Introduction
Newcastle is located about 2 hours (3 hours by train) north of Sydney and is situated right on the coast.
The University is about a 30 to 45-minute bus ride from the city center and from the beach. The University of Newcastle, on the northern side of the city, provides international students with the perfect combination of lifestyle and learning.
Newcastle is a comprehensive university so academically, it aligns really well with UNI. Today about 30,000 students study at the University of Newcastle (UoN) with over 6,000 international students from more than 80 countries. Students choose from 150 courses of study offered by 6 faculties (Colleges).
Check out the 10 minute introduction presentation by the University of Newcastle staff here.
Location
Newcastle is located about 2 hours (3 hours by train) north of Sydney and is situated right on the coast. The University is about a 30 to 45-minute bus ride from the city center and from the beach. The University of Newcastle, on the northern side of the city, provides international students with the perfect combination of lifestyle and learning.
Newcastle is a down-to-earth Australian beach side city which combines a country setting with all the advantages of city living. Newcastle is an industrial city, but it boasts wonderful beaches, casual lifestyle and it’s not far from Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
Its population of 350,000 supports a thriving business and commercial sector and an excellent network of leading health care and educational facilities.
A few kilometers south of the city is Australia's largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events. Less than an hour drive to the north is the magnificent harbor of Port Stephens, a popular center for big game fishing and sailing, surfing, and sail boarding. To the west are the internationally famous wineries of the Hunter Valley.
Academics
The University of Newcastle provides international students with the perfect combination of lifestyle and learning. Today about 30,000 students study at the University of Newcastle with over 6,000 international students from more than 80 countries. Students choose from 150 courses of study offered by 6 faculties (Colleges).
The University of Newcastle has one of the best campuses in Australia. Its 300 acres of natural bushland - complete with Australian wildlife - at the city's edge offers you peace and quiet: the perfect prerequisites for successful study. The Union houses a wide range of facilities such as cafeterias, coffee shops and bars, bookshop, credit union, gift and stationery shops. There are also two banks, a travel agency and a clinic with doctors and dentists on call.
On campus students have access to a state-of-the-art sports complex, which includes an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 60 ft climbing wall (one of the highest in Australia), two indoor basketball courts, two martial arts/aerobics studios, fully equipped weight and exercise rooms and an adjoining Health Education Center.
The semester program begins with a week long Orientation Program that prepares students for the academic and cultural experience ahead. All Study Abroad and Exchange students are free to study nearly any course offered by the University of Newcastle (from Aboriginal Studies to Psychology).
Courses: Students typically take 3 or 4 courses while studying at UON. UNI students can take major, minor, and/or LAC courses while studying in Australia. We recommend students also try to take at least one course in a topic on Australia. Information on courses and when they are offered can be found here.
Teaching Methods and Styles: Australian higher education is derived from the British model. This means that most undergraduate courses consist of lectures, classes, workshops, and tutorials each week as well as 'unstructured' time which means students should be doing individual reading and research. At the beginning of each session, students are given 'deadlines' (final dates) for the completion of assignments in all subjects. If they fail to meet these deadlines, they penalized even though they have completed the work. Lecture and class times for all coursework subjects will be given to students when they enroll during orientation week. All students are required to be at lectures and tutorials at the specified times.
Students generally attend class 1-2 times per week for each class and the majority of graded content is weighed on a midterm and final assignment or exam.
Academic Calendar: The university operates on a semester system with Semester 1 (our Spring semester) running from February to June and Semester 2 (our Fall semester) running from July to December. When thinking about their semester dates, it is important to remember that with it being on the other side of the hemisphere, their spring semester is our fall and vice versa. To view the academic calendar, please see here.
Credits and Grades: Australian credits are calculated differently than in the US. A 3-credit course at UNI is the same as a 10 credit course at Newcastle. That being said, most UNI students take four courses to be considered full-time. Grades are also calculated differently. The grading scale is also different at Newcastle. Make sure to review this with your study abroad advisor prior to departure so you understand the differences.
Participant Info
Important information to review:
Review the roles of the Advisee and the Advisor under the main menu Get Started
Entry and Exit Requirements:
Housing & Meals
Accommodation at Newcastle consists of both on and off-campus accommodations options. Students also have the option to stay with a host family in Newcastle, if they would like. Most UNI students choose to live in on-campus accommodations due to their diverse community, to live like a student, and due to cost effectiveness.
The University of Newcastle offers five on-campus different residential houses, with each house offering different meal plans from self-catering (no meal plan) to full meal plans. Students may request a specific hall depending on their dietary needs and/or preferences. Most students choose not to have a meal plan and cook for themselves in their kitchen.
- New Residences - single, double, and up to 6 person apartment, all self-catered
- Barahineban - 95 rooms- single and double occupancy, all self-catered
- Edwards Hall - 374 residents, 299 fully-catered, 75 self-catered
- Evatt House - 211 residents, all self-catered
- International House - 226 residents, all semi-catered
Summer School
The University of Newcastle now offers a 4-week summer program from June to July. This program provides academic course offerings from their College of Human and Social Futures in addition to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment. Students can choose to enroll in one course from the following four comprehensive options:
TOUR3003 - Destination Management and Marketing
EXSS2030 - Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology
ENVS2006 - Ecology and Management of Wildlife
CHEE2935 - Resource and Energy Optimization
Each class offered during this program also includes a field trip as part of the curriculum.
Upon your arrival, you will participate in a 3-day orientation in Sydney including visits to some of its most iconic destinations followed by a warm welcome on our main Callaghan campus in Newcastle.
During this welcome session, you will be provided with all necessary information around your stay including student support, facility access, Wi-Fi details and any other services required to set you up for a successful summer program.
Program Costs
Australia: University of Newcastle
Estimated Program Cost:
* estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors
Cost of studying on-campus*
*per semester, estimated, will vary per person
Tuition & Fees: |
$4,527 |
Room & Board: |
$4,580 |
Books: |
$400 |
Personal Expenses: |
$878 |
Transportation: |
$320 |
Total: |
$10,705 |
Dates & Deadlines
Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to Study Abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to Study Abroad:
- Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
- If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.
- Must be over the age of 18 years old
- Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
- Must be in good standing with the University
- UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
- Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.
- All study abroad applicants must pass the Study Abroad Applicant Assessment with a score of 70% or greater.
- Applicants may be selected for an in-person interview before being accepted. Selection for an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program. You will be contacted directly by the Study Abroad Center if selected for an interview.