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

Download a current information sheet from the University of Newcastle here.

Academic Program

The program at Newcastle begins with a week-long orientation program that prepares students for the academic and cultural experience ahead. Students then enroll in regular courses offered by the university.

Academic credit earned at the University of Newcastle transfers to the University of Iowa. Study abroad students must enroll for a full-time load of courses while studying at Newcastle. A full-time load is typically 3 or 4 courses and is generally equivalent to 12 or 16 s.h. of credit at Iowa.

While planning to study abroad, students should browse through Newcastle's course listings to see which classes are likely to be available during their term in Australia. Some courses may have pre-requisites, please discuss this with your study abroad advisor if you have questions.

• Newcastle Course Handbook (individual course listings): http://www.newcastle.edu.au//course/
• Newcastle Undergraduate Programs (equivalent to degree requirements, useful for finding classes by major or discipline): http://www.newcastle.edu.au/program/undergraduate/

Cultural Activities

Newcastle offers strong support services for international students, excellent recreation facilities, and dozens of student organizations, from the Bushwalking Club and the Rugby Union to the Cinema Society and the Environmental Studies Club.

Consider joining the iLEAD Program once you arrive in Newcastle! You will immerse yourself in local culture through community volunteering, leadership activities, and listening to internationally renowned speakers, while earning a certificate and building valuable skills in team building and intercultural awareness. There is no cost to participate in the iLEAD program. Newcastle is also offering a 5000 AUD scholarship for Iowa resident students who are willing to participate in the iLEAD program. Applications for this scholarship can be downloaded here and should be submitted to the UI Study Abroad reception desk no later than 5 pm on Friday, March 15.

Program Dates

The Iowa Regents Semester in Australia is offered both spring and fall semesters. Semesters at Australian universities generally run February-July and July-November. The University of Newcastle's academic calendar is available at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/dates/academic/.

For More Information

If you are ready to learn more, please call 319-335-0353 and ask the receptionist to schedule an appointment with study abroad advisor Sterling Bacher. Students should also discuss their study abroad plans with their academic advisor.

The University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle enjoys the reputation nationally and internationally for teaching and research excellence. It offers Iowa students a broad array of courses in the arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, architecture and engineering. The main campus is set in 300 acres of natural bushland about 8 miles from the city center. The University's student population is over 25,000, including some 2,000 international students from more than 60 countries.

Newcastle

Like many communities in Australia, Newcastle was originally established as a penal colony. The discovery of coal in the area transformed 19th century Newcastle into one of the world's busiest coal ports. Located in a breathtaking stretch of Australia's coastline, Newcastle today is a bustling, modern, down-to-earth city of 350,000. Newcastle offers all the usual city attractions: restaurants, cafes, parks and gardens, theatres, art galleries, shopping centers and nightclubs.

The city and region are popular tourist destinations for Australians. A few kilometers south of Newcastle is Australia's largest seaboard lake, Lake Macquarie, which is the 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. And to the west are the internationally famous wineries of Hunter Valley.

Newcastle boasts wonderful beaches, a low cost of living, a very favorable climate, and a casual lifestyle. Newcastle is also just a few hours from the cosmopolitan excitement of Sydney. Frequent train, bus, and taxi connections make it easy for visitors to make the 2-3 hour trip between the two cities.

Australia

Australia ranks as one of the best places to live in the world according to measurements of income, human development, healthcare and civil rights. The sixth-largest country in the world by land mass, its comparatively small population of approximately 23 million people is concentrated in the highly-urbanized east and southeast coast of the Australian continent.

Living Arrangements

Students may apply for a variety of housing options on campus or may live off campus. On campus housing placement is not guaranteed.

For on campus housing, room and board fees are paid directly to the University of Newcastle after arrival in Australia. Board plans and costs vary. Please refer to Newcastle's accommodation page to learn about different housing options and to see photos, floor plans, and rates.

For off campus housing, there are several options available including home stays and shared guesthouses. Students living off campus will need to commute to campus for their classes (trains service the area and the trip usually takes about 15-20 minutes). Do not book your off-campus housing until you arrive in Newcastle. Arranging your accommodations after you arrive will help you avoid scams. Please refer to Newcastle's off campus accommodation page to learn more.

Your study abroad advisor will share more information about housing options during the Newcastle pre-departure orientation.

Travel Arrangements

Students will receive instructions on making travel arrangements during a program-specific orientation session. There will be a suggested group flight itinerary, however, students will arrange their own flights to Sydney. Upon arrival, ground transportation is available to take students to the program site.

Eligibility

To apply for the program, you must be a student at one of the Iowa Regents Universities - University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa or Iowa State University. Students must have at least sophomore standing at the time of application and a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Costs

Study Abroad has yet to calculate the fall 2013 session costs. The program fee for spring 2013 was $8,476 for UI students who are residents of the state of Iowa and $10,024 for non-residents. This program fee includes tuition, administrative fees, the Overseas Student Health Cover mandated for all international students studying abroad in Australia. It does not include room, board, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, the Iowa Regents CISI health insurance fee, or any personal expenses.

Study Abroad has not yet created a cost sheet for the fall 2013 session, but you can review the spring 2013 session's cost sheet here:Spring 2013 Regents Semester in Australia: Newcastle cost sheet

Financial aid received to attend the University of Iowa may be applied toward the program cost. In addition, eligible program participants are encouraged to apply for merit, need-based and Diversity Ambassador scholarships awarded by Study Abroad. More information is available at: http://international.uiowa.edu/study-abroad/funding/

In addition to UI scholarships, the University of Newcastle is also offering a rather sizable scholarship for Iowa resident students that are willing to participate in the iLEAD program.. One winner will receive 5000 AUD from Newcastle. Applications will be reviewed by UI Study Abroad and winners will be notified during the confirmation cycle. The deadline is 5 pm on Friday, March 15. Applications can be download here.

For information on CISI health insurance, please visit this web site: http://international.uiowa.edu/study-abroad/travel-insurance-faq

How to Apply

If you would like to apply, you should first meet with study abroad advisor Sterling Bacher. Please call 319-335-0353 and ask the receptionist to schedule an appointment for you. Students should also discuss their plans with their academic advisor before applying for a study abroad program.

The program application is available here.

Application Deadline

The application deadlines are October 15 for the spring semester and March 15 for the fall semester. Late applications may be considered on a space-available basis.

Applicants that have been accepted into the fall 2013 Newcastle program should have received an email and acceptance letter from the program coordinator. The acceptance packet must be completed and returned to the study abroad office by 5 pm on Friday, April 5, 2013. Aside from the forms below, participants will also have to submit a $200 deposit. If you have general questions about the Newcastle program, read through this Newcastle Nuts and Bolts form. It will hopefully answer a lot of basic questions.

Acceptance Packet

• Confirmation of Participation

• Payment and Withdrawal Schedules

• Medical Self-assessment

• Housing Request Form

• Newcastle Housing Information

Reference and Resources

• Financial Aid Information

• Iowa Regents Insurance Plan (CISI)

• Flight Information

• Entry Documents

• Newcastle Info Sheet

• Newcastle Handbook for Iowa Students

Additional Reading

• List of Australia & New Zealand books and movies

• Australian academics handout

• Flags handout

• Vegemite article

• Bite Me! article

• UI Student Health Service Travel Clinic: http://studenthealth.uiowa.edu/services/international-travel

Orientation Information

More information on UI orientation events will be provided at a later date.

1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu