Section Menu

Office of International Programs

Australia: TEAN at University of Sydney

Through excursions, coursework, and housing you’ll be introduced to Australian society and will gain unique perspectives on life "Down Under."

Experience Sydney!

Through excursions, coursework, and housing you’ll be introduced to Australian society and will gain unique perspectives on life "Down Under."

Apply Now

Introduction Video

 

Overview

"During my mid-semester break, my friends and I traveled to Australia's Gold Coast for one week. We stayed in hostels and went to the beach (which was close by) at random, unplanned times. This experience made me see the value in Australia's more relaxed, more outgoing culture... I returned to Sydney wanting to harness that same energy everyday, engaging in outdoor workouts or randomly walking around the Royal Botanical Gardens and Opera House." - Rollins Alum 

The University of Sydney (or “USyd”) is not only one of Australia’s top universities but is also typically ranked among the top 100 in the world. As a direct-enroll program, USyd is an excellent fit for most Rollins majors and/or minors, including many science majors, Global Health minor, Pre-Med/ Pre-Law students, English, Music, Communication/ CMCS, Environmental Studies, Philosophy, Computer Science/ Math, all business disciplines, Economics, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, and many others. This program emphasizes Australian Studies and students are encouraged to pursue the Rollins Australian Studies Minor in conjunction with their study abroad experience.

  • 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 3.2 GPA
  • Faculty endorsement from Dr. Sana Alaya Seghair (sseghair@rollins.edu) or Dr. Phil Kozel (pkozel@rollins.edu). You will need to have a meeting with one of these faculty to continue the application process.
  • 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.

Additional Requirements for Internships

  • Approved from IP - the internship in combination with coursework is extremely demanding
  • Strong resume, cover letter, and successful Internship Interview
  • Prerequisites: INB Students must have completed at least one of the following courses: INB 337, INB 365, INB 372
  • Some majors have specific course pre-requisites for the internship; contact your faculty advisor or International Programs for more information.

Spring 2024

  • Feb 4: Required Arrival Date
  • Feb 4-8: TEAN Orientation
  • Feb 12: University Orientation
  • Feb 19: First Day of Classes
  • April 1: Semester Break
  • June 16: Program End Date

Fall 2023

  • July 17: Arrival Date
  • July 21: TEAN Orientation
  • July 24: University Orientation
  • July 31: First Day of Classes
  • Nov 4: Last Day of Classes
  • Nov 6 - Nov 10: Study Period
  • Nov 25: Exams End
  • Nov 26: Program End Date

Flight

Although you are responsible for booking your own flight to Sydney, TEAN can assist you through one of their preferred vendors. 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. You will also need to book your own airfare to the West Coast to meet the group flight.

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.

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

Visa

U.S. citizens DO need a visa in order to study in Australia and TEAN will assist with the process. The Australian visa application is an entirely online process and payment must be made by credit card at the time of application. For general information about the visa process and visas for non-U.S. citizens, see our Passports and Visas Page.

TEAN and the University of Sydney

TEAN, the Education Abroad Network, is a study abroad organization based in Chicago, that has been developing high-quality study abroad programs for American students since 1995 by establishing partnerships with universities across the South Pacific and Pacific Rim.  The University of Sydney (USyd) was founded in 1850 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in Australia; it’s typically ranked among the top 50 universities in the world. Just under 50,000 students attend USyd, including 11,000 international students from more than 130 countries. USyd’s beautiful and stately campus is surrounded by many unique neighborhoods, known for their offbeat artistic culture and café scene.

Courses

Students on this program must select one course from the below list of "Australian Studies Courses,"* and then an additional three courses directly from the university's course catalog. For the remaining three courses, students will have access to regular university classes - pending equivalent prerequisites and enrollment capacity.

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

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

USyd Courses  Semester 2 is Fall and Semester 1 is spring.  

Optional Internship

USyd offers highly qualified students the opportunity to participate in an academic internship during the semester. You must let IP know when you apply if you want to do the internship option.

A Warning About the Australian Educational System

In Australia there are generally fewer class hours 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, 200-level or second-year courses would be equivalent to an upper-level course at Rollins.

Transfer of Credit

Courses are generally worth 4 credits and students take 4 courses for a total of 16 credits. 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 USyd. It can take up to 3 months to receive the official transcript.

TEAN partners with a private housing company in Sydney called UrbaNest – which specializes in student accommodation – to offer these wonderful student apartments. Centrally located in a neighborhood called Ultimo, your building is about a 20min walk to USyd. The building houses multiple community areas and social spaces where you can mingle with and get to know the other students living at the property, all of whom are international students studying in Sydney.  You’ll live in a double-occupancy room inside of a 4-room apartment and each room has a private bathroom. The apartment have a shared kitchen/dining room and a lounge area.

Meals are not included in the apartments, so you'll need to cook your own meals and there are grocery stores, cafes and restaurants all within walking distance of the housing.

Activities

TEAN’s local staff will arrange various activities during the semester such as a rugby league match, a performance at the Sydney opera house, or even surf lessons. In addition, if you have a specific interest or hobby, your Resident Director will be able to point you in the right direction. You can also become a member of the USyd Union, which will give you access to various recreational facilities, dining services, a wide range of student clubs that cater to every interest and activity under the sun. Or you could join the Sports Union, through which you can play intramural sports, take fitness classes, and use the world-class athletic facilities.  We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these offerings; this is one of the best ways to meet Australian students.

Excursions

TEAN offers optional pre- and mid-semester excursions to exciting locations such as the South Island of New Zealand, Thailand, and other interesting cities around Australia.  These excursions are an additional 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 in Sydney, orientation, cultural activities, a group excursion, program administration, and emergency insurance.

Does Not Include

  • Transportation: Round-trip airfare from FL $1,600, on-site $945
  • Meals/food: $2,500
  • Optional travel to the West Coast to meet the TEAN group: $400
  • US Passport: $165
  • Visa: $710
  • Books, course materials, supplies: $200
  • Student Union and Gym Fees (optional): $400 - $600
  • Personal expenses: $1,235
  • Federal student loan fees if applicable: $40
  • Professional licensure, certification or credentials costs: $0

Scholarships

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

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.