run between the residential colleges and campus at night
- The colleges have recreation and study rooms and social, musical and athletic activities
- The IFSA-Butler program fee includes three meals per day
Academics
- Study abroad students have flexibility in choosing courses across more than 120 undergraduate programs
- 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 University of Adelaide online course catalog.
- Click on the “More options” tab and use the “Term” drop-down menu to select either semester 1 or semester 2
- Search for the subject area that interests you or enter a keyword in the “Course title” box.
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 (1000-level) courses are appropriate for departments in which you have little or no prior experience.
- Second-year (2000-level) courses will be equivalent to advanced sophomore or junior-level U.S. courses.
- Third-year (3000-level) courses will be equivalent to senior-level U.S. courses.
- 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 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
Are there any restrictions or additional requirements for courses I can take?
Some faculties have restrictions on the courses available to study abroad and exchange students, as follows:
- Architecture: Students who wish to take courses in design studies or architecture must obtain prior. If you wish to take courses in this area, please contact us as soon as possible so that this can be arranged.
- Health Sciences: Students may not take any courses that form part of the medicine (course codes MEDIC ST, GEN PRAC, MEDICINE, PAEDIAT, PATHOL, PSYCHIAT, SURGERY) or dentistry (course code DENT) programs.
- Languages: Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, and Indonesian language and culture courses are not available (these are taught by Flinders University on the University of Adelaide campus). The University of Adelaide teaches French, German, Spanish, Latin, ancient Greek, Chinese and Japanese, which are available to all students.
- Media Studies: Courses in media studies with the course code MDIA require pre-approval from the School of Media.
- Music: There are significant restrictions on music performance courses. If you are a music student and wish to take performance-based courses, please contact us as soon as possible to determine what may be available.
- Nursing: There are also restrictions on courses offered in this area. Please contact your program advisor if you are required to take courses in Nursing.
- Sciences: Science courses that have the BIOTECH course code are not available. Science courses that have the name of the specialization (in brackets) after the course name are not available. For example BIOCHEM 3003 Genes and Proteins III (Molecular Biology) is not available. Equivalents to these courses are often available (for example BIOCHEM 3000 Molecular and Structural Biology III is the equivalent for the course named above). Please contact us for further clarification if needed.
- Oenology and Viticulture: There are also restrictions on courses offered in these areas. Please contact your program advisor if you are required to take courses in these areas.
- External Courses: Study abroad and exchange students may not enroll in any courses offered externally. These courses are identified by the suffix “EX” in the course code (e.g., WINEMKTG 1013EX).
- Students are not allowed to audit courses. Additionally, no online or distance education courses can be taken for academic credit.
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. At the University of Adelaide, a full course load consists of 12 Adelaide units per semester or 24 Adelaide units per year. For information on the credit weight, please consult the information below.
2 UAD points = 2.5 U.S. semester credit hours
3 UAD points = U.S. semester credit hours
4.5 UAD points = 6 U.S. semester credit hours
6 UAD points = 8 U.S. semester credit hours
Registration
What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full University of Adelaide 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 the University of Adelaide. 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.
Residential College Housing
Students seeking residential college housing have two options at the University of Adelaide. Aquinas and Lincoln Colleges are located just north of the Torrens River, overlooking the university and the city. The colleges are located within a short walking distance of North Adelaide shops and cafes.
- Lincoln College
- Single bedroom accommodation
- Linens and towels are not provided
- Mandatory meal plan includes 21 meals per week and is included in the program fee
- Special facilities include gym/weights room, music practice and study rooms, pool table and ping-pong table, and kitchenettes with refrigerator and microwave
- Aquinas College
- Single bedroom or double accommodation with a bed, chair, bookcase, wardrobe and desk
- Pillows and bed linens are provided; towels are not
- Mandatory meal plan offers 21 meals per week and is included in the program fee
- There are study rooms, tennis/basketball/netball courts, pool table, ping-pong table and gym
- Aquinas is a Catholic residential college, but students of other religious affiliations are welcomed and encouraged
Meals
There is a mandatory meal plan offering 21 meals per week that is included in the program fee.
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
Flinders Ranges
Kangaroo Island
The Adelaide Festival of Arts
Victor Harbor
Womadelaide, World Music Festival
Adelaide and South Australia News
Dates & Fees
Program Dates
University of Adelaide 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 University of Adelaide program, use our easy online application.
Applicants to the University of Adelaide program must complete additional forms as part of the application process:
We must receive these forms before we can send your application to the University of Adelaide 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 University of Adelaide 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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Internships
The University of Adelaide offers a competitive internship program in the college of humanities and social sciences. Students are placed in host organizations for one day per week during the course of the semester and are jointly supervised in their placements by the host organization staff and an faculty member from the university. Students will take on a research project as part of their internship and at the end of the semester will write a 7,000 word essay and complete an oral presentation on their project.
Students will be selected for the program on the basis of their GPA (minimum GPA required is 3.4); placements are based on a student's interests and abilities. Students may not be matched up with a host organization until arriving in Adelaide and completing an interview process.
Past host organizations have included convention and tourism bodies; arts organizations; environmental and ecology groups; refugee centres; aid and development organizations; history centers; law firms; health care agencies; South Australian government agencies; news media; and social justice groups.
Also available is a South Australian Parliamentary Internship program, which offers a research placement with a Member of the State Parliament of South Australia.
If you are interested in applying for the University of Adelaide internship program, please contact Mike Owens for the application.
Summer Program
The Summer Australia Summer Public Health program, hosted at the University of Adelaide, offers an amazing opportunity to study public health, indigenous health and bioethics, all while living in the heart of bustling, easygoing Adelaide. Click here for more information.
University of Adelaide
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