University of Newcastle, Australia
Spend a semester under the sun and enjoy the picturesque landscapes of Australia's east coast.
Surrounded by natural bushland, the University of Newcastle is considered one of the most naturally beautiful campuses in the country. UoN is known for outstanding education and world-class research, ranked 10th in Australia and #197 worldwide (QS 2022). It's in the top 200s for the fields of Engineering, Business, and Humanities, and is a top 40 institution worldwide for Mineral & Mining Engineering (QS 2020). UoN is also Australia's leading university for Indigenous student enrolment and staff employment, and offers a strong Australian Aboriginal & Global Indigenous Studies program.
UoN's main campus is in Callaghan, just outside the coastal city of Newcastle. It has an excellent transit network, including a free shuttle bus for students, a 1920s replica city tram, and other bus & train connections to numerous parks, beaches, and major tourist hotspots like Sydney. Newcastle is historically famous as an export harbour for coal, but in modern times it is best known for its Instagram-worthy street art and cafe-lined beaches, and is regarded as one of Australia's most underrated travel destinations.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Check out highlights of Newcastle's university campus, city, and long coastal beaches!
Program details
The University of Newcastle offers courses in a wide variety of subjects including Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Software, Surveying and General Engineering), Performing Arts, Business, Political Science, Philosophy, Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Human Geography, Communications, Media/Film, History, Computer Science, Kinesiology/Sport Science, and other sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geoscience, Marine Science, Math, Physics).
For more information, please refer to UoN's What Can I Study page, or use the Course Handbook to search for all available courses.
Note: the course numbers in the Handbook correspond approximately to year of study, e.g. 1000 = 1st year, 2000 = 2nd year, etc. Courses numbered 5000+ are Masters level courses and are not available for undergraduate exchange students.
A standard full time workload at Newcastle is 4 courses (40 units) per semester. This is equivalent to 5 UCalgary half-courses.
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters:
- Semester 1 runs from late February to late June
- Semester 2 runs from late July to late November
Students can start in either semester, however full-year students must start in February (Semester 1).
-
Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
The cost of living in Newcastle is fairly low compared to other Australian cities. The estimated costs for students are approximately AU$300-600 per week. Of course, this is affected by lifestyle, additional trips, etc., and whether students live in on- or off-campus housing (although free busses for students from the inner city to the university campus really helps cut down on travel expenses!). For more information, see Newcastle's finance page.
Additionally, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory for all students studying in Australia and will be applied for at the time of application to your host university. You will be required to provide evidence of OSHC for the duration of your Student Visa at the time of your visa application. For details, see UoN's program cost page.
NOTE: As of July 1 2024, the Australian government has increased the cost of the student visa to $1600 AUD (approx. $1500 CAD). There is advocacy happening within Australia for the fee to be reduced for semester exchange students, however, it is uncertain at this time whether the advocacy will be successful. Please ensure you budget $1600 for the visa to be safe. If the visa fee is reduced, we will provide an update as soon as possible.
-
Funding
Did you know you can take your UCalgary funding with you? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange, you remain eligible for awards & scholarships as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
The University of Newcastle offers a variety of accommodation options that exchange students can choose from. This includes award-winning on-campus student residences, off-campus private apartments, and homestays with local Australian families. Learn more here!
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
What's special about The University of Newcastle?
The University of Newcastle offers iLEAD, a global leadership program tailored to help you develop your capabilities and goals. ILEAD is a three-stage program designed to connect students with local, national and international networks to accelerate professional development and future career readiness.
They also offer NUmates, a program run by their global engagement office to connect international and domestic students through a range of fun activities. Students are connected in small groups to explore the Newcastle campus, city, and its surroundings, creating lasting memories and friendships.
UoN also places a strong emphasis on Indigenous collaboration. There are various activities facilitated by the Wollotuka Institute for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, such as cultural mentorship & wellness services, the Birabahn Cultural Trail (a self-guided educational bushwalk through campus), or student teams participating in the annual Australian Indigenous Nationals university sports tournament (UoN hosted the 2020 Nationals!).
The Take1 program allows international students to take 1 online course plus cultural immersion activities at Newcastle. This is a great way to get a taste of the "Newcastle experience" before committing to a full semester courseload!
The program is available in Newcastle's Semester 1 (February-June; corresponds to UCalgary Winter semester), Semester 2 (July-November; corresponds to UCalgary Fall semester), and over the Australian summer (January-February).
For more information about the program, including available courses, please see the Take1 website (click here). Because Take1 is designed for international students, the courses have flexible teaching arrangements to accommodate different time zones.
Please note: If you apply on Newcastle's website without prior approval from UCalgary, you will be treated as a non-exchange student and charged tuition at Newcastle. We are currently finalizing the application process for UCalgary students and will share it here as soon as possible.
If you are interested in this program and want to stay tuned for updates, please email study.abroad@ucalgary.ca
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Saniya Korhalkar
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.