The University of Newcastle Regents' Program

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COUNTRY: Australia CITY: Newcastle HOST INSTITUTION: University of Newcastle Callaghan, New South Wales (NSW) TYPE OF PROGRAM: Iowa Regents' Semester SESSIONS: Fall, Spring, or Academic Year ELIGIBILITY: Sophomore standing, min. GPA 2.5 FIELDS OF STUDY: Aboriginal Studies, Accounting, American Studies, Anthropology, Applied Life Sciences, Architecture, Art, Asian Studies, Australian Studies, Aviation, Biology, Business Law, Chemistry, Classical Civilization, Commerce, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, Education, Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical and Surveying), English Literature, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Journalism, Leisure and Tourism, Linguistics, Management, Mathematics, Media Studies, Modern languages, Music, Nursing, Nutrition and Food Science, Occupational Health and Safety, Occupational Therapy, Pacific Rim Studies, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Public Relations, Sociology and Statistics. LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English CREDITS: Undergraduate, Graduate

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The Iowa Regents' Semester in Australia offers undergraduate students an opportunity to study for a semester at an Australian university. Students are fully integrated academically and socially with their Australian counterparts at the University of Newcastle.  

Newcastle is a down-to-earth Australian city. It combines a country setting with all the advantages of city living. A lively port city on a breathtaking stretch of Australian coastline, Newcastle boasts wonderful beaches, a low cost of living, a very favorable climate and a casual lifestyle. Newcastle is just a few hours from the cosmopolitan excitement of Sydney. 

Newcastle has all the usual city attractions, such as restaurants, cafes, parks and gardens, theatres, art galleries, shopping centers and night clubs. Its population of 320,000 supports a thriving business and commercial sector, and an excellent network of health care and educational facilities. 

The city and region are also popular tourist destinations. A few kilometers south of the city is Australia's largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, scene of many national and international sailing events. Less than an hour's drive to the north is the magnificent harbor of Port Stephens, a popular center for big game fishing and sailing, surfing, and sailboarding. To the west are the internationally famous wineries of the Hunter Valley.  

The University of Newcastle provides international students with the perfect combination of lifestyle and learning. Set in bushland just minutes away from spectacular beaches, waterways and forest, the University is well known for its academic excellence and research programs. Today about 20,000 students study at the University of Newcastle with over 3,500 international students from more than 80 countries.  Students choose from 150 courses of study offered by 6 Faculties (Colleges).  Students have access to a state-of-the-art sports complex, which includes an indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool, an 18m climbing wall (one of the highest in Australia), two indoor basketball courts, two martial arts/aerobics studios, fully equipped weight and exercise rooms and an adjoining Health Education Center.

The University of Newcastle has one of the best campuses in Australia. Its 300 acres of natural bushland - complete with Australian wildlife - at the city's edge offers you peace and quiet: the perfect prerequisites for successful study. Central to the university life is the University Union.  The Union houses a wide range of facilities such as cafeterias, coffee shops and bars, bookshop, credit union, gift and stationery shops and a hairdresser.  There are also two banks and a clinic with doctors and dentists on campus.  

The semester program begins with a week long orientation program that prepares students for the academic and cultural experience ahead. Students then enroll in regular university courses they select from the entire curriculum (from Aboriginal Studies to Statistics). Two weekend field trips are organized each semester by International Office staff for program participants at your own expense. Destinations vary but may include a weekend canyonning and bushwalking in the Blue Mountains and a day visit to Sydney.

The Iowa Regents Semester in Australia is offered both spring and fall semesters.  The academic year begins in February and ends in November. Newcastle's first term is from late February to June and the second is from July to November. Semester breaks are in April and October. Dates vary each year, please check with the Study Abroad Center for specific dates.

Semester Dates - 2010
 

Semester 1 Commences	Monday 01 March 2010
Semester 1 Recess (includes Easter)	Friday 02 April - Friday 09 April 2010
Semester 1 resumes	Monday 12 April 2010
Anzac Day	Sunday 26 April 2010 (to be confirmed)
Semester 1 concludes	Friday 04 June 2010
Mid Year Examinations	Monday 07 June to Friday 25 June 2010
Queen's birthday Public Holiday	Monday 14 June 2010
Mid Year Recess	Monday 28 June to Friday 23 July 2010
Semester 2 Commences	Monday 26 July 2010
Semester 2 Recess (includes Labour Day Public Holiday)	Monday 27 September to Friday 08 October 2010
Semester 2 Resumes	Monday 11 October 2010
Semester 2 Concludes	Friday 05 November 2010
End of Year Examinations	Monday 08 November to Friday 26 November 2010

