University of Wollongong
Start your day with a dip in an ocean rock pool or catch some waves before class in Wollongong, located on the Australian coastline south of Sydney.
UoW is ranked 13th in the world as a leading institution in the THE University Impact ranking for 2019, and is ranked #11 in Australia and #212 globally (QS 2020). Stay in the world's first residence built around positive psychology, catch a sporting event or a performance at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, or visit the planetarium or the International Cricket Hall of Fame during your exchange to Wollongong.
Established in 1951, the University of Wollongong has a student population of nearly 32,000 students, including more than 6000 international students. Wollongong is less than 90 minutes from Sydney. They are world ranked in several areas of science, engineering and business, and rank #16 out of the 50 top universities under 50 years of age, with a modern, enterprising campus (QS 2020).
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Experiences in Wollongong, Australia
Program details
Wollongong offers a wide variety of subjects including Aboriginal Studies, Asia-Pacific Studies, Australian Studies, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication & Media Studies, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Criminology, Ecology, Economics, Engineering (Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Software), English, Environmental Studies, European Studies, Exercise Rehabilitation, Gender Studies, Geography, Geology, Graphic Design, Health Sciences, History, International Relations, Journalism, Marine Science, Math, Music, Nutrition, Philosophy, Politics, Physics, Psychology, Science, Sociology, Theatre, Visual Arts and more.
Before you start browsing available subjects, note the terminology difference: a "course" at UOW is the term for a degree program, while a "subject" is what they call courses/classes!
- This link (click here) is for the Course Handbook, where you can view the degrees offered at Wollongong. When selecting a faculty or study area, make sure to click "subjects" on the left column. Note this is a full list of subjects (may not all be offered every semester).
- This link (click here) is for the Subject Database. Select the undergraduate calendar and use the search or faculty filters. Under the "availability" column you will see whether the subject is offered in AUT (autumn) or SPR (spring) semester. Note that 100-level courses are typically junior level courses and 200/300-levels are typically senior level courses.
Some of the unique subjects typically offered in Autumn (UCalgary's Winter semester): Australian Aboriginal Arts, Aboriginal Ways of Knowing, Biodiversity of Marine and Freshwater Organisms, Indigenous Peoples and the Environment, Game Making, Digging Down Under: Archaeology of Australasia, Australian History: Moments that Matter, Australian Studies: Cultures and Identities, Introduction to Oceanography.
and in Spring (UCalgary's Fall semester): Australian Content/Global Context - for film/media, Contemporary Australian Theatre and its Context, Indigenous Geographies: Questioning Country, Indigenous Knowledge in Global Contexts, Australia in the World, iAccelerate/Start-up Learning Program, Social Work Practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Course requirements:
Exchange students are expected to take 18-24 credit points (3-4 subjects) per semester. 4 subjects at UOW typically transfers back as credit for 5 UCalgary courses.
The academic year is divided into 2 sessions.
- Autumn session (Semester 1) runs from late February to late June
- Spring session (Semester 2) runs from mid-July to mid-November
Students can start in either session, however full-year students must start in February (Autumn session).
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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.
Wollongong is one of the more affordable student cities on the Australian mainland. Financial information can be found online here. Tentative student residence costs (as of 2019) are $6425-$8135 AUD per semester. Gym cost is roughly $52/month. UOW provides free shuttle buses for students and campus visitors, linking the campus with the city centre, trains, and student accommodation. Average off-peak fare for the 90 min train to Sydney is $6.
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, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning.
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 UOW are guaranteed housing through UOW Living. The university manages several off-campus student residences, which provide private rooms and private or shared bathrooms. Some residences have kitchens, but others instead have a dining hall and offer students fully- or semi-catered meal plans. Because of the range in housing types, rental fees can vary drastically. Students are encouraged to look into the detailed information online or check out the Exchange Guide.
Kooloobong Village offers the newest self-catered units in buildings 68, 73, 74, & 75. It's the world's first residence based on the principle of positive psychology. Events and activities offered include Yoga and Yogurt, Tea with Ted, Travel Diaries and Friday Fitness, all of which relate to Wollongong's "Wheel of Wellbeing" - encompassing Body, Mind, Spirit, People, Place and Planet.
Bangalay, the Dharawal name for Eucalyptus botryoides (gum tree type in Illawarra area) is the next newest accommodation type (built in 2017), and offers options for more mature (over 21) students. There are also a variety of highly supportive wellbeing, social and cultural programs that are offered to all students living in residences.
Campus East is located in Fairy Meadow, and is the closest residence to the beach - only a 15 min (and free) busride to campus, the residence is only a 5 min walk to the beach. There are flexi-catered and self-catered rooms but students who wish to cook their own meals would be best with the self-catered options as they have more sufficient cooking facilities. This has been one of the most popular residences for exchange students due to the proximity to the beach.
There are also Homestays with hand-picked families, and off-campus housing options. If you would like to live off-campus in private rental accommodation, once you are nominated to Wollongong, you can contact housing-officer@uow.edu.au for help on how to find the right rental property for you. Check out the Off-Campus Housing information. It is highly recommended you look at this information prior to your arrival in Australia - most students prefer to live in student housing due to the social activities offered, and the costs and effort in arranging private housing.
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 2.7 (B-).
What's special about Wollongong/UOW?
UOW is one of the only exchange partners with their own version of the Hunter Hub! Called iAccelerate, it is a unique business accelerator and incubator program run by the University. It operates out of their Innovation Campus, and provides support for startups, scaleups, and intrapreneurs to shape new paths to sustainable growth. See more here.
They also have launched the world's first residence designed around positive psychology - see the "Accommodation" tab for more information.
Wollongong has a smoke-free campus policy. Smoking on campus is not permitted.
What resources are available for new students?
UOW runs a mandatory Orientation Week to help incoming international students get accustomed to their new campus, including a range of informative and social events. There is also a complimentary airport pick-up service offered.
Check out more info on the exchange guide (see links).
What supports or services are available at UOW?
UOW provides comprehensive academic support to students with disabilities.
A range of health services are located on campus, including a doctor and dentist. UOW also offers a free, confidential counselling service to all students.
UOW provides LGBTIQ students and staff with inclusive Safe Places where they can feel accepted and included. Safe Places can be found across the Wollongong campus.
There are a range of religious services on and off campus, including a Muslim prayer space, the Omar Mosque near the University, the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in nearby Berkeley and the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple. There are also a range of student-run religious clubs available to join.
All students can download SafeZone, the free smartphone app that makes it easy to ask for assistance from UOW Security Services with the press of a button.
UOW runs Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), providing free academic assistance from current students who have already successfully completed the subjects you are enrolled in.
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.