Overview

Location

About Wollongong

The University is located in the city of Wollongong (pronounced ‘Wool-n-gong’), 50 miles south of Sydney. Wollongong is a thriving city with the a regional art gallery, a performing arts centre, and many pubs and nightclubs. The Wollongong WIN Sports & Entertainment Centre hosts many international performances and is the home of Wollongong 's successful National Rugby League Team, St. George Illawarra Dragons and the 2010 Premiership runner-up, the Illawarra Hawks basketball team. Sports fans will find tickets to Rugby League, Soccer and many other sporting events/games plentiful and very affordable.

While studying at the University of Wollongong you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of the city’s 17 patrolled beaches, and its shops, hotels and clubs. There is a range of local sporting competitions, including netball, cricket, rugby league, rugby union, and AFL. The Illawarra is also a great location for skydiving, hang-gliding and mountain biking if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous!

Wollongong prides itself on its cosmopolitan atmosphere with numerous ethnic restaurants offering foods from Spanish to Vietnamese and Thai. Nan Tien Temple, or "paradise of the South" is the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere and dominates the skyline south of the city. With various shrines, a pagoda, meditation rooms, and extensive gardens, Nan Tien is popular with visitors and locals.
 
The Illawarra region makes the most of outdoor living and dining on the coast, offering a wide choice of restaurants, bars and sidewalk cafés; the variety of cuisine reflects Wollongong’s diverse multicultural community. The city has a wide choice of nightlife, with many pubs, clubs and live music venues—including the WIN Entertainment Centre, a 6,000-seat auditorium that attracts some of the biggest international and domestic artists. There are three major cinema complexes, as well as UniMovies on campus, which has thelargest cinema screen in the area and ticket prices from just $4. Wollongong also hosts a number of annual arts festivals.

Around the University

The main UOW campus in the city of Wollongong lies at the foothills of Mount Keira, beside tree-covered mountains, the Wollongong Botanic Gardens, and is within a mile of the broad blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. We have respected our natural environment, creating a beautiful campus with streams, gardens, and abundant native birdlife. UOW is proud to offer you a quality of student life difficult to find anywhere else.

The campus is only five kilometers (two miles) from Wollongong city center and is easily reached by the free shuttle bus. Downtown Wollongong is defined by campus life with street-side cafes, pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs. The newly refurbished Crown Street Mall is also in the city center and boasts many boutique clothing stores and also two main department stores.

There are also an abundance of outdoor activities in Wollongong such as hiking trails that start at the base of campus and go up to Mt. Keira. With the ocean and mountains at your doorstep this is the perfect location for anyone with an interest in the outdoors.

Internship Details

The experiential learning subject, COMM390 Commerce Internship provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply their university knowledge in an industry context. The subject is offered as a 6 credit point elective. The following are a sample of placements which may be available: Marketing, Accounting, Research and Analysis, Human Resources and Public Relations.

Subject aims/objectives:

• Identify organizational practices and procedures, including work related procedures.
• Apply knowledge learnt at university to critically analyze organizational practices and procedures.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills within a professional environment.
• Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills in proposing solutions to real business problems.
• Demonstrate an appreciation for your discipline in the context of the work place.
• Participate as a team member in a work environment for the purpose of resolving work related issues.
• Demonstrate how your contribution in the work place informs your professional practice.

To successfully complete the internship the student is required to work for 16 days in a pre-selected organization in the Wollongong area. Normally these working days will be spread over eight weeks with two days work per week, however, this may change depending on the organization.

Assessment: COMM390 assessment will consist of the following:
E-log - Daily logs of your experience 15%
Modules - 3 X 20% modules. You will be required to answer questions based on individual learning
modules 60%
E-reflective Journal - Structured reflection on your learning experience 25%

All assessments are conducted through the COMM390 eLearning site. On this site students download the assessment templates and upload all e-logs, modules and their reflective journal.

At the end of the academic session each student’s performance in the COMM390 Commerce Internship will be determined as either ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’. The University of Wollongong will issue an academic transcript of results giving details of all subjects undertaken and final grades awarded in each academic session.

Academic Highlights

Study Abroad students can choose programs from any of the University of Wollongong’s nine academic Faculties: Arts, Commerce, Creative Arts, Education, Engineering, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Informatics, Law, and Science. Popular choices for Study Abroad students include subjects in the Study Themes areas Australian and Indigenous studies, Landscape, Environment and Ecology of Australia, marine science, psychology and International Relations and Business in Asia,.

