About the University
Idyllically set between the Illawarra Mountain Range and the Tasman Sea, around fifty miles south of Sydney, the University of Wollongong (UoW) is a perfect setting for students who enjoy the outdoors. It's also the perfect setting for students seeking to study in a smaller city.
A broad range of study areas are available to study abroad students. Among these, psychology has proven to be popular as these courses align more closely with the curriculum at American universities than those at other Australian universities. Course in the STEM fields, Communications and Business are also readily available.
About the Area
The City of Wollongong is Australia’s tenth largest city and its nearly 300,000 residents get the best of urban living and coastal relaxation just 80km from Sydney.
Here on the south coast of New South Wales at the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment, the city enjoys a pleasant climate, averaging 25°C in summer and 17°C in winter.
The City itself has a vibrant, youthful culture of arts, culture and nightlife. It’s a student city and has a long multicultural history, so down time in Wollongong is a mix of music, food and languages from all over the world.
For nature lovers, the Illawarra region has some of the most pristine beaches in Australia and a great network of mountain walking trails with dazzling views of the coastline. Keeping healthy has rarely looked so good—with running tracks by the sea, bike trails through the mountains and clean Pacific waters to swim in.
About Student Life
Outside of the classroom, you'll quickly become part of campus life. The Student Union coordinates clubs and societies and organizes live bands, movies, and theater on campus. You'll also find some of the best athletic facilities of any Australian university. Shops as well as cafés and restaurants are also interspersed throughout campus and you'll find students constantly relaxing on the green lawns, under shady trees or by the creek. On campus, you will enjoy all of the facilities, while surrounded by running streams, native flora and fauna, and tropical birds. Beyond campus, you'll be able to take advantage of hiking trails which extend into the mountains or to the sea.
- Students must have completed a minimum of 30 semester credits
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00
- Students must an acceptable judicial conduct record
- Students must have declared their minor and core concentration
- Students must have academic advisor and dean approval.
UoW has two main study periods each year: Study Period 1 (February-June) and Study Period 2 (July-November) which are each 13 weeks long. Study abroad and exchange students should avoid selecting subjects that run before the start of their chosen study period as it could create visa issues.
At UoW most individual subjects have a value of 6 credit points which equals 4 RWU credits. A normal full-time study load for a study period is four subjects or 24 credit points. The minimum allowable enrollment for study abroad students at UoW is three subjects or 18 credit points(12 RWU credits). Most RWU students enroll in 4 modules for 16 RWU credits.
Visit UoW's online course catalog to see a list of available subjects.
One of the most important decisions to make is where you will live during your studies in Wollongong. The University of Wollongong (UOW) has a variety of campus accommodation options.
Live in University managed residences that are flexi-catered, fully catered and self catered. All are located close to the campus and within a short walk, bus or train ride to the city centre.
- Spring Semester runs from February - June
- Fall Semester runs from July - November
Program Cost
Approved semester long programs will be billed through RWU Bursar accounts based on regular tuition, housing and semester fee rates.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students will be able to apply their financial aid awards to their semester abroad charges. Additional the following Roger Williams University Study Abroad Scholarships are available:
Bridging the World Scholarship
The Morris Award
Health & Safety Abroad
Students should review the U.S. State Department’s consular information website for complete information on safety and security (https://www.state.gov/travel/).
Visas
Students studying in Australia will need a Student Visa. This application process is completed all online and will commence after acceptance is confirmed into the program. More information on Australia Student Visas can be found here.
Click here for a printable brochure of the information found on this page.