University of Western Australia
Perth has been called many things from one of the 'most isolated cities' in the world to 'one of the top 10 most liveable cities' - however, it is best known as Australia's sunniest capital city.
Ranked #86 of the top universities in the world, and #7 in Australia, the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth is one of our most prestigious partner universities (QS 2020).
UWA has a student population of 24,000 students, including more than 4,700 international students on 3 campuses. UWA's main campus, Crawley, is 10 minutes from downtown Perth, with its Claremont campus just a few minutes away - conversely, its Albany campus offers a cosier, small-town campus close to some of the most beautiful areas of Western Australia, about 4.5 hours from Perth. Perth has an enviable standard of living, and has been consistently voted one of the top ten cities in which to live by the The Economist, as well as being ranked 25th in the inaugural Best Student Cities Ranking released by QS Top Universities. Perth also has Australia’s best international student diversity according to Australia Education International.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
UWA Exchange Promotional Video
Click the image to read Erin's blog post about her experience studying in "Wild, Wild Western Australia"!
Erin Moulton
Program details
UWA offers a wide variety of programs, including Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Asian Studies, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classics, Communications, Computer Science, Earth Science, Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Software) English, Forensic Science, Geology & Geophysics, History, Indigenous Studies, International Relations, Law, Linguistics, Marine Science, Math, Medieval Studies, Microbiology, Music, Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology*, Sociology, Social Work, Sport Science, Visual Arts and more.
Closed programs: Health Sciences. For Psychology, any unit that starts with a 4 or greater is restricted.
Search for courses (units) in the UWA Handbook, or browse by faculty. As degrees are more structured in Australia, searching courses as offered in degree programs may also be helpful.
Haskayne Students: A Haskayne Specific Exchange is available at UWA. Students can take two senior commerce and/or non-commerce options, and/or a maximum of 2 concentration courses (not ACCT/PLMA). Review your course selection with a Haskayne exchange advisor before your exchange commences to confirm transfer credit. Find your Haskayne exchange advisor online.
Law Students: Please note that UWA's Law Faculty approves specific law units for exchange students. Click here to view the approved units (last updated 2022, offerings may change, but this will give you a good starting point for your application).
Course Requirements: Courses at UWA are called "units". Exchange students are expected to take 24 UWA Points (typically 4 units) per semester. 4 UWA units = 5 UCalgary courses; 3 UWA units = 3 UCalgary courses. For more information about academics at UWA (e.g. information about teaching periods, grading scales, unit codes, etc.) please refer to the UWA course page.
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters.
- Semester 1 runs from mid-February to late June
- Semester 2 runs from mid-July to mid-November*
Students can start in either semester, however full-year students must start in February and continue to November (our Winter Semester to Fall Semester).
*Full-year students have the option to do Semester 2 at Albany Campus, a wild and remote area about 5 hours from Perth. Available areas of studies are Environmental Science, Marine Science, Conservation Biology, Management, History, Cultural Studies/English, Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, and Sociology. The Albany region is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia!
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Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
It is recommended that students budget around AUS$400-500 per week to pay for accommodation and living expenses. Cost of living estimates can be found online.
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. Also, don't forget to include things like flights, visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.
Perth cost comparison for other items vs. Calgary: Click Here
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.
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Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on 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; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Exchange students to UWA cannot always be guaranteed housing due to high demand. The university manages several on-campus student residences called "colleges". Most colleges include single rooms with private or shared bathrooms/kitchenettes and a choice of fully or semi-catered meal plans at the college dining hall. Some offer multi-bedroom units and student apartments. St. Catherine's College has been a popular choice for U Calgary students.
Students can also look for housing off-campus on the private market; the UWA Housing Office has a database where advertisements for rental properties and/or roommates are posted. There is also the option of applying for a homestay with an approved local family.
Because of the range in housing types, rental fees can vary drastically. Students are encouraged to look into the detailed information provided online for their desired housing types.
Alternate housing resources:
- room rental databases for Perth: flatmates.com, student.com (these are run by external companies, not the university)
- Homestay Network Perth (a reputable private organization arranging homestays with vetted Australian families)
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
For applicants from the UCalgary Faculty of Law, an academic reference letter is required. Please click here to view the reference letter guidelines & submission instructions. It must be submitted at the time of your application to UCalgary.
