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Study Abroad Program at the University of Western Australia

About the University of Western Australia in Perth

Required GPA: 3.0 (4.0 scale)
Application deadlines: November 15 for semester 1 (Feb-June)
November 15 for calendar year (Feb-Nov)
March 15 for semester 2 (July-Nov)
March 15 for academic year (July-June)
Program advisor: Laura Wallman

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Program Snapshot

We're so excited that you're preparing to study abroad on an IFSA-Butler program and have chosen the University of Western Australia (UWA) as your destination. The UWA is one of the country's leading universities, with an international reputation for academic excellence. 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 UWA has to offer

A friendly, beautiful campus with open courtyards and Mediterranean-style architecture
Located on the banks of the Swan River, about three miles from the city center
Well-equipped teaching, research and computing facilities, including the main Reid Library and 14 branch and departmental libraries
Arts venues that accommodate some of the city's most celebrated cultural events
On-campus health service, dining areas, banks, post office, pharmacy, optometrist, dentist, hair stylist, bookstore and gift shop
An active students' guild that runs on-campus food and drink outlets, organizes student entertainment and supports a full range of social, cultural and athletic clubs and societies
Great facilities for sports and recreation, including a gymnasium, fitness center, two swimming pools, and courts for squash and tennis
Terrific location near some of Australia's best beaches

Housing

Housing is in four residential colleges adjacent to the campus, each a small community with a full schedule of social, musical and athletic activities
Housing is on a bus route 10 minutes from the city and 10 minutes from the nearest beach
The IFSA-Butler program fee includes three meals per day

Academics

Vast course offerings and a hands-on approach to learning
Students take 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 Western Australia online course catalog.

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

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.

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. Most students take four classes each worth 6 UWA points for a total of 16 U.S. credit hours. For information on the credit weight, please consult the information below.

4 UWA points = 3 U.S. semester credit hours
6 UWA points = 4 U.S. semester credit hours
12 UWA points = 8 U.S. semester credit hours

Registration

What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full University of Western Australia 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 Western Australia. 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 residential colleges are available during your semester or year abroad. All residential colleges provide full meal plans to all students.

Currie Hall
230 students; pillow, sheets, blanket and towels provided; single or double rooms with shared bathroom facilities

St. Thomas More College
172 students; pillow, sheets, blanket and towels provided; single or double rooms with shared bathroom facilities; academic tutoring provided by college

Trinity College
366 students; pillow and blanket provided; coed and single-sex halls; single or double rooms with shared bathrooms

Residents are required to pay a student association fee of $200 directly to Trinity College.

Meals

All residential colleges provide full meal plans to all students.

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 Perth, Australia

About Perth
Population: 1.6 million
Location: State of Western Australia

City features

More hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia
A relaxed but sophisticated lifestyle
Many historical parks and gardens, green open spaces with public art and water features
A large shopping district with a wide variety of cafes, restaurants, upscale boutiques, department stores, authentic Australian merchandise and duty-free shops

Do more!

Take a cruise up the Swan River to the wineries
Cycle on routes around the city, and to Fremantle and the beach
Meet the dolphins at Monkey Mia in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area
Snorkel in the Ningaloo Reef, home to some 500 species of fish
Hike the spectacular gorges of Karijini National Park

Links

Dates & Fees

Program Dates

University of Western Australia dates for semester 1 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view our full Australia program calendars.

Program Fees

University of Western Australia fees for semester 1 2012 coming soon!
Click here to view a full list of Australia program fees.
What's included in our Australia program fees
Expense calculator

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 Western Australia program, use our easy online application.

Applicants to the University of Western Australia program must complete additional forms as part of the application process:

We must receive these forms before we can send your application to UWA 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 Western Australia 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:

laura oz Senior Program Advisor Laura Wallman assists with the application process and is here to answer program, cultural, and academic questions before departure. Laura can be reached at the email link above or at 800-858-0229, ext. 4224. Laura studied abroad in both high school and college and has been with the Institute for Study Abroad for the past five years. She currently acts as a senior program advisor for English-speaking programs and focuses on advising students studying in the United Kingdom and Australia.

becki 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.

alt 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 Quentin Bill.

paige 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.

Get Connected

Social Media

Connect with IFSA-Butler Students

If you really want to know what it's like to study abroad, connect with IFSA-Butler alumni and students who are currently abroad on an IFSA-Butler program. Check out the following:
Student Network
Student Blogs
Experiences Abroad Videos
For Students