Australia: TEAN at University of Newcastle

• Exceptional Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
• Clean record with the Office of Community Standards and good academic and College standing
• Professional application: materials are submitted on-time, are edited before submission, and are thorough and thoughtful.
• Minimum 2.7 GPA

• This program has a required advising session (30 minutes) as part of the application process. Please visit our home page to schedule an advising appointment.

Spring 2023

• Feb 6: Required Arrival Date
• Feb 6-10: TEAN Orientation
• Feb 13: University Orientation
• Feb 20: First Day of Classes
• April 7-21: Semester Break
• June 2: Last Day of Classes 
• June 3-5: Study Period
• June 17: Exams End
• June 18: Program End Date

Fall 2023

• July 3: Arrival Date
• July 7: TEAN Orientation
• July 10: University Orientation
• July 17: First Day of Classes
• Sep 25 - Oct 6: Semester Break
• Oct 27: Last Day of Classes
• Oct 31 - Nov 11: Exam Period
• Nov 12: Program End Date

Flight

Although you are responsible for booking your own flight to Newcastle, TEAN can assist you through one of their preferred vendors. TEAN will provide the vendor with all relevant arrival/departure details pertaining to this program. Rollins strongly recommends that you use this vendor as they are not only trusted, but they also have all of the details regarding your routing; such as which cities you'll need to stop in as part of your orientation (see below) and how long you'll be in those cities.

Orientation

TEAN’s exclusive 6-day “Welcome Abroad” Orientation Program takes place in Cairns, in the north of Australia. Cairns is famous for its tropical setting and access to the Great Barrier Reef – what better way to start the semester than a week full of adventure; including scuba diving and snorkeling on the largest coral reef system in the world?! This Orientation is designed to set you up for a successful semester by introducing you to the local culture and academics while also getting to know your soon-to-be friends and having an exciting journey in the process. You’ll spend a full day on the reef, explore the rainforest village of Kuranda, watch Aussie films at TEAN’s outdoor cinema screening night, and will wrap up an adventure-filled week with a sunset dinner cruise. TEAN's in-country staff will be there to personally guide you through orientation sessions and all the unique activities planned for the week. A sample itinerary can be found here.

PLEASE NOTE: TEAN does NOT provide transportation from Cairns to Newcastle. Students will be responsible for purchasing their own airfare between the two cities.

Visa

TEAN and the University of Newcastle

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN), is a study abroad organization based in Chicago that has been developing high quality study abroad programs for American students since 1995 through partnerships with universities across the South Pacific and Pacific Rim.

The University of Newcastle was established in 1965 and is one of Australia’s most naturally beautiful campuses, with many environmentally protected habitats on campus. The University has nearly 17,000 students, 5,600 of which are international students, and focuses on problem-based or active learning. The campus and the city of Newcastle are well connected via train and bus. Newcastle is roughly two hours north of Sydney and is surrounded by wineries, national parks, and miles of beaches. It has a relaxed coastal lifestyle, diverse nightlife, award-winning dining, and burgeoning arts culture. The people are friendly, the beaches are postcard perfect, and the coffee culture is taken seriously.

Courses

Students on this program must take four courses; two courses from the below list of "Australian Studies Courses,"* and then an additional two courses directly from the wide range of courses available in the University catalogue.

*Course requirements may be flexible. Please contact IP for more information.

Australian Studies Courses (you'll take two, but choose at least three to get approved)

Newcastle Courses Follow this link to Newcastle's online course catalogue. Once inside the catalogue, make sure the courses you're exploring are available at the “Callaghan Campus" and are held in "Semester 1" for spring and "Semester 2" for fall. Newcastle's semesters are switched, so the Rollins spring semester is actually the first semester and fall semester is the second semester of their academic year.

A Warning About the Australian Educational System

In Australia there are generally fewer class, or contact hours, per week than in the U.S., and there is less continuous assessment of your academic performance. Semester grades are typically based on only one or two major assignments, such as a midterm and final exam.  There will be a great degree of self-discipline and self-directed study required. Contact with professors is more limited, and most professors have a lecture-based teaching style. Students are generally expected to keep up with coursework and reading without prompting.

In addition, students entering university are typically already focused in their major or academic specialization. Thus, introductory courses at Newcastle typically cover topics that might not be covered until later levels at Rollins. For example, 200-level or second-year courses at Newcastle would be equivalent to an upper-level course at Rollins.

Transfer of Credit

Students participating on this program typically take four courses at Newcastle and earn 16 Rollins semester hours on this program.  Students will need to seek approval for courses in their major/minor (from the appropriate academic department). All courses on this program will appear on the Rollins transcript as transfer credit. Grades from this program will also appear on the Rollins transcript and will be factored into the Rollins GPA. Students who successfully complete this program through Rollins will receive an official transcript from University of Newcastle. It can take up to 3 months to receive the official transcript.

Housing

You'll live in modern, on-campus housing, which is operated by Newcastle's UON Student Living. UON Student Living is the university's on-campus residential area and has won awards for its unique ResLife program. Their student-focused facilities include study areas, common rooms and indoor and outdoor social spaces. They also provide 24/7 security (like Campus Safety) and Resident Assistants that live inside the res. hall (just like at Rollins). Living on campus will provide you with an opportunity to make new friends and connections, while having easy access to all sporting, library, health, and academic facilities available. You'll live in a single room in a 5-6 bedroom apartment with shared common spaces.

Meals

There are no meal plans available at the University. You will have a shared kitchen stocked with basic tools and utensils, and the opportunity to buy your own groceries.  You also have access to inexpensive student dining halls, coffee shops, and restaurants on-campus.

Activities

The TEAN Resident Director will coordinate various activities during the semester designed to help immerse you in the local culture. Past activities have included surf lessons, local sporting events and music festivals, and trips to the Sydney opera house.

Excursions

In addition to the orientation program in Cairns, TEAN also offers students optional excursions prior to the semester and during the semester breaks.  These include destinations such as New Zealand, Thailand and Melbourne, Australia and are fully coordinated by TEAN.  Students wishing to join these optional excursions would need to pay for them directly as they are not included in the program cost.

Program Fee

• Most Rollins financial aid and scholarships will apply to the semester abroad.

  • Tuition: $29,150
  • Housing: $4,925.00

Also Includes

Airport pickup, orientation program (in Cairns and at Newcastle), on-campus housing, University of Newcastle Student Association membership, program administration, and emergency insurance.

Estimated Additional Costs

• Transportation: Round-trip airfare from FL $2,700, on-site $900
• Meals/food $2,200
• Optional travel to the West Coast to meet the TEAN group: $400
• Passport $165
• Visa fee $460
• Books, course materials, supplies $200
• Personal Expenses $1,075 (estimate - depending on whether you wish to join the university gym)
• Federal student loan fees if applicable: $40
• Professional licensure, certification or credentials costs: $0

Scholarships

Scholarships based on financial need are available to off-set costs associated with international airfare and other costs associated with study abroad. Students can apply for scholarships through the Rollins program application. Students can also apply for additional partner scholarships through TEAN. 

Living and Working

Having a credit card while abroad is very helpful. Australia has a high cost of living compared to the United States. Students are able to work up to 20 hours a week on a student visa while abroad in Australia.