The University is internationally recognized for its research in science, engineering and related technologies including Computing and Information Technology, Telecommunications, Materials Science and Food Science.

The Faculty of Education offers a practical teaching option in Southeast Asia for full-year Education majors, and Faculty of Science programs in biological science, geoscience and marine studies include regular field trips during the semester.

In choosing your academic program for the University of Wollongong , you should enroll in 12-15 American hours of credit per semester. Typically, you are required to study 4 subjects at UOW per semester. Subjects are taught as a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratories and seminars with significant emphasis placed on written assessment. Science and Engineering disciplines usually include 3 hours of practical work per subject. If pre-requisites are met, and subject schedules do not conflict, you can choose any combination of subjects to meet your academic needs. You will usually sit a final exam for each subject and be assigned a letter grade for each subject according to regular departmental standards.

University Services

Housing

As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad student you are guaranteed pre-arranged accommodation to fit your lifestyle. There are a variety of housing options available which you will apply for after acceptance. Read below for more specific options offered at this university:

Study Abroad students can normally be accommodated in University housing if they apply by the deadline. There are also plenty of private accommodation available in Wollongong, and a housing officer to assist in locating off campus accommodation during the arrival period each session.

By living @ UOW you will benefit from a commitment to providing an environment of high academic achievement, involvement, development and fun. The convenient locations, the professional staff, the community environment and the many social, cultural and sporting events that are held all add to the vibrant atmosphere of living @ UOW. Advantages of living @ UOW include:

• The new friendships that often last beyond university years and across countries 
• Exposure to a wider range of people, ideas and cultures. 
• The choice of living in catered, flexi catered or self catered styles of housing in a supportive, community based lifestyle 
• Social activities including sports, cultural and community based activities 
• A comfortable and secure living environment that is hassle free (no electricity or phone bills to pay) 
• The convenient locations (all halls are a short distance by shuttle bus to the Uni and some are within walking distance) 
• Academic and pastoral support with a range of developmental and study support groups

Orientation

In addition to the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program which is included in your program fees the University of Wollongong will provide a university specific orientation. The Study Abroad Office coordinates a comprehensive Orientation day for Study Abroad students as part of the University's week-long program or O-Week as it is locally referred to. Students are given tips for adjusting to life and studies at UOW, ensure that they have enrolled prior to arrival into the appropriate subjects, receive comprehensive information on topics ranging from Surf Safety (provided by local surf lifesavers), to a presentation on Australian Flora and Fauna. The Halls of Residences also organize a number of social activities during O-Week. Popular activities also held in O-Week include nationally recognized comedians and live music performances.

Scholarships Available

In addition to the scholarships offered by GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, University of Wollongong supports GlobaLinks Learning Abroad students with two $1000 AUD scholarships each year.

Special Programs/Excursions

The University “Uni-Centre” organizes Student Development Programs designed to facilitate student participation in a range of extra-curricular programs designed to deliver useful skills and experiences to help students get ahead in the real world.

The International Programs Office on campus coordinates events throughout the semester to engage study abroad students in different programs such as the International Friendship Program, local sightseeing excursions, a Cultural Ambassador Program and many other opportunities to engage with the University community as well as the local Wollongong community.

The University also offers weekend and day trips to the Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves, the Sydney Aquarium and Taronga Zoo. Other trips to Melbourne, Port Stephens, Jervis Bay, and the Snowy Mountains are promoted through the Study Abroad Office and organized by an independent travel company.

Get Involved Abroad

Extracurricular Activities

The University Recreation and Aquatic Centre (URAC) is UOW’s sports and recreation hub. URAC houses world-class facilities including a fully equipped gym, tennis courts, squash courts, 50-meter heated swimming pool, 3,000-seat multipurpose sports centre, fitness classes, sports fields, basketball courts and more.

It also organizes outdoor activities and social sports competitions and representative teams. With all these resources and 24 different sporting clubs, you’re bound to find something you enjoy at URAC! 
 

Community Involvement

While abroad, we recommend getting involved in your local community. It's an awesome way to meet locals, experience the true Australian culture, and create long lasting memories. From volunteering to festival-going, we challenge you to make the most of your international experience... See a sample of community involvement opportunities available in Wollongong or discover your own upon arrival!

You'll get a taste of how enriching community involvement can be during your first few days in Australia on the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Bridging Cultures Program. The program includes pre-arranged volunteering with the local community. You'll interact directly with locals while giving back to and sharing your own culture with the community that first welcomes you to Australia. Plus, you can continue your volunteer efforts later in the semester by signing up for the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Conservation Volunteer Weekend.

Enhance Your Experience

Global Identity Course

While studying at Wollongong, you can maximize your study abroad experience by enrolling in the Global Identity course (EdPA 3103 Connecting Your International Experience to Your Future). The course will help you articulate the value of your experience to future employers, demonstrate your intercultural development and skills, and understand intercultural interactions.

This one-credit, online course is offered by the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities exclusively for students studying with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad. LEARN MORE>

Global Citizens Development Modules

The Global Citizen Development modules are online learning components designed to help you explore your study abroad destination and experience at a whole new level. These modules are not mandatory, however we strongly encourage your participation as they will introduce you to the opportunities and challenges you may encounter when participating in a study abroad program, as well as expose you to cultural insights and knowledge about your host country to help make your program abroad even more successful and fulfilling. Through the 3 modules, you will refine your skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication.  

Course Catalog

Photo Slideshow

Watch a slideshow of photos highlighting the University of Wollongong.

Fees

Fee Includes

Program Fees: As a GlobaLinks Learning Abroad study abroad participant, you will be required to enroll as a full-time student; typically this is 3-4 classes, which is equivalent to 12-16 U.S. semester credit hours. Your program fees are in U.S. dollars and include the host university semester tuition for 4 subjects, university administrative fees, overseas health insurance, the Basic ISIC card, our renowned Bridging Cultures Program on-site orientation and the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Personalized Support and Service.

With GlobaLinks Learning Abroad you will receive Personalized Support and Service through our four point philosophy to manage your program:

1.) Personal Program Selection and Planning: Personal service and advising, academic planning and credit transfer assistance, program location, housing advice, financial assistance. 

2.) Pre and Post Orientation and Preparation: Our MyLearn on-line enrollment information and process, comprehensive program information and departure webinar, immigration visa support and advice, airline ticket and group flight assistance, global citizen development modules. 

3.) Cultural Integration: On-site Bridging Cultures Program, on-site resident director services and advising, academic support, guaranteed housing and placement, volunteer and community involvement opportunities. 

4.) Reflection and Application of the Experience: Beyond Study Abroad Program, The EnCompass Alumni Program, program evaluation opportunity, resume building and review, alumni handbook and transcript services. 

Housing Fees: The Housing Fees are approximates and are in addition to the Program Fees. GlobaLinks Learning Abroad offers you “Housing to Fit Your Lifestyle and and you are guaranteed a placement in a wide variety of quality housing options to accommodate your academic, personal and budgetary needs during your experience abroad. The housing fees listed indicate an approximate cost for the options available on that program which may represent apartments/flats, houses and/or dormitories/residential halls, living within the local community or on-campus with locals and other international students. Private single rooms are standard (although double rooms are available) and are fully furnished, including comfort amenities with access to internet and telephone. Students who choose to arrange their own accommodation upon arrival will be charged the Program Fee only, as they will be responsible for making payment directly to the housing provider once accommodation has been arranged.

Additional Subject & Gym Membership Fees: Additional charges may apply for science, media, fine arts, or journalism subjects at some universities and students who undertake subjects where the university requires additional fees will be billed directly by the home university upon final enrolment. Gym and student union memberships are optional to students. If you wish to join, you may do so on arrival by contacting the international office at your host university.

Fee Advice

Facts

Dates

Entry Requirements

Programs in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Coordinator

Name: Caroline Chant Title: Coordinator, Outreach and Student Services Department: Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji Semester/Year Abroad Team BIO: Caroline manages study abroad admission and participant pre-trip services to Australian National University, Macquarie University, University of Canberra, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, UTS-Sydney, University of Wollongong and University of Tasmania. Caroline graduated from Colorado State University with a B.A. in Public Relations with a minor in Business. Through her study abroad travels she studied at Bond University on the Gold Coast of Australia. While abroad her travels included the east coast of Australia and the South Island of New Zealand. Advice From The Coordinator: Students love the area around Wollongong because of the wide range of fun things to do. Some favorites are Hang-gliding, Para-gliding, going to the Royal National Park, and hiking in the lush rainforest of Mt. Kiera.