Accommodation is not included in the program cost. On-campus accommodations are not guaranteed to all program participants. On-campus accommodations at the University of Newcastle include four different residence halls. Each hall has a different meal plan ranging from full meal plans to self-catering. Students may request a specific hall depending on their dietary needs and/or preferences. Edwards Hall offers 14 meals a week, International House has four dinners, and Evatt House is self-catered. The newest residence hall (Barahineban) offers four different options for accommodation. When filling out an application for on-campus housing, students should indicate their preference of residence halls. Links for more information:

University of Newcastle Accommodation Services
University of Newcastle: Campus Living
Off-Campus Housing Information
On-Campus Housing Information

Students eligible for financial aid should contact the UNI Office of Financial aid to make necessary arrangements.  In most cases, students can apply their financial aid toward (and their financial aid package can be adjusted to reflect) the cost of participating in this program.  Participants in the University of Newcastle Regents Semester Program are also eligible for the Study Abroad Scholarship and a variety of other funding options.  To learn more about financing a study abroad program, follow the "Funding" link on our web site.

Applicants must be full-time UNI students at the time of application, classified as at least a sophomore by the beginning of the program, have departmental approval for participation, and an overall minimum G.P.A. of 2.5. 

The program fee for the Iowa Regents Semester in Australia is $ 6,149. The program fee will vary above or below that mark any given semester depending upon the exchange rate. UNI participants will be charged a $360 study abroad fee in addition to the program fee.  

The program fee includes: Tuition and the Overseas Student Health Insurance required by the Australian government. Also included are on-campus pre-departure advising and services, pre-departure orientation, and on-site orientation.

Program Fee does not include: room and board, travel documents, transportation, insurance, books & supplies and personal expenses

A complete set of application materials will include one original and one copy of the following:

• UNI Study Abroad application
• New Castle Application (PDF Link)
• Application for Accommodation
• 2009 Fact Sheet (PDF Link)

To download and print available forms please refer to our Forms page.

Fall/academic year program deadline: March 1
Spring program deadline: October 1
Scholarship dealine: October 30 & March 30

Inquiries about the Iowa Regents Semester in Australia should be directed to: 

Study Abroad Office
28 Gilchrist Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0520 
Tel: 319/ 273-7078 Fax: 319/ 273-2921  email: study-abroad@uni.edu 

"Well, today is my last day in Newcastle, Au. I am heading to Sydney today to spend my last few nights there. I am sad to say good bye to this amazing place but excited at the possibilities of where I want to go next. [...] I was looking back last night at all the things I was able to do here and I realized how lucky I was....I was able to do more here in 4 months than most will be able to say they did in a life time. If any of you get a chance like this.....take it, and run like hell. I have become a much stronger and open person because of the people I've met and the experiences I had here." (Spring 2003)

"I never thought I would have such a great time. I met so many wonderful people, and received such a warm welcome from the school. I loved getting to know and being involved in the culture of Australia. I would do it all again in a heart beat." 
(Sophomore, Spring 2001) 

"Choosing to do study abroad was THE GREATEST decision I have ever made in my entire life. Hands down. If I had enough money, I would study abroad again in a heartbeat." 
(Junior, Spring 2002)

"My experience in Australia was was the best thing that ever happened to me.  Being around so many different cultures and traveling the east coast was unforgettable.  I just can't wait to go back Down Under." (Nick Davis, Marketing/Promotions Intern and Peer Advisor)

"Rachel also took me to her home in the Blue Mountains during our Easter holiday break. She took me to Featherdale Wildlife Park, where I got to see my first real kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas. Rachel’s family also took me to a local public park to see wild kangaroos. It was an amazing sight to see these animals that are completely foreign to the United States. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to travel and study in Australia. It is a beautiful, diverse country, and the people I met were wonderful. I am trying to convince my family and close friends to save up money for airfare so I can take them to visit Australia someday. It’s good to be home, surrounded by family again, but I’m definitely going to miss the friends I made in Newcastle. Hopefully, I’ll be able to visit some of them in the future, and maybe some of them will even visit with me in the States!" (Lindsay Wise)

"Last week I finally booked my ticket home and it was the hardest thing on earth to do.  Just knowing a date that I for sure leave this place." (Senior, Fall 2006)

Studying abroad at the University of Newcastle in Australia was an amazing experience and one I will never forget.  I had the opportunity to travel to new and exciting places like Fiji and New Zealand, along with around Australia to Sydney and The Great Barrier Reef.  I experienced many new adventures such as surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sky diving, white water rafting, and glacier climbing. I was also fortunate enough to meet many life-long friends who I someday hope to go back to visit. (Junior, Spring 2008)  

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