Haskayne Students: There are additional eligibility requirements – see the Haskayne Outgoing Exchange Students page for details. When applying in the online application portal, be sure to select the Haskayne version of this exchange. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to participate in the non-Haskayne version of this exchange; contact your Haskayne exchange advisor to discuss.
UWA has a smoke-free campus policy. Smoking on campus is not permitted.
What resources are available for new students?
UWA hosts an orientation O-Week and Welcome Program, with many informative and social events for incoming students.
UWA also offers a free, 24-hour airport pick-up service for incoming international students.
Finally, it's good to note that commuting around Perth as an exchange student is both easy and affordable! The government of Western Australia sponsors a 40% discount on public transit for all full-time international students.
What resources are available for First Nations students?
First Nations students are welcome to join the Western Australian Students Aboriginal Corporation (WASAC). WASAC promotes cultural awareness on campus, hosts functions like sundowners and barbecues, and connects with other Indigenous/Aboriginal groups across Australia. They also participate in the annual Indigenous Nationals (a sports tournament for university students).
UWA has recently opened a new Indigenous Studies building, which is where many Indigenous Studies classes are held. It also has facilities reserved for Indigenous students (computer lab, kitchen, library, etc.) as well as weekly lunch gatherings and other social events.
What accessibility resources are available?
UWA's UniAccess Disability Services provides comprehensive academic support to students with disabilities.
What's so special about Perth?
Perth is the capital of Western Australia and has the nicest weather around - it's the sunniest capital city in the entire country! A multicultural city representing over 200 nationalities or ethnic groups, it has a vibrant culture while being small enough to remain intimate & friendly, giving you a sense of belonging from the moment you set foot on its shores. It's also surrounded by parkland and some of the best sandy beaches in Australia, making Perth a perfect destination from which to set out and explore the wild beauty of Western Australia. Check out more info about Perth here!
UWA's "Summer Down Under" program offers an 8-week intensive research training. Designed for students interested in pursuing future research or graduate studies in Australia, especially those interested in advancing their academic career at UWA, the program has students join a research project and work closely with a designated supervisor. Students are offered unique training sessions to develop professional research skills, the opportunity to contribute to research publications, and a variety of remote cultural events to introduce you to Australian academic & social life.
Important Note: The Summer Down Under program was suspended for the 2022 & 2023 years. We anticipate it being offered again in 2024, however, this has not yet been confirmed by UWA. If you are interested in this program, please contact the UCalgary Global Learning Advisor at study.abroad@ucalgary.ca so that we can follow up with UWA and keep you informed of any updates.
Program Details
- Dates: July to August (exact dates TBD)
- Format: Choose between Online/Virtual or In-Person at UWA
- You will attend courses for the first 3 weeks, and the remaining 5 weeks are focused on research work with your supervisor.
- Research projects are available in the fields of social sciences, law/legal systems, biology, psychology, public health, agriculture, engineering, physics, computing, astronomy, and more. Click here to see a previous list of project descriptions!
- Eligibility: Open to students in all faculties, either at the undergraduate (3rd or 4th year) or graduate level.
This program is run independently of the exchange agreement. Therefore, students pay tuition fees directly to UWA: typically around AUD$1500 for the online program and AUD$3000 for the in-person program. In the future, should you apply to do a graduate research-based degree at UWA, this fee will be deducted from your graduate tuition.
At the end of the program, students receive a UWA transcript worth 12 UWA credits (equivalent to 2 UCalgary courses). It is possible to transfer this credit back to your UCalgary degree; please discuss with your academic advisor.
To apply:
- Submit an application in UCalgary's study abroad system RAISA (click here). This is so that we can follow up with you throughout your program and offer support! Please indicate in your RAISA application whether you are planning to do this program online or in-person.
- Submit an application to UWA. Scroll to the "How to Apply" section for full instructions (click here).
You can submit both applications simultaneously, however it is critical that you submit the application to UWA by the deadline.
UWA Deadline for 2024: TBD, applications not yet open
**UWA typically has an "early bird" and a "last chance" deadline. The early bird deadline is usually in March. It is strongly recommended to apply early, as you will pay half-price for tuition!